Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-10-14
NITsgEELAgg


. We copy the following story from lat
number ofthe Berkshire American.
Is well sdetched, and cannot fail to III
tcrest the reader.
We have not assumed This title as tho
M belonged to character of rare occur
renee. Unfortunately for mankind, 1t Is
but too common, Humanity has wept a
hts trequeutappearance, aud Justice seem.
20 have drawn closer the bandage over heI
eyes, that she might more olfecualy hide
from her view its hdeous deformty.
We now refer 20 that species of bank
Irupt, who has fauduIenuy take the benefit
/ of tho Insolvelt act, by conceaIlng his
wealth. or who has afterwards acquired
riches, but still continues to Withhold from
ms creditors their Just dues, and derides
the claims Of equity, which, though Ike "a
chained hon they cannot be Invested OF
their strength, are rendered inert by tue
Shacnles of the law.
Among the creuors Of tie bankrupt are
Ircqueuily 10 be found the widow and the
orphan, the mechanic and the iaborer,
whose dues are kept back by fraud, auj
whose wretchedGcss Is aggravated by see
wg .hcw wealthy creditor rolling ia plea
me at their expense, and setting theu hon
est claims at defiance. The law IS equal
Iy absurd and unjust, which puts It M the
power of man to be rich, and yet withhold
,ac payment Of his debts Better IN this
case would 1t be were there no law; for
then the strong sense of native Justice
urYld use against the wealthy bankrupt
and conpl@ him to surrender his ILL., gotten,
or 40 retained TIE sure.
Bulthe injustice of the LAWS no excuse
Cor the fraud of bankruptcy; 1t does not and
caanot; after the external nature Of right
add wrong; and he who takes the advan
tage of jts provisions to cheat his cred
tors is yi}laucf 10 feeble die-not hav
ing that shadow Of O.. excuse which even
tee murderer may sometimes plead, name
Iv. injured honor aud he prom).ings ofre-
yeuge The poor thief who attempts TO-
better his condition by topping hmselfto
vorr property e. the rob .-r vhoo openly bids
Won stand and deliver, would be degraded
by comparison with the dishonest bank
~at: the tmcrhkcs uo'h & 6Ht movables
and tda rlllba- may be resisted; lae thief
has the plea oi poverty; and the bier at
lalstt1eequiyoeal virtue of coUa1; but
the dishonest bausrunt, uad-r cover of The
law. deirauds You of houses and lands
and without the excuse of want. does that
bent. Tn legal sub'erfuge which be has
300, even Tire equvoral virtue of boldly al
tempting, k lbe robber, In defiance OF
danger and death.
But max the difference In the fate of
these different individuals. The lessor vii
liam who has uulawlullv taken the value Of
p few palrv dollars. is dragged 20 the bar
o-ust,ce. and thence consigned TO hard Ia
bow and igoomy 10 the pcnItenhary; while
the greater william. who has. under cover
ofrha INV, robbed the honest and industri-
GUS crthousands. rollsin the lap of luxury,
and enjoys The carresses of the wealthy,
and fssh.ouablc, and giddy world
L., formerly an inhabiatnt of this
village, is a notorious instance Of the dis
honest bankrupt A ncighbor of his, by
industry and economy, had become the
owner oCtwo little farms. L---contri-
we'd TO delraud him ofboth One he pur
chased ON credit. and induced the unsus-
DectIng owner 10 become his surety for Dor
rowed money TO am amount that swallow
ed uD the othcr--aud becoming bankrupt
shortly after. d frauded the honest farmer
of his little ALL Turned housclcss and
homeless on the world, ruined In fortune
ard broken iu mind, the poor man shortly
after ended an unhappy life, "A victim Of dis
honest MISUNDERSTANDING VIE and
children destitute of subsistence. How ma
nv were dafrauded and are now suffering
the c0sequences we know not; we mention
ihis case as one of singular aggravation.
r. went Co the stateof New York,
and settled in one Of the cities on the Hud-
son. Until this time the moral hue of his
character seems 10 have been somewhat
doubtful; there was. perhaps, nothing IN II
which conld De pronounced absolutely VII
( ,aioous, unless It be proved that he Dor
rowed money with the design of failing,
and draw m the honest farmer to be his
surety. with the previous knowledge that II
must cventlate in his rum. But the dark
er part of the transaction, the after piece
|ofulhany Is yet to come. L--enga
/ ced in business, was successful, and in a
/ few wears rose 10 wealth. Now was the
time to have repaid, at least as far as mon
CIV would 90, the miserleS he had brought
npon the family OF the farmer. To restore
the husband and the father, to recall the
DAYS ere the wife was a widow and the
children orphans. was not IN his power
I Bot TO raise the widow and orphans from
want. was-in his power: to pay what he