Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-03-17
NUMBER XXVI.

ciany for those of his own house, he hath deni-
ed the faith, and is worse than an infde y
Truly he does: but the same Apostle in ano-
Their place says, "Provide things honest in the
sight of all men,; which no man can pretend
to do, when he secures his property to his family
in the name of his brother, or cousin, or uncle.
or some one else, TO avoid the payment of his
just debts. Moreover, this hackneyed text
has no reference to the question. In those
days the poor and helpless members of the
church, who had no friends, and no means OF
support, were thrown upon the charity of the
church. In this chapter, the Apostle describes
the kind of persons that were to be taken into
the number. and takes occasion to enioin it
upon "children and nephews'' to support their
own poor kindred; he then concludes with
this oft-repeated and tortured text: off any
provide not for his own e., if any one suf
fer his mother or other relation to come upon
the church for support, if he can avoid it, she
hath denied the faith, and is worse than an inf
DEL" To this, every honest man would say,
Amen. But tins gives no countenance to the
notion that we may rob our creditors, to secure
| ourselves.
"But it is hard for those who were brought
upin ease and luxury to come down to poverty
and labor" Very true: sbut it is harder to
be damned" for fraud. Why should we dread
work so much! 1t is enioined in scripture as
an honest and independent road to health,
peace and competence. 1t was never design
ed by the Author of our being that SO large a
portion of the community should live without
labor; the attempt to do so has entailed
extravaganza and vice upon US and this has
contributed, in no small degree, to bring upon
society the present evils. Let US go to work,
and live on the fruits of our honest industry,
and we shall hear less about hard times. To
conclude this point,-Belore debtor can hon
estly plead justification for non-payment, on
the score of impossiblity, he must have be-
heved, when he made the debt, that he would
be able to meet it; and he must have used all
the means in his power to pay it, even to the
loss Of all his goods. Let every one examine
himself to see if he is clear. But here another
question arises. Is a debtor clear when he has
gwen up all, or is he morally bound to do what
, ne can afterwards towards the payment of his
f debts. Many seem to think they are free, and
2 whatever they can make afterwards, provided
D they can secure it from their creditors, they
= claim as their own. If property can be helt
:, for their benefit in the name of some othel
!, person, Or if they can get away to some othel
n country, their old debts are forever cancelled
Y But to me 1t appears that the plea of impossi
o bihty cannot avail after the inability ceases t
e exist. When they become able, they are boun
1t to pay.
5, l have heretofore said nothing about the du
It tles and obligations of creditors, because m
ID subject did not admit of it Twill Just now ado
er that while the debtor is bound to pay, tn
4 creditor is bound to remember mercy. TIL
I'd cruel and relentless creditor will share no bel
lie ter fate than the faithless and fraudulent del
tor, in that great day which is to try all our az
to tions.
p II. A promise is not binding where the pc
K; Torrance would be unlawful; contrary, eth,
ne to the law of God, or the law of the land "
e, cannot create an obligation that can render vo
as prior obligation. We are already under o
ut legation to obey the laws of God and of o
a. country, and no act or promise of ours can o
ne lige Us to violate it. Promises of an unlawf
as character are divided by moralists into "
st classes:
is LIST. Where the unlawfulness was known
or the parties when the promise was made. F
example promise to commit murder, re
ne berry, theft, lewdness or any other sinful actl
e. is without force, because a previous obligati
ne OF a higher character binds to the contrary.
ur But the promiser is guilty of sin in making su
ut a promise. It is the promise, and not the v
IN lation, for which he must repent.
G. I'd. Where the unlawfulness of the contr
lot comes to the knowledge of the parties afte
to IS made. Herod promised to grant the requ
ID; of his stepdaughter, the beautiful dancer. e,
1t. unto the half of his kingdom. But was
ne bound to give her the head of John the Bapt
I'm Surely not He was only bound to gran
nj taagfM request; and indeed she had no me
iy' right to make any other, nor he to grant
. Again: A trader promises to deliver cert
en- species of property at certain time and pla'
De before the time arrives he .ascertains that
Ct importation ofthat kind of property is unlaw
lar He is not bound TO deliver it, because HI
INK already bound to obey the law.
I've Sd. But mark! it IS the performance of
lie promise which must be unlawful, in order
en- render it void. If purchase contrabt
CHI article, and execute my note for its value,
er- promise topay, have no moral right to pl
st? the unlawfulness of the contract as an exc
for for non-payment, unless return the propt
Be- to the owner 1t would be unfair for two
ped sons;--frst, have had value received for
by amount promised, and / have no moral ri
lich to another mans property without giving
ord an equivalent. Secondly, it was the gin
INTO aDd receiuilg the article that was unlaW
ess, and not the mere actof paylng for it; and
his less it can be shown that the making pdyz
zeth is IN itself unlawful, am bound TO pay.
uild same remarks, think, apply with equal fc
cut to usurious contracts. am aware that th
with treading on controverted ground; but let
lese cut short the matter by asking one plain q
tely, ton: What is your motive in pleading
5aits unlawfulness of a contract in order to &c
con- of the debt, or to make your own time for
Ives, ment? Is it a pure regard to the majesty o