Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-12-16
O. Tn, Bank Article has been throw

O. Tn Bank Article has been thrown
into the shade; and tho grea, subject Of
,ulk and discussion now is,,he Article late.
Is adopted by the Convention on the rights
Of oourried women, and on exemptions from
fo-ced sale. The views entertained are
ofccurse very diverse; many condemning in
lie most emphatic terms, the whole thing,
and predicting, as the problble results, ru-
IN % the bus ness interests Of the news ale,
md entire destruction 10 the credi, sysen.
We have nothing to say, al present. as to
The fra, section of the article, any farther
than that we can think Of no particular OBJ
jections 10 it; but in reference to the Sec
ord, we must be permitted TO offer few
hnsy, il not brief, remarks.
The proposed exemption is but an cx.
tension ofthe principle which at first secu.
red the body Of the debtor from executions;
and which, under present laws, secures his
household property from forced sale. OF
how much consequence was il TO the debtor
that his body could lie saved from prison,
while yet he could be deprived Of the
means Of obtaining q subs ;stence, and his
family, as beggrs, turned into the street,
That principle of humanity which interpo-
SGD to prevent Imprisonment for debt, also
inierposed to secure to the debtor enough
of household property 10 meet his family
wants and the necessary articles or tools
10 prosecute his trade. Al this being found
TO work bene6cialy, the next step would
naturally be TO exempt the homes,eads Of
families also from forced sales; for, if it be
right, and III accordance with tho dictates
Of humanity, 10 secure the body OF the debt
or, and his household property, from exc.
cuion, it cannot BIO otherwise than right,
on the same principle, to secu.e to him his
home. Indeed, if the principle OF exemp-
lions be admissible at all, and if, in the ap.
pl cations already made, its results are
found TO be good, is it not safe 10 predic.
that legitimate carrying out Of the prin.
ciple will be attended with results still
better? And who will be disposed to con.
tend that q" exemption of 40 acres OF land
to the farmer, and a village or city home
stead not exceeding in value $1,000 to the
mechanic and Iaborer, is more than legit-
mate carrying-o out of the principle7 The
security Of homestead, which moy have
been acquired by years Of paten, toll and
industry, is the most essential thing to the
permanent comfort and welfare OF "A fam-
ly, and being deprived Of this, most men
would value but lightly exemptions Of per-
son ard personal property, or have much
Of that spirit left which would render them
valuable 10 their families, and the commu-
nifty. How much family distress, and want,
and misery, would have been prevented,
and how many husbands and fathers saved
from ruin, had constitutional provisions,
such as those referred 10, been generally
and always in existence, are not questions
for finite minds 10 determine. Inone point
Of view alone the beneficial results would
have been of magnitude sufficient 10
throw entirely and forever into the back
ground all the objections which human in
genuil, could have started. The drunk.
ards grave has lis thousands OF victims,
whose credit with the ram>sciler was bas-
Cd upon the family homestead, and whose
suin was precipila!cdthItthe avaricious traf-
ECKER in poisonous drugs might the sooner
gel possession Of the property which he
coveted. Ii was sufficient that man pos
sessed a comfortable homestead; this was
enough 10 excite the cupidity of the rum
$ Her, aud 10 induce him TO use his arts 10
draw in. aud draw on, the unsuspecting
cim. until his ruin and that Of his fam.
is, in being rendered houselcss and home
less, was fully accomplished. The law,
however, now proposes 10 present bar
ri.r, and to compel tho rum.seller 10 stop
short OF The cnliro ruin OF The nebriale and
his family. "Bui," says The objec:or, this
evil will not be remedied under the new or
der Of things, for he who is predisposed TO
indul gences Of The character alluded to.
may give security 10 the rum seller upon
his homestead, and thus The same results,
as now, be the consequence" A provision
OF the section, which we will quote, answers
this objection. "Nor shall the owner, if.
married man, be at Liberty 10 ALLEVIATE such
real estate, uRleSs by consent Of his rife"
Here, then, is an adequate security Cor the
wife. in The possession OF the homestead,
against any liabilities Of the character sug.
ges'ed. And while the wife, in this, aud
other respects, is thus far secure from the
evil results of husbands vicious extrav-
agances or indulgences, the husband also
is secure, 10 the same extent, from the fool
ish or vicious ex,ravagances Of the wife,and
both, with their family, are secure in the
possession Of home and the means Of sub