Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-04-15
SPEECH OF
Andrew w. LOOmis, Esq.

Andrew w. LOOmIs, Esq.
Tho following is an extract from a
Speech delivered before the Board oil
Trade Of the ciy of Pittsburgh. The
whole speech is a very able one, ana
worthy the author. But the sentiments
conlained the extract are SO Just.tann
withaI so appropriate al this time, that
We feel hound 10 give il circulation, IN
the hope that it may be read not onIy by
some who are lDkog The benefit OF the
Bankrupt Law, (or whom ii was par
licuarly iutended) but to all others who
owe Just debs and have avoided pay
meDl. Attention to those remarks and
following the example cited, will relieve
the consc,e ,euces Of such, and give them
cause sf rejoicing in lie, alsdealh, and
through an endless eternity. Lei such
read and ponder upon it.
"Mauy have antic'na,sd efficient re-
lief, restored confidence, and ,swakened
enterprise from The great healing mea'
sure whose benign Influence has been
expected to dawu on the first Of the APP
preaching month. That il would set
many coptives free, Itbave no:doubt.-
That il would restore many men 10 IN
duslry and activity; that it would relieve
many az aching and desPondng heart,
do not question.
Asa measure OF relief 10 the honest
and unfortunate. should hail lis ap.
proach with delight. But that /, would
add sensiby, to the capital or confidence
Of the country is not so evident. 1t would
sxringUish the sgaI obligation Of con-
racts, 10 the amount Of ml!ions-but
that would not add 10 The public wealth
or discharge The debtor from obligations
Of conscience, morality or honor.
His discharge would give the debtor
legal claim to anteCedent debts-It
would give him moral right to apply
them to tho support Of his family, and
to the fair and successful prosecution Of
his business Bot when accumu ations
beyond the exigencies oi these, and ade-
quste to the payment Of his legally dis
charged but actually unsatisfed debts
should be secured, the moral right Of
the unpaid creditor, and the conscien-
tious and honorable obligations Of the
legally discharged debtor, would attach
TO those Sccumulalicns-& hoWever so
phistry might beguils, or interest de.
ceive, that right and those obligations
would adhere and exist until voluntary
payment should extingulsh them. Nei.
thertim nor space can relieve the con-
science Of an honest man from the pay
ment Of a just debt, when possessed OF
adequate ability. Ii is an obligation
that extends through all time and over
all space.
These obligations would doubtless be
felt and respected by many. One sin
gle instance has occurred in the person
of business man ofths city.~ Neither
toflv mountains nor the wide waste of
waters of an intervening ocean, we're
sufficient 10 extinguish their influence in
his honest heart. When the results of
patient industry and successful enter
prise here, had justified the measure,
he traversed those mountains and that
ocean-returned 10 his native country
assemb ed his creditors discharged his
obligations, principal and interest-and
returned to his pursuits in his adopted
country, followed by the proud memo
rial OF the respects and admiration of
his creditors. As ! have scarcely the
honor Of passing acquaintance vita
him, have nothing to do or expect from
him, | cannot be justly charged with
interested motives in expressing nv
spontaneous homage for his virtues, and
sincerely declaring hat | wouI rather
enjoy the proud consciencioV suess aud
unaffected respect resulting, from that
honest son of The Emetnid Isle, than
the proudeN corohet that sparkIes upon
the brow OF the haughliest nobleman Of
England. That is an example of honor
and honesty worthy OF imitation. But
is honor an exclici Will not the indi-
genous plant bloom and flourish in QUE
fertile soil and heaIIhlul cline! Shalt
that brilliant stand forth a solitary ex-
ample of redeemed obIgation2 Surely
the moral and virluous influence of youc
association will prevent III"