The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-02-03
VOL V.
IA.

pOooiolV OhpSoiCbt - iSoo' ~ w. W
order TO confer exclusive and import:
ant privileges upon bankers, and at the
same time erempl them from the opera
ton Of just and wholesome laws--it is
high time that the hand Of projection
should be held out to the poorer, more
numerous and more worthy classes. OF
community. And who are those who
would reap the advantages Of the
Homestead exemption. That large
class of citizens. and their families, who
dig the wealth of your State from the
soil--who build your roads and canals,
who erect your noble edifces, and
beautify your towns and cities--tile
first to take'up arms in defence Of your
Iiberties--the same class Of men who
have carried US triumphantly through.
two wars 1T home, and carried the A.
merican flag tr%iumphan,ly to the far
south and west; placed it VIGOROUSLY
upon the ancient walls Of Montezuma,
and raised it in triumph on the shores
of the Pacific. This is the class that
will reap the most benefit from this
law. The bulworks of freedom in war;
the pillars of government in peace.
The miser, the %moneyed Shylock, the
Banker, the SPECTATOR. 1t is against
the ruthless touch of these wiley men,
that we ask the Homestead to be pro.
tected--yet we do not desire TO prevent
them from also securing its advantages.
Nothing tends 70 form a happy. con
ten,el, Woodworking ycomanry, at
tached to their country and its insiitu.
tons, so much as a direct and perma-
nent interest in The soil they cultivate.
So in an equal proportion, nothing can
tend SO much to enhance the happiness,
virtue, family love, intelligence and in
dependence Of the people, as the GER
tainly that amid all the revulsions of
trade. all the speculations and eompe-
titions Of commerce, the family Home
stead cannot be wrested from them,
and that they may improve and adorn
it with fawers, vines and shrubbery;
w,,h fruit, shade, and ornamental trees,
and render it a rural paradise for the
shelter of Old age, and the retreat and
enjoyment o! innocence and youth
conscious that It is their own beyond
all contingencies! .,! a..
In a country like ours, where all
classes are rushing into competitions in
trade-in speculalions of every grade
and character, and where the whole
currency Of the country is under the
control of corporations, who can, by
"erpanSion,''~ encourage the most dam
gerous and unlimited specuIations; and
by "conlractions'' at their will, produce
the most overwhelming and disasti Gus
revulsions; it is a truly wise and benef-
cent measure that will place the family
Homestead b'yoni the reach of all
these conflicting elements! 1t is need
less here to portray the sad and misera.
BILE condition of theunfnrlunate debtor.
who has, with his wife and helpless
children been driven from his home by!
the misfortune or improvidence ottfsde
every Senator's memory is full Of
such scenes! In times Of speculation,
we hear much of the fortunate makers
of fortunes; but we hear nothing o[,the.
great numbers who suffer loss; except
when some gigantic failure precipitates
hundreds into distress and ruln--or
when some pistol sho reveals the men,
tai distress ofsome gambler, not the less
one because he plays with the fctions
of commerce and stocks, instead of
dlce.A Bulin all such revulsions, thou
sands of ppbr laborcrs, farmers, or ne
chanics, must suffer while the millionaire
who has ruined himself and them, wip-
es out all lis Obligations with a Nation
al Bankrupt spunge!
On whatever side we look; under.
every aspect in which we can view
this subject, the same admonition stares
US IN the face! Project The Poor-and
above all protect the Homestead Of, tie,
poor mans family, This admonition,
ought to be the most important study of
the Legislator and of the Governmspk.
Protect the poor, for in their preearis
ouslcondition they cannot contend with,
the rich without every day losing somel
oftheir advantages; protect the. poory
that they may keep by law, by custom,
by a perpetual exemption, rather than
by competition that source ofirivalry
and hatred-that interest in the soft
which the God Of nature designed hey
should retain, and 10 which their toll,
entities them; that they may rest 10.
securityi increase in knowledge and
virtue; and become what they ought
to, be, the very pillars of our Govern
ment.yp s2,isem9h eoalq o. 80 ,s1olaa 10 tbasn|
But, TO return from this 'digressiony
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