Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-03-03
RENErIr az nae POOR


We ,ubjoin an sccount Of scene ia the House
Of Delegates, on the 18th ult. on the passsge of
bill TO authorize the taking Of forthcoming bonds in
civil cases. by constables. The secoant is from
the Richmond Enquirer. and has tie heading OF
/" Bea.ft Of the Poor
AS soon as the Clerk had read the ii.
tie oftEe bill, Mr.. Moore, OF CabeI, pro-
ceeded TO address the House, saying that
he felt deep interest in the fate Of this
bill, and he could not forbear expressing
his views in lis behalf, though he felt
considerable dffidence and embarrsss-
ment in thus addressing the assembled
wisdom and talent OF the State of Virginia
in one Of her Legislative Halls.
The Speaker interrupted the gentle.
man, and ordered the bill to be read by
the clerk, which being done,
Mr.. Moore resumed. This bill might,
he said, be regarded as of not much i'm
portance by many of the members, who
he feared might be inclined TO look un-
layorably upon il. He, however, knew
its value, and they would know its value
too, il, like him, they had mixed much
with the poor men of the country, who
were oppressed and borne down to the
ground by the executions and attachments
taken out against them, and all the little
property they lad 10 support themselves
and their families. 1t is an old saving,
aud true one, " A fool for luck, and
poor man for children" Laughter, loud
and long-a number Of members, who
had not heard the remark, ceasing their
private conversation and asking "what
did he say p "what's that i'' &c., then
pause--silence. Mr.. NJ said he knew
the burden which the poor man had to
suffer and how hard il was for him to sup
port and bring up his children. He can
not get rid ofdebt, and falls into the hands
ofthe onstable-that man who is like the
roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,
Laughter. The lawyer is employed a.
gainst him and does not attend 10 the bu-
sness much, but puts the process in the
cuns.able's hands. The constable goes
out after the man. He takes the poor
mans cow-the last COW that gives milk
for his chlldren-(you must know they
don't drink coffee in that country but
they raise the little ones on milk VI Laugh
ter. He takes the COW away and car.
ries her home with him. According to
law, he cannot sell her then. but must adj
versse her ten days. He charges one
shilling day for keeping the COW, and
when she is sold the creditor gets llule
or nothing. and the debtor loses ~, and
winds up by swearing out OF jail IN order
to get TO his family. Eager looks in all
| quarters. Some times the constable
takes the poor mans horse--takes him,
100, in the field, from the plough-and
very often in the month Of March when
his children are standing by weeping and
not knowing where another horse is TO
come from. He takes his horse, that
feeds him and clothes his naked children,
and sells him away. say Mr.. Speaker,
LET THIS BILL PASS FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE POOR MAN. ask for all the ayes
on this bll-the poes don't want. [Gen-
eral laughter.
| After order was restored, the Speaker
said "Gcntlemen-as many as agree To
the passage Of the bill will say aye"
| Here Il hundred members shouted Aye!
al the top oflheir voices. Gas many as
are o! The contrary opinion will shy No."
No sound was heard. The House was
as still as if it were the dead time of the
uIght-a pause--then general and sim.
ultaneous burst Of laughter
Mr.. Moore. In behalf of the poor men
Of the country, their children and their
widows, return my thanks to the House
for having passed this bill. Great laugh.
ter and merry faces.