Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-03-17
WASHINGTON, D. c, Feb. p, 1915.

iof though, IN some respects falls short OF our
| wishes we have the satisfaction of knowing that il
will receive general support, and that we shall
I have ample scope, through future legislation to
/ present and advocate the Improvements which are
called for by the condition and necessities and las
/ / believe demanded by the experience and inteli,
I gence OF the people. In no one thing is a reform
wanted more than in the practice Of law Nothing
under Heaven presses with such crushing weight
upon the prosperity and well-being of the people
as the enormous loss of time and the expense which
attends the present system of administering jus'ire
{ 50 called between man and man in our Courts
and il is matter of surprise that the people do not
unite and en- demand a thorough change or
an entire ahrosatiou of the collection laws and the
practice under them
That provision of the Constitution which creates
for the several townships boards of concilation is
much good Let it furnish the ground work OF
Gnttiga,ion Socete', and Jet those societies like
the sons of Temperance, commence the onslaught
OF that greatest of all foes 10 our prosperity and
harmony, Litigation The good work, once com
uenced, Will 60 on until all Will wonder at and
pity the folly of past generations who were given
over to thc perpleXties and penalties If cunnngly
devised fables and 10 the wrath OF contention and
les
] have been somewhat amused as we'll as sur
prised by the arguments with which your neighbols
OF the Argus met the proposition TO abolish laws
for the collection Of debt il appeared TO ne that
our friend John Y worked himself up into an I'M
necessary state Of alarm touching the state in which
the taH Of pe;ti.ogsery and litigation would bring
mankind, lie could rot have imagined il possible
Tor civilized beings 10 get along aay ho,c without
the aid IF lawyers aud courts to interfere IN the
business transactions OF men, and in the collection
OF debts! But, really, think lie would have little
alarm and not much argument upon the subject, if
he had lived in the mining country Jeforc law and
courts and lawyers found their way there 1Hsn
a man felt himself IN honor bo,ad 10 pay every just
ocbt Noe il the lac calls upon him 10 pay he
feels himself called upon 10 maintain has nights, and
by ialc TO defeat his creditor, il possible, or keep
him out Of his demand as long as chicanery and
legal trckery will enable him TO do so.
4 man living not many miles from my farm.
once lost good mare in betting on horse race.
Tie day after lie caught his mare on the prairie,
and sent her to the winner, And yet, this man. at
the time had two or three suits depending against
him for small demands, the whole not the value of
the mare he lost in bet, tue payment of which he
could have avoided What made him pay the bet?
"A sense Of honor-a feeling that he would be
pointed at as poor devil whose ,cord could not be
trusted?
How long would it be- were laws for the cocc-
ton of debts abolished, before men would be ashoni-
ed to break their ,cord whether given orally or in
writing how long before it would be deemed
dis3oaoraJ1e dsspcoJic and mean. Of any one to
wrong ncghb5r by obtaining his goods without
making payment according to the letter OF the pro-
mise The truth is that laws for Tie collection OF
debts have served shield and cover to dIshones-
t. meanness. and knayery; and until they abol-
ishcd there will be no PEACE on earth nor good
will to men, and in this view ! am confirmed by
the opinions and convictions OF some OF the oldest
and ablcst lawyers among my acquaintance. 1t is
not that have felt the halter draw, that have
poor opinion Of the law for have no rccoI-
lection of ever sucing a man for deb in my life;
and in but two or three instances have been sued
and in those instances the persons bringing suits
were in nv debt or had made up improper account,
against tnr which they helped TO ecolcr By the
lrickcry AID uncertainty Of tie practice OF the
u,