Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-10-05
COMMUNICATION.

Mr.. STACY-l am right glad that the subiec, Of
imprisonment for debt has become OF ale subject
OF close and fearless inves igation, not only win
those who write for the Press, hut with The prma.
wy assemblies oflhe people, and il The resolutions
adopted in many places at these meetings afford
any index Of public opinion on the subject, tho
voice OF community is decidedly in favor of abol.
lshlng that remnant of d barbarohs age. ] do not
however now refer TO this subject for The pur-
pose Of entering into lengthy discussion thereon,
since your correspondent A. b. has treated the sub.
Ject in an able, and think, convincing manner,
so that 1t would he worse than tau'ology for an
Indifferent writer like myself 10 20 over The ground
again. But since there seems TO be an unwilling
ness on the part of many that the proposed amend.
ment III our cv,l code respecting the lnIfilment Of
contracts should operate TO the immediate abroga.
''en o, ms "nwse and unjust power Of The creditor
over The debtor, feel that | cannot rerna in silent
wnnout oner,ng word or two on The subject. I
lh'nk SIR, u TIE dictates Of reason, humanity and
impartial justice are 10 have their proper weight
IN inducing and bringing abou, the abolition of i'm.
pr'sonmen Tor debt. they require, and that peremp.
lorily, that the person Of The honest unfortunate
debtor should be without reserve exempted from
imprisonment 1t is not so easy to show what
reasons there are why Imprisonment for debt should
not be abolished on all contracts now existing, as
well rs debts that may hereafter be contracted,
that would not weigh with equal force against abol.
debtor, as has usually been done. would ask
those who are SO fearful of The consequences of
exemptlng the honest debtor from his liability 10 be
put IN jan on debts now due, when do they suppose
the body Of The poor man who hapaens TO owe
few dollars, will ever be freed from The iron grasp
OF rigid creditors, If we are 10 humor the whms of
those who trust people in trade, who beg for liz.
tie while longer and little while longer in which
| they can put the screws on those who owe them
and are not able 10 pay? Is there not reason 10
fear that should we wait ill such are ready for The
proposed reform IN our civil code, The Time will be
far distant when The desired amendment will be
brought about The same reasons which lie
against the perpelualion of The bar barous custom
OF imprsonng man because he is unable 10 pay,
hold equally ong against Imprisonment for debt
on contracts now due. II the immurng a poor
man in prison because he owes what he has not
The means 10 pay, he wrong at all il is wrong al
| together, and the sooner lee isalOrs repeal The
| odions clause in our statute books, the sooner and
more faithfully will they do their duty. 1t appears
to me that The objection TO making The law retro.
spective, cannot be sustained with show of plausi.
billy without first assuming it principle that
in all contracts now existing. the debtor has agreed
with the creditor TO yield his liberty and submit 10
| be placed in jail in case OF failure 10 paw. Wheth.
er This be The amount OF the contract now pending
against those who owe, | am not sure, but this I
will say, never understood my creditors, and
was so 10 be informed never would aga suffer
my name to b. entered on The merchants ledger as
| a debtor. TO conclude my remarks. l protest
against ualilyng any bill having for its object The
abolishing imprisonment for debt, in The way some
would have it. Let The fraudulent be punished,
but in The name of benevolence, humanity and
righteousness, suffer not The unfortunate honest Door
man 10 be moment longer subject to be deprived
of liberty 10 CRAFTY The rapacy Of unfee ling credi.
| tors. A FRIEND TO THE POOR
| Hunting ton, Sept. 1888.