Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-11-30
No. 20.

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pockets is, and he should be regarded as being,
dishonest man. If Public Opinion held such con-
duct to be of the same character as theft, proba-
bly, more powerful motive to avoid insolvency
would be established than any which now exists.
Who would not anxiously land therefore, in almost
all cases. successfully struggle against nsolven.
cy, when he knew that i, would be followed, not
by permanent poverty, by permanent dsgracel
If should be said that to act upon such systeu,
would overwhelm an insolvent's energies, keep
him in perpetual inactivity. and deprive his family
Of the benefit Of his exerons--I answer that the
evil, supposing il to impend, would be much less
extensive than may be imagined. The calamity
being foreseen, would prevent men from becoming
nsolvent and it IS certain that the majority might
have-avoided insolvency by sufficient care. Be-
sides, ifa mans principles such that he would
rather sink into inactivity than exert himselfin
der to be just it is not necessary to mould public
opinion TO his character. The question too is, not
whether some men would not prefer Incidence to
the calls OF justice, but whether the public should
judge accurately respecting what those calls are,
The state. and especially family might lose 0c-
casonally by this reform Of opinion and so they
do by sending man to New South Wales bn,
who would think this good reason for seturg
criminals at large! And after ALL, much more
would be gained by preventing insolvency, than
lost by the ill consequences upon the few who
failed to pay their debts. r. :.
ltis cause of satisfaction that, respecting this
rectihed state of opinion and respecting integrity
private virtue, some examples are offered. There
is one community of Christians which holds its
members obliged,o pay their debts whenever they,
possess the ability, without regard to the legal
discharge BY this means, there is thrown over
the character Of every bankrupt who possesses
property, shade which nothing but payment caa
dispel. The effect lin conjunction we may hope
with private integrity Of principle) is good-gool,
both in lnsttuting new motive TO- avoid lnsol-
vency, and in inducing some of those who DO be-
come insolvent, subsequently to pay all tseir
debts.
Of this latter effect many honorable instances
might be given: two which have fallen under, my
observation, would briefly mention.-A man had
become insolvent, believe in early life; his cred
itors divided his property amongs. them, and gave
him legal discharge. He appears to have formed
the resolution to pay the remainder, if his
crtions should enable him to do it, He procured
employment, by which however he never gained
moreihan twenty shillings week; and worked
indusisously and lived frugay for eighteen years.
AT the expiration of this time, he found be had &C.
cumulated enough to pay the remainder, and he
\ T
think, might hope to derive, during the remainder
Of his life, greater satisfaction from the conscious
ness of integrity. than he would have derived from
exPending the money on himself. 1t should be
told that many of his creditors, when they heard
the circumstances, declined to receive the money,
or voluntarily presented it to him again. Oue of
these was my neighbour he had been little; ac-,
customed to exemplary virtue, and the profsrei
| money astonished him he talked in loud COM
mendation of what to him was unheard- OF integ-
rity signed receipt for the amount, and sent
1t back as present to the debtor. The other in.
stance may furnish hints of useful kind Itwas
the case of female who had endeavored to sup
port herself by the profits Of shop. She however
became insolvent, paid some dividend, and re-
ceiyed discharge. She again entered into busi-
ness, and in the. course of years had accumulated
enough to pay the remainder of her debts. But
the in6rmities Of age were now coming on. and
the annual income from her savings was just
sufficient for the wants of declining years. Being
thus at present unable to discharge her obligations
without subjecting herself TO the necessity Of OBJ
tanning relief from others; she executed will,
directing that at her death the creditors should be
paid the remainder of their demands and when
she died they were paid accordingly.
| =" Where any have injured others in their prop
erty, the frugality should be observed by
themselves and their families !; and although they
may have a legal discharge from their credi'oss,
both equity and our Christian profession demand,
that nOne when they have it in their power. should
rest satisfied until jus: restitution be made TO
those who have suffered by them"
".And it is the judgment of this meeting, that
monthly, and other meetings ought not TO receive
caHectons or bequests for the use OF the poor, or
any other services Of the Society, of persons who
have fallen short in the payment of their just debts,
though legally discharged by their creditors: for
until such persons have paid the deficiency, their
possessions canno. in equity be considered as their
own"
| Official Documents of the Yearly Meeting Of
the Society of Friends,