Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-03-10

~N4vDtD ND43~ S0O 49, 49,
for this country at the present period of unpar-
alleled embarrassment. Indeed, there IS no
period in our opinion in any country that such
law should not exist, and more particularly
in the United States at the present time, where
many are borne down with debts which they
never can discharge perhaps and more particu-
larly should some measure Of relief not be af-
forded them, by allowing the privilege Of COM
mencing the world aneO after every thing has
been surrendered; the motive to do which
would be much stronger than when (without
such law there would be no prospect of re-
lieG-the reasonab.eness of which must be APP
parent to all who will for one moment reflect
on the subject,-a subject which is exciting
immense interest throughout the couniry--and
approved by nearly all. Such law 100
would be in perfect accordance with the Con-
stitution of The United States, wherein express
provision is made in these words--"Congress
shall have power to establish an uniform rule of
naturalization, AND UNIFORM LAWS on
THE SUBJECT OF BANKRUPTCIES
throughout the United States
For a more extended view of the subject, we
extract the following from the New World,
published in New York:
GENERAL BANKRUPT LAW.
IMPRIs NED DEBTORS.
We are rejoiced 10 perceive that the
newspapers Of all parties and denomina-
tons from all parts of the country, are
warmly advocating the passage of this
law. We have seen no objection stated,
dIssentient opinion expressed-unless we
may so Call suggestion, which was
thrown out in one Of our city morning pa
pers, that under the operation of the law,
persons guilty of fraud might now ard
then escape. But how frivolous is this
obiection--how untenable, how inconsis-
tent with all our notions ofjustice! Let
a thousand villains escape if you must,
but do not injure for their sakeS one hon.
est man.
Ifany New Yorker is disposed to ques-
ton the cxpediency of the immediate pas.
sage of the law, let him visit the city
prsou-let him 60 to the Egyptian tombs
(lombs in dismal reality where are i'm.
INJURED from forty TO fifty ofhS fellow men
shut out from the face of daj and the air
of IIeaven-for what? for crime No,
for misfortune. Better for their personal
comfort would it be, were they indeed
criminals.-Ther cells are worse than
those of the condemned felons. They
are dependent upon charity for their sub.
sistence-for the very litter upon winch
TO repose at night. Is it thought that this
is exaggeration ? Go, we say again, go
TO those habtatonS Of misery and want.
7 here YOU will see individuals of educa-
ton and responsibility in arcera,ed for the
heinous sin of being denizens of another
State. Their offence is not that they owe
debts which they cannot pay for hundreds
and hundreds of the citizens ofNew York
are in a Ike predicament. Were the
same retrbuton melted out 10 US, under
which those unhappy strangers are suffer-
ing, one half ofthls metropolis would have
TO be converted into prison yard. At
this very moment, there are twenty thou
sand, nay fifty thousand persons, who
owe deb:s which they cannot liqu; date
Are you ready, gentlemen, any of you, 10
take up your abode in the city prison (un.
doubtedly the criminals could be let loose
for your accommodation or do you ina
CINE that strict justice gives you an ex-
emption from fate, which has befalen
men quite as good as you are, and quite
as worthy of personal liberty
Permit US to ask another question-to
bring this matter nearer home. To what
do you owe your present personal free
dom To any merit ofyour own? To
any superior skill and management To
your high honesty, strict integrity, gener-
Gus lberality? Is it so, or are you at large
because you remain in your own State j
Dare you go TO New Jersey, to Philadel'
phia even, to Washington? Fancy your
selves gentlemen, on trip to either o.
those cities. While sitting quietly zen
joying your ease in your inn," black
faced loOking rascal, commonly called &
"sheriff,' steps cooly in, taps you fanil
liarly on the shoulder, exhibits bit of pa
per and walks you from carpetcd parlol
with cheerful blazing fire to great, dim
vast mound Of granite, parttioned of' int
narrow cells. Into such cell you ar,
rudelv thrust. with nothing near Won bu