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

ed his own credit and that of his friends to the
utmost, depending on an uninterrupted train Of
bank accommodations, and enormous prices Of
| property to relieve him, leave for others to
determine. To say the least of 1t, it is incon-
sistent with that golden rule of St Paul Owe nc
man any thing" End. But perhaps this plea
OF impossibility means nothing more than that
| the debtor has other use for his money. He
saw piece of property going low, and laid out
the money that ought to have paid the debt
or he wanted another hand to raise a little more
cotton, and so took his creditors money to buy
it. This species of iniquity has become so
common that it has almost ceased to be regar-
ded as villany. Customers viii come to their
merchant with the most unblushing efffonte-
ry, and tell him they cannot pay him, because
they have laid out the money for property. If
he sue them, it's only playing into their hand !;
for they can keep him out of the money by law
one year, and they are willing to pay the cost
for the use of it that time; or before the
money can be made by law, they and all their
movable effects may be In another country.
There is not one spark of honesty in this whole
business. Bird. But another enquiry is neces-
sary in order to try this plea of impossibllity.
Has the debtor used all the exertion necessary
to raise the money! A promise to pay money
involves the obligation to use all the means
nece ssary to pay it. If owe debt, just so
much of my property as will satisfy it belongs
to my creditor, and not to me; and if keep
1t, am reserving for my benefit what is really
his. Before l can say it is impossible for me
to pay, am bound to sell so much of my pro-
perty as viii bring the amount, and pay it. If
time can be gained by the consent OF the credi-
tor, well and good; where there is confidence
in the integrity and ability of debtor, most
creditors viii wait if there is necessity for it !:
but if they will not, or cannot, the debtor is
bound to pay if he even have to sell his proper
=, ty to do so. We invite investigation of this
point. Ii 1t is not correct, then we have mis-
taken the nature of contracts entirely. Does
not the law sustain this position, when it seizes
on the property of E. and converts it into cash
topay debt due to F! Norman ought to suffer
himself to be sued on plain, undisputed debt
while he has property sufficient to pay it; be.
cause that property of right belongs to the
creditor, and lie ought to have the benefit o
it. But how different is this doctrine from tht
morality Of some people. They hold on t.
their property as long as possible, keep tht
creditor waiting until he can wait no longer
and because he briugs suit to secure his money
they contend they have a right to keep hir
out of it as long as the law viii permit. an
object is not to get rid of the debt, but only t
gain time,'' says the debtor when he puts in tn
plea of usury, or makes oath that he cannC
safely go to trial for want of material witnes
who perhaps is only material IN order to pl
off the execution six months. Is this fair an
just! Surely not. 1t is, 1St, OBTAINING anotht
mans money in our hands without his COZ
sent; End, subiecting the debt to risks al
: hazards that were never contemplated in Il
: contract, and for which the injured party r
= cieves no compensation; 3rd it puts him
: trouble and expense without just cause. Su
= pose G. bires horse from Fl. for one weel
q after keeping him two or three weeks Il
owner requests that he shall be sent HON
which G. refuses to do on the plea that he hi
use for the horse himself. H. then brings su
for the recovery of the property and for dam
ges, and because he does so, G. contends |
. has right now to keep him out of it as long
possible. Is this honestl 1t is just as hone
: as the popular doctrine that because man
= sued, he has moral right to keep his credit,
: out OF his money as long as he can.
. But to return to the point. Another of tt
u means necessary in order to meet our engag
l' ments, is economy. We are bound by Il
y moral obligation of promise to retrench O
expenses, five cannot pay our debts witho
E. it. We had better ride in an ox-cart, live
De tent, and wear clothes of our own manufa
OF ture, than to owe money which we cam
III pay. But some viii say, at is necessary
II keep up appearances, in order to be respecte
and person is esteemed more highly for
nd even if he is in debt" What! Live il fl
all houses, and the very mechanics that built the
es suffering for their pay! Wear fine clothes a
dress our wives and our daughters elegant
er- on other peoples money? We have just
an good a right to steal that much. Better DIV
nut IN hollow tree, and live on roots, than
Ills guilty of such fraud. We would have
t a ter conscience, better character, and a
-se better hope of Heaven. In what light, thi
- you, does the Most High regard those who
he in style, ride their fine horses, or in their c
t." CANT carriages, and their tailors, their carp
on- tiers, their blacksmiths, Their merchants, but
ter ers and bakers waiting for their money, p
sti- haps with scarce hope of sec uring it at Ia
is $50 to now, We rich men, weep and howl
not your miseries that shall come upon you.
t is hold the hire of the laborers who have rea
ain down your fields, which is Of you kept back
ion fraud, crieth: and the cries of them WI
- have reaped are entered into the ears oftheL
it a of Sabbaoths. JAMES 5, Ia. 'Woe {
the him that bnildeth his house by unrighteousn
pay and his chambers by wrong; that useth
the neighbor's service without wages, and giN
d of him not for his work that saith, viii b
his me wide house, and large chambers, and
e o. teth him out windows; and it is celled '
fair cedar, and painted with vermilion" II
ebt quotations might be multiplied Indehni
.lse- were it necessary. Aterrible retribution aV
or that class of persons who. by fraudulent
less veyances, secure their property to themse