Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-07

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

Our impression is that the homestead exemp
ton is bound to succeed. Like the abolition OF
Imprisonment for Debt, it at first conflicts with
long established notions-but like that project,
too, it appears likely TO work its way into public
favor. We give the following for reflection.
Several of the States have within few years
passed laws exempting honesteads, embracing
certain quantity of land, and not exceeding a
specified value, from attachment, levy or sale
uoon execution Such law should be among
the statutes of New Hampshire. Honest pow
erty is not crime. 1t should not be punished
as such. Much less should it be visited as
such, upon the poor mans wife and children.
In this country every family should have a home.
1t is wha, all need, and what all have right to.
The earth was created for man, and man for the
earth. And without adopting the ultra theories
of ultra refornors, we hold that every man, wo-
man ard child upon the earth, has an indeeasi.
Lle right to place to live, which they may call
their own and from which no human power hus
right to drive them. The foxes have holes oil
their own, and the birds Of the air have nests
and man has right TO home, where he may
lay his head.
We know many will regard this, ut the first
blush, as another attempt TO legislate for the
"poor debtor against the poor creditor" We
de not so look upon it, We do not so mean it.
Upon debts contracted before the passage Of the
law, it will not operate. For the collection OF
all existing liabilities, the same remedies will
exist as at present; while debts contracted hero
after will be contracted in full view of the law.
and of the resources upon which the creditor
must rely for his pay. But we do not believe
the existence OF II law exempting homeseads
from legal process will weaken the trust wor.
thiness of any honest mainland scarcely OF n
dishonest man. Tear from a man his home and
you make HIM vagabond. Turn his family up
on the cold world, with no place they can call
their own, and half his manhood dies. His in.
dependence is gone; and with it his self re-
specl, and, too often, his sense Of honor. The
bright hopes for himself and family, which have
thus far cheered him forward, 90 down in the
cloud of difficulties that press around hin. lie
feels himself pauper, and ceases TO care whose
bread lie eats, or from whose granary he feeds
his wife and little ones.
Otherwise, far, is it with him who can eat ev-
en- the bread of poverty upon his own hearth
stone. The world may be cold whout-afllc-
ton and want may be within; he can look up TO
God and down on those God has given him, and
be superior to all his Affections. lie is man,
and his own man. HIS wife and children are
his, under Gods and they have home, from
which no merciless creditor may drive them
snoct 10 himself and lave IN HE ra,niI nl,Io nro
ter, him lro,n dishonor and olo i, sn,,rn =,
Jnfra,I mo VIM b;,, H. 'h ="
roo,,IIo h,s nrar,a , @
f,",s ubr ''I IONS r',u ne pushes
'no %an I'"r' o.,iy' ''''"'i'''"ii'o'' "' "oulu
iJo,nos,oaLs GIs III nnd ,to,, i,o,;...,.,. l..
any process not entirely voluntary, would, IN our
belief, prove "A more efficient rauacca Tor all the
n, " '"e p'e9o"' olsull'Al'oh OF So
10y tnI' an !no co.ieSes pen"ehiarlrs, nos
P'"'s u"u Pu''lo ctidI"leS 'hat Tue "otid mas eV-