Indiana State sentinel., 1847-12-16

Free Ho,nesfeads.

Legislature, at the present session, enact a law
empting the homestead of every family of two or
persons from execution and sale for any debt
obligation thereafter contracted q"
This question is certainly of vast importance to
the people of this State, and it is hoped that the Le
gslature will take it under consideration at early
day of the session.
Several of the older States have laws this SUBJ
Jec and the great wonder Is, that all of the States
have not had laws in existence this subject long
ago. But it seems that we ''hasten slowly in any
great improvement in legislative policy. 1t requires
centuries to make a single important improvement
single advance: and when it is made, men think
strange why it were not attained at once.
In ages gone by, il thought by some nations,
that the misforunes of debtor should subject him
to severe punishment to Imprisonment, 10 slavery, 10
even death itself Not only this, but the laws OF
some governments in the days Of their babarity and
savage inhumanty, went 50 far as to subject the
wife and children of the debtor to perpetual servtude
and slavery. But such laws could only obtain among
people in the lowest state of barbarism and heather
darkness.
Yet such was the law of Rome in the time of the
decemvirs; but such laws had pass away before the
march Of enlightened St age after age,
and century after century passed away and the unor-
tunate debtor continued to be punished by imprson-
ment though that would satisfy the debt, or bene
fit the creditor The debtor subjected TO this spe
cies of slavery and his family to destitution and MI
sery, without any practical good resulting; but in
stead of good, inconcevabe evil. Well, this blind
policy has almost entirely passed away, and wiser
one been adopted. The inbuman Shylock may weep
this well the ten thousand other relics of
servtude and oppression which are no more.
Under such system of Legislation as we have spo
ken of, the aggandizement and qualification of the
malice of the Few consulted more than the good,
the comfort and the happiness of the Many. Then
the people knew not their rightS,-Or If they knew
them, they had the power the ability to main
tain enforce them.
But the efforts of the patriot and philanthrOpist of
all ages, have not been made in vain: no and the
people are aware of this-they aware that they
now possess greater rights and greater comforts than
those who lived in other times they know that they
can now demand, (and with some hope of success,)
that which they may deem conducive TO their greater
happiness and comfort. The most humble, well
the most powerful now, in this country, have
a voice in shaping the legislation which is to govern
him. Hence, legislation is beginning to be shaped
more with regard to the general and absolute wants
of the people
But although it be true that much has been done,
still much remains TO be accomplished.
We need not now advert TO that system of leglsla-
ton in Europe and elsewhere, which has produced
much destitution want and pauperism. with inevila
bic attendants appalling vice. crime and misery, which
renders the suffering of the that country
hdeous; no, it is full well known-the starving mil
lions there rise in attesaton of the execrable sys
TEN.
Then let us look around, and while it is to-day,
raise our hands stay such evils from overtakng
own heaven-favored land. Already, in of the
older States we destltution and want prevailing
to an alarming extent, the evils of which, need
not now detail since every journal is filled with
account of them The anxious inquiry now seems to
be, show shall those evils be arrested, how shall they
be avoided" They cannot be arrested by subjectng
tie destitute 10 greater want, and greater desnuon;
bv cir hx
more rigid, and more degrading No; the general
conclusion now seems to be, that the most efectual
way prevent such evils, is to allow every family,
under whatever circumstances, the privilege of ac
quiring and holdings exempt from execution and sale,
a sufficient amount of property to meet the absolute
wants. and afford the absolute comforts of life. This
can be done by exemptng from execution and sale
the Homestead to limited amount, and necessary
amount of personal property. And surely this could
do nobody any wrong; for when one individual enter
ed into an engagement with another, he would do so
knowing what TO rely upon. Such law could have
retrospective bearing whatever-it could operate
only on the future engagements of the parties. Who
can doubt the beneficial effects of law making such
an exemption! Who then will Withhold his hand
from this act Of bene6cence Let this measure
sumo to party grounds-let the Legislature act did
the Legislature of the great State of New York on
this subject, with eye single to the public good.
In the opinion of the humble writer, law making
more to prevent desitution and want with their
attendants, vice and crime than any other legislation
that could be adopted.
That certainly is blind system of beneyolence
which robs with one hand and bestows IN an osenslbe
manner charity with the other.
While man can, he toiH. Bat darken every window
of hope-interpose insurmountabe barrier between
man and the requirement of the absolute comforts of
fe-cut him off from all resources but lcages-slare
ry; reduce him to- this sad alternative, and once
feeling Of despair is aroused which awakens demon
and precipitates him in the downward track to ruin
A thus reduced, with a family 10 maintain, (to
say nothing about educaon) goes forth bereft dis
heartened and discouraged his desire to pay, main
tain and educate his family is crushed beneath the
weight of his inability to do So
But with Homestead (small though it might be)
for himself and family, with position in society," his
independent and manly feelings would not be Destroy
ed, the soul of hope would not he darkened; hence,
he would 90 forth to labor cheerly, with more energy
and with far better prospect of III retriev-
ing his endorsements; at least to do what the laws
of God and human society require him to do; to sup
port, and give his offspring moral and virtuous train
ing Let the Legislature then be acuated by expert
and enlightened reason, and pass the law pro-
posed, and will have at done much in the cause
of humanity.
The writer imagnes that he can, without any pro-
phetic aid, penetrate the veil of few coming years,
and the lowly and frugal cotager's little children,
yet unborn smiling their cheerful smiles and lisping
with praise the of those who afforded them by
the timely law their little humble, though happy
home, the needful boon, the very which would
afford them food and Clothes the absolute wants of
life. But here, perhaps, the proud unfeeling nabob
will smile the contempuous smile; but let him remem-
Der that none so high, but they may be brought