Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-10-23

Frontiers Of Russia, August 3.-There
are several different versions given to the
discovery of the conspiracy against the life
of the Emperor. One Of them, which is,
however, by no means the most probable, is,
/ that Polish refugees, disguised as Journey
men watchmakers from Geneva, contrived
by means of false passports, to advance di-
rectly to Petersburgh, where they were re-
ceived as foreigners who had acquired a
knowledge of the technical terms used in that
country. One of them having had the i'm
prudence, in moment of forgetfulness, to
discover his knowledge of the Russian lam
guage; this circumstance raised suspicion,
which caused inquiries to be made that led
to the discovery of the conspiracy.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
The following admirable article is from
Il late British pubIicatiation, and each Of
the points made is worthy of deep con-
sideration. 1t is bad enough indeed, to
be harrassed in the manner stated because
of debts that persons are unable to pay
but it is dn abomination that others, who
do not owe debt, may be imprisoned on
Suspicion of debt preferred by any vaga.
bond against them, and without any rea,
sonable prospect of redress, if unable to
give the securities required: or if able to
obtain security, may be embarrassed for
years, and compelled TO spend much time
and money, without remuneration, though
the prosecution shall evidently appear to
have been founded in the bascst motives.
The GAoL DELIVERY, If the solicitor
general carries his bill to abolish impris-
onment for debt, he will have saved more
undeserved suffering than either Clarkson
or Wilberforce. Among all The monstro-
sites Of law, the most monstrous is that Of
deprivng man of the power of paying
any body or any thing, because he cannot
Ipay somebody or something at a given
time. The present law of debtor and
creditor entities man to say-sir, you
owe me money; either pay me or be i'm
INJURED. The answer to this might be
sir, | owe you no money. 1t matters not
says law; go to gaol until we see whether
you do or do not, or find security for your
appearance to four times the amount pre-.
tended to. Or, again, the answer may
be-very we'll, owe this sum to you, but
have no means of paying sou but from
j., my professional income; in year or two
: shall be able to save all that is due to
!, you and others. No, says law, speaking
the language Of revcngeful creditor, 60
to gaol and starve- neither pay me nor
t any body-go and be ruined; base as the
5 slave who cannot pay; go and be ruined
lin fruoI. I | Ilya To
e "A scoundrel punished. The answer may
r again be thus-true, owe you money,but
| have property to pay you ten times ov'
er-give me time-let me sell it--let me
look out for good purchaser. No, says
e law, if We had your property, it would
0 satisfy our debt a thousand times over,b ul
we cannot touch it; but your liberty is il
our power; go to gaol, then you will have
: no Opportunity Uf dispesing Of your prop
erty to advantage, but you may rid your
n self of it at a sacrifice, and on the pro
ceeds lead Jolly life in prison. Much
will be wanted for the officers of the law
and since ruin necessarily comes upon
, you, make the best of your situation-i
is not to be expected, treated as you have
been, like felon, that you will now ever
! voluntarily reward the person that has
thus dealt with you by the payment Of
t his debt. Surely he has had his money;
: worth in cruelty.
0 This is the morality of imprisonment
for debt between one creditor and anoth
G err. The debtor does not, however, suf
fer alone; all the other creditors are in
jured to the amount of the debts, or, al
least, to the value Of the chance Of pay
, ment. Because one impatient person
pursues, the law permits the body to be
/, thrown into gaol, and the property to be
squandered among the extortioners who
surround it. In the ruin of character, Of
+ income, and from the circumstances Of
!. personal movement, not only is involved
II the destruction of hopes of creditors, but
II the prospects perhaps Of every member OF
J. family. When parental surveillance is
r taken from children or young persons
when the reputation Of the house is sunk
S and the overtures of its inmates met with
e contumely, then comes the reign of temp
: tatlon. The great upholIer of honest
r pride or self.Iespect is gone; loose is
( given to low inclination, and the means
and the instruments are never far off,
: 1t may be safely said, that there never
!, was greater disproportion between any
thing than a sum Of money alleged to be
due, and the loss of liberty in father Of
IA family, the Garner Of an income, the
protector of his wife, and the guardian
,lof his children.
The relation between the property Of
a debtor and his debts is very precise, and
he ia not an honest man who will hesitate
, to satisfy one with the other; but we
Englishmen, who above all others are