Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-20

him, viii he Suffer an oath o, two 10 prevent
his re,urn to his family, and thus defeat the no
lv and irresistible purposes oil natural and pa
rental aaectioni
The debtors, however, are not the only Grass
or The most numerous that is suffering IN IT'S
morals under this unnatural state OF things. -
The sharpers and The spectators, the munger
ers after other peoples money, who plot 10 CIT
eamvent irneighbors, who sell damaged OF
worthless merchandise ,foundered, broken wind
ed horses, or barren Improbable land ON CRED
IT. The lovers Law who institute suits against
persons who owe them nothing. The iaiSe
witnesses who are suborned upon such occa;
sions The usurer who trades in notes OF hand,
and lends money at Fifty per cent upon PERSONA
securi,y-These are the persons who consul
lute the great class Of sufferers by the present
im,h oral system. These are the persons most
injured, and who claim, in the highest degree,
the sympalhies Of the Christian legislator.
Asa coercive measure to enforce the payment
of debts also, imprisonment is as inefficient as
il is unrighteous. -.
OF the numerous individuals whom the pub.
lie papers state TO have become the correspond
ems OF the Honorable Judges within the last
duzen years, how many have surrendered any
property worth mentioning! Who Of the hum
dreds of trustees appointed during ;hat time,
has ever advertised dividend for the benefit
of the cred,tors? And il the irsoi.ents did SUR
render property, are their creditors any thing
the better therefor? Or have the tlusees, and
lawyers, the clerks, and marshals, the deputy
marshal, constable and jailors divided the
whole stakes among themselves? When this
enquiry is made, i, will probably be found that
4, 1tp o..
and have paid the costs Of suit GU, Of their own
pockets. The debtors have been turned out OF
Jail with empty pockets, impaired credit, and
with rancour and revenge in their hearts. They
have parted with all their property, and their
debts arc still undimiaishcd.
The only gamers have been the worthy iunc-
,ionarics Of the law above mentioned. Their
influence. aided by the blind and unleeing GU
pidi,y Of The ignorant and the coyc,ous, may
continue the cruel and inc fioient institutions OF
past and barbarous ages, little, but not much
longer. In our day, mighty Potenla,e has
arisen, whom Legislators, Judges and Presi-
dents are bound TO consult and 10 hear, to res
pect aud &c obey. Pubic OPINION has already
denounced the laws which impair personal Ii
berty as worse than useless. The march or ci.
vilization and Refinement cannot long be OBJ.
struc,ed; and the individual Regulators who are
most conspicuous and active in abnIishing
them, and restoring to the Citizen his natural
and unalienable rights, will deserve and receive
the niaudiis and the gratitude OF millions in
this age, and Of all postcri,y. The Conqueror
of the Sayages will then have obtained a noble
victory over the savage institutions Of his eoun-
trymen; and the people viii long remember the
generous Bard
who touched with human woe, redfcssive searched
Into the gloomy horrors of the jail
Unpitied and unheard, where MISERY mourns
Where sickness pines, where thirst and hunger burn,
And poor rniSfnrt,,ne feels tue lash of vice.
While in the land of Liberty, the land
Whose every street and public meeting glow
With open freedom, little tyrants ragged
Snatched the lean morsel from the starving mouth
Tore from coh wint'ry limbs the uttered weed
And cr,ish'd out lives by secret barh'rous ways
That their country would have toied and bied.
Much is the Patriots wedding hand required
The tolls of law, what dark insidious men
Have cumbrous added 10 perplex the truth
And engthen simple justice into trade.-( 1homson;
~ PRISClLLlAN.