The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-09-01

has conducted THIS canvass mas won hlui 0ialh-
guisbed honor, and WHEELER successful or no,
IN the election, the zeal, which he has manifest
cd in his powerful efforts to overthrow the doc
trine Of Reputation, viii not only recommend
him 10 his party here, but create for him warm
interest in the heart Of every advocate Of nation
al Justice and honesty throughout tho onlighi-
enod world Bot we have no fears for tie result
orthis contest; the people have been thoroughly
awakened, they have opened their eyes to The
enormity Of The doctrine with which they were
deluded, they have Niinosscd their humiliation
and shame, the scornfal and contempiuous cpl
thets which have been hurled upon their State,
they feel The degraded position, which they &C.
cupy in the moral estimation Of the world, and
they have determined to recover their lost name
and regain their former station in the society
Of honest men.
Thesuhjoiued remarks, which We copy from
the N. Y. Tribune, upon that most niquitous
and disgraceful measure usually called "Brs-
Goes bilr'present &C orrect view otthe measure.
One Of the objects Of that bill, as was con-
fessed by Mr.. Leake ofthis coun ty who supper
ted It, was 10 release the debtors Of the banks.
Fortunately after it passed the lower House it
was defeated in the Senate, and TO Gen.
Speights credit be was one ofthe few Loco
Fccos who opposed them IN their vote on this
measure.
REPUTATION AND BANKRUPTCY.
The Albaay Alias, with the real instinct Of
the Barn-burning school TO which It belongs,
comes promptly TO the aid Of its Mississippi
brethren, in their attempt to cheat the credi-
tors Of their insolvent Banks. In commmen-
ting on our expose Of sRepudation in Blossom,
the Atlas represents the controversy in the
Mississippi Legislature as one respecting athe
law depriying the ins0lvent Banks Of their cor
porale poweis." Again. "The Tribune and
It's associates appear 10 us never to feel The OBJ
legations Of political morality 80 strongly as
when corporations are assaied." This IS The
language either Of gross ignorance or define
rate knaverv There was ~ question before
he legislature involving the rights or inter-
esls OF corporations. The Banks are dead,
and both parties in the Legislature are in favor
Of winding them up; the only question is, shall
thew be 90 wound 10 as TO preserve the rights
Of their creditors, The holders of their unpaid
notes, de-, or not! The Wings said yes, The
Regulators, no; the latter insisted that the
bill should be SO drawn IS to strike dead at
once every obligation due to those Banks
The Wings were overpowered in the House,
but rallied in the Senate, were joined by the
better portion of the Loco Focos, and prevailed;
and the House had to concur or de eat the
measure. And here comes the Atlas, Justify.
ing an outrageous swindIe, after its very au.
thors have been shamed out oft.
The Atlas 5eies the Bankrupt Law and its
advocates as its nature prompts. That Law
we know TO be unpopular, but nothing can
shake our deep conviction that II was at once
humane and polite merciful and inst. Il gave
to the Creditor al the effects Of the Debtor,
and the Debtor al opportunity to earn more for
his family. What would the Atlas have differ
ent from this Must the unfortunate, penni-
less de btor remln helpless boudmau for ever!
Who is TO be benefited II he had involved
himself by using funds entrusted TO him, the
Bankrupt Law did not release him, il any dis
honesty, any fraud, any eoncealment Of proper
~ is euer proved, then the Bankrupt's dis
charge is null and void. What more! VIII
nothing satisfy the Atss and its allies, but the
hearts blood Of the poor debtor the last crust
torn from his famishing children
But the Atlas asserts that debtors fraudulent
" canceHed their debts, yet retained their
property, under the Bankrupt Law. Pro.
baby some did so; yet this could ohly be by
means Of the grossest perjury. With this
they could have derauded Their creditors With
out a Bankrupt Law, and been just as safe as
they now are, since detection 10 any fraud in
the exhibit Of their property will noag annul
their discharge. The assertion that the law was
framed and intended to favor such fraud is one
which no honest man could make.
Niae-tenJhs Of all the the debts Of which the
| legal obligation was annulled BY the Bankrlpt
Law had been long due, and could not be- col
ecied. They we're, to all inlents, Of no value.
Il otherwise, why were they not collected !
| The legal remedy on a debt which the debtor
will pay when he chooses, and cannlt be
made TO pay before, is worthless; il may Just as
well be annulled as not We lost (as the phrase
goes) a great many debts BY Bankruplcy-al
the savings OF eight years hard laboF--and we
were better off AFTER than before this consum
nation. There can be no poorer business
than trying to collect money Of those who can
/ pay It.
And now what analogy is there between
Bankruptcy and Reputation In the one
case the debtor, proving that he has no means
Of payment, is released from the terror Of lega
eompusion-permitted to plant and rear with
out dread that another will stepin and take the
fruit which bic family needs for lis subsistence
that the moral obligation to pay bic debt when.
ever he shall be able remaining wholly unaffec
ted. He is liberated On the proof he cannot pay
In the other case, the Repudiaior shakes h.
purse in he face Of his ruined creditor, ant
boasts that he IS able TO pay but win nor a sin
gle cent Ths mind which can confound thess
and see no difference between them must b,
incapable Of Distinguishing honesty from fraud
misfortune from crime.
MOTHERS LOVE.