, 1840-07-11
MO. SATURDAY, JULY II, 1910.

the result is bad, every way. Ii is bad to tit
public and to the country, which loses The
efforts and the industry of SO many usefu
and capable citizens. 1t is BAD to creditors
because there is no security against prefer
ences. no principle Of equality, and no en-.
couragement for honest. fair and seasonable
assignments of effects. As TO the debtor, how.
ever good his intentions or earnest his endea.
vors, it subdues his spirits and degrades him
in his own esteem; and if he attempts any
thing for the purpose of obtaining food and
clothing for his family, he is driven TO lin wor
thy shifts and DISCUSSES, to the use of other
persons names, to the Adoption of the char.
acter of agent, and various other contrivan-
ces to keep the little earnings of the day
from the reach of his creditors. Fathers aci
in the name of their sons, sons act in the
name of their fathers, all constantly exposed
to the greatest temptation to misrepresent
facts and to evade the law, if creditors should
strike. All this is evil, unmixed evil. And
what is it all for? What good to anv body?
Who likes it, who wishes it? What class OF
creditors desire it? What consideration OF
public good demands it!
Sir, we talk much, and talk warmly, of
political liberty, and well we may, for it is
among the chiefo public blessings. But who
can enjoy political libertyifhe is deprived, per-
manentIy, of personal liberty, and the exer.
else of his own industry and his own faculties!
To those unfortunate individuals, doomed to
the everlasting bondage OF debt. what is it,
that we have free institutions of government?
What is it, that we have public and popular
1SsamhIIaSg Nar 70 than, ,rb,. - ayao ,l,,
constitution itself, in its actual operation, and
as we now administer that part of it which
was intended for cases like theirs? As we
administer it, what is its aspect to them, but
al aspect Of stern, implicable severity: an
aspect of refusal, denial and frowning re-
buke? Nay. more than that, an aspect not
only Of ausierity and rebuke even. but as
they must think il, Of plain injustice also;
since it will not relieve them nor suffer 9TH
ers 10 give them relief. What love can they
feel towards the constitution of their coun-
tly, which has taken the power OF striking
off Their bonds from their own parental state
governments, and yet, memorable TO all the
cries OF justice and OF mercy, holds it unex-
ercised. in IFS own fast and unrelenting
clench! They find themselves bondsmen.
because we will not execute the commands
OF the constitution; bondsnen TO debt which
they canno pay, and which all know they
cannot pay, and which takes away the pow
er of supporting themselves. Other slaves
have masters. charged with the duty of sup
port and projections; but their masters nei-
Their cloihe, nor feed, nor shelter-they only
bind.
But, sir, the fault is not in the constitution.
The constitution is benefcent as well as
wise in all its provisions on this subject; but
the fault, | must be allowed tn say, is in us.
we have suffered ourselves quite too long TO
neglect the duty incumbent upon US. The
time will come, sir, when we shall look back
and wonder at the long delay of this just
and salutary measure. We shall feel, rs we
now feel, when we reflect ON that progress
opinion which has already lone so much
on another and a connected subject; | mean
the abolition of imprisonment for debit
What should we say at this dav, If i, were
proposed 10 re-establish arrest and imprison-
ment for debt, rs II existed in most of the
states, even so late as twenty years ago? |
mean for debt alone, for mere pure debt,
charge or suspicion of fraud or false.
hood?
Sir, it is about that length of time, | think.
you who now preside over. our DELHI
era,ions, began here your efforts for the alb
olitlon of Imprisonment for debt; and a better
work was never begun in the capitol. Ever
remembered and ever honored be that noble
You drew the attention of the public
% the question. whether, in a civilized and
Christian country, debt incurred without
raud, and remaining unpaid without fault, is
| crime, and n crime fit to be punished by
to the offender the enjoyment of the
Ight OF heaven, and shutting him up within
our walls. Your own good sense, and that
instinct Of right feeling, which often o%utruns
'~agacity, carried you at once to a result to
others were more slowly brought, but to
which nearly all at length have been brought,
by reason, reflection and argument. Your
movement led the way-it became an EXAM
Die, and has had powerful effect on both sides
If the Atlantic. Imprisonment for mere
iebt. or even arrest and holding to bail foi
mere debt, no longer exists in England, and
ormer laws on the subject have been greatly
modified and mitigated, as we all know in
,ur states. "Abolition Of imprisonment for
your own words in the title Of your
bill, have become the title of an act Of