Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-17
THE COLLECTION LAWs-Tnr Wiscoss1x
R6Us.

| HI COLLECTION LAWS-TnE WIscoSsIS
AReUs
In arguing the question, we took The ground thai
jHsre does not demand statute laws for the collec
ton OF debts, because no such laws existing COM
pelllng credits that which was voluntary on one
side, should be left equally so on the other. To
this the Argus dissents and says:
| Laws do exist compelling men to give credit;
not statute laws it is true but laws far more potent
IN their operations than legislative enactments can
be-the laws of production and Observation-Disclosures
which rannot be violated without innicting public
injury repealed but by the dissolution OF civil
zeA society"
This position Of the Argus with reference TO Gre
dts is correct and the correctness OF it furnishes US
tie very best and in fact the only argument
sary TO sustain the ground we take for we contend
that these same imperative laws which compel Gre
dts will equally, if not ntertered with, compel
payments; because as the welfare and existence OF
society demand the former must of necessity de
nand the latter for they both result from the same
prime and the latter is necessary TO the existence
Of the former
/ We believe position 10 be evidently correct.
and we therefore demand that the Argus show ,chy
the imperative laws of trade which compel credits
will stop there without extending their operations
to payments why, if the existence OF civilized
society eompcs credits its existence will not equal
ly compel payments which are necessary TO the ex-
isence OF credits, and consequently necessary to the
existence Of society in short will the Argus tell
tchy it cuts the principle short off after it has
accomplished one result without allowing it to fu
/ ill all results which OF necessity flow from it.
If the Argus cannot Give good reasons for its po,
-tion, aud We do not see how can on what ground
viii it adv oca'e the rcrrotnation Of these lavs}
If not Gcmlnded by justice, are they necessary?
The Argus say: the mrerath laws OF trade are
more powerful than legislative enactmcnts can be
/ There can be no necessity then npermtting weak
and consequently inelc ent agent, to usurp the du
ty and place OF a more powerful and consequently
more efficient one.
Do they assist credits!
Here again, if the imperative laws of trade lie
more powerful than legislative enactlnents their
operations must be more beneficial; consequently
credit would be by them placed on a MORE safe and
substantial basis than il now occupies. The statu-
tory collection laws tend TO destroy rather than as
credit bocase they haya usurred the place and
destroyed the influence OF the healthy laws of pro-
ductlon and Distribution without furnishing any
stable basis instead. The honest man needs not
their Intervention, and they have never vet been
framed ard never will be 10 compel payment of the
4 .bCupst u.
the creditor for the payment of his debt. We ask
that the weak and inefficient agent be set aside and
that the imperative and all powerful and steady and
unhuctuating laws of trade be permitted to resume
their healthy operation.
Are they economical!
Here again is we'll to start from first principles
If the imperative laws OF trade be more powerful in
their operation than legislative enactmcnts can be,
necessary result credits must he upon a sa:cr
basis and debts more generally and more promptly
collected. Thus to the creditor would be saved his
debt, aud to The labor of the country, the immense
amounts lost in the shape of costs. But We cannot
iorbear to enlarge on this topic. Two hundred
millions of dollars, annually, taking the country at
's' wa 'o' N'o'' '''" pay 'i'' VI VIC
co'Iecoon laws Aou 10 inns 'l'e immense amount
Ios' Oy the absence rom Inc ne'u Oh productive Id
ooF O. ''e most ol me-" no" "'''o''aO'y e"'Pi0ye'
in executing these laws, and we have another sum
equal IN amount drawn directly from the pockets
o the "hor "' 'he country iour huhureu hlilltohS
oil oo'ars al moderate estimate inc 'aoor OIL the
country Is take" 70 sustain 'hese laws "h'cn are
SNOW" Il" every point o. We" 10 DC useless. Is II
matter 'or surprise 'nN' I'ooF Is NE crushed ana
COW" uoooe' '"4"T IL - WIN 'n'S ehollHo"S lodu
seat dr5iu were STOPPED, before productive labor
would rise 10 the high place now occupied by those
engaged IN mische'ous and uuprodncti'e pursuits