The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-27
COMMUNICATION.
lJSURY.

USURH.
To THE EDITOR OF THE PEOPLES Pass
SIR-as there appears to he pause at
present IN the news making world, would it
not be favorable time to call the attention
of community 10 some of the evils by which
society are afflicted-premisns that there is
always something which needs the correct
ing influence % the Press acting upon pub
lie opinion, thereby extirpating e, Ills of both
public and private adoption. Progression
is the order of this enlightened age md to
doubt is no longer objectionable save in the
eyes If the ignorant the bigoted or the in
terested. find as an evil which stands prom
inent among the many that might be named,
is our present law regulating usury. for
one doubt its utility doubt its efficiency,
and doubt the wisdom Of the power that
placed II upon our statute book, in ITS pres
ent form, and hope that every person who
shall entertain similar views with my own,
will promptly come fOrw ard and help place
the seal of condemnation upon land for
one, think that the conductors of the Press
could not be more acceptaLiy employed, or
confer more lasting benefits OH community,
than by turning their tremendous engine
against this law, and the gnrigh,eous prac-
tees grown UP under it. I he distress and
ruin brought upon community by Fudden
commercla or oIber reverses which shall
greatly depress the price of labor aud the
produce thereof. is calamity very grieynus
but which human prudence and foresight
have never as yet been wholly able to avoid
aud therefore is To he expected and horne
with whatsoever philosophy we can, and set
to the score of thin. that will happen But
we contract debts in prosperous times when
labor finds ready reward AID the produce
theI eOf II ready market-when the rich cap
ital'st and the selfish mi>er will di>gOrge their
hoard, tempting by their seeming good IN
tent and re- +sOnable terms, the acceptance of
credits, ~ the time founded on the reasona-
BILE hope of continued prosperity. The re-
verse comes, and with il the rapaciOus de
manis of the Insurer, who, ever watchful
and eager, is like the tabled vampire, ready
to suck the life blood of his tnsnared and
unfortunate Y ctim of debtor In VAIN shall
the poor man plead the hardness of the
times, the general depression of business,
aud all the unlocked for things that have
tended TO enbarrass his affairs. The credi
tor does not want his pay, hut must have
more inter est, and with an authoritative air,
says pay me sir I0-I2-l5, or 20 per cent.
(as the case may hey regulating his demands
by the ratio OF his victims necessity: AMI
turn what way he will, the saTe fate awaits
lut pOOI utbNpi1 VIM - W btati UP
under the weight of an increased rate of in.
terest; and if he rejects the demand, his
goods are seized aud slcrific' d., and himself
and family robbed of their home and per-
haps driven 10 earn their daily bread by per-
forming nenial services for the author Of
their ruin, or driven To drag Oui n miserable
exisienc" amid the Presidential hogs and mo-
rasseS o. the far west This sir, is no iic-
lion; no work Of the imPrinatiOn, or of II
dislempercd fancy-'tis real life-'tis an ev-
cry day transaction liz this 5 ate. mySrlf
have witnessed 1t in many instances for the
year past Ills a growing evil and must be
stopped. But, says some Interested money
lender, does not the law provide a remedy!
What! the Law Il remedy, oh! m1ckery -
What an INSULT Who so simple that does
not know the ease with which the law is eva
ded, and who so blind that has not seen the
bold practice under IT. Point u. not then "a
the law for projections; il hut adds insult 10
injury; and under lis inelhcacy the money
lender rides securely and wakes fat upon
the hard earned pittance of the honest la
borer, aud becomes saucy and Overbearing,
upon the strength and importance impaired
to him hy his III gotten gains Now, after all,
the lender of money * not so much to he
blamed for tits an Inefficient law that temprs
weak pliable conscience of man To eyade lis
provisions aud commit the treSpass ON the
rights of THEN fellow 5cings, and to the law
would charge the evil and nothing short
of its amendment, ~ as to render it an ef
ficent agent for correcting the evil of uSury.
will ever satisfy the community in Addison
county: and believe THAT by calling the at
tention of the people TO this subject. it may
be easily corrected. And would just hint,
that in my opinion, candidates for our next
Legislature ought to be selected with I'M eye
to this very thing. ! hope Mr.. Editor that
If your views should coincide with mine,
that you will call the attention of the free
mon not only Of this county hut of the
whole State 10 the subject, by publishing this
some other communication that may he
more appropria ., aud am sure that your
already invaluable paper will find increased
patronage, and yourself he the recipient of
the sincere thanks of many Of the freenlen
of Vermont w.