Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-05-01
miscellaneous Skeletons.


Horace GRsELY has made the best ar
gument in favor Of Homestead Exemp-
lion in the following article we have ever
read:
The general policy Of exempting cer-
tain necessaries Of life from seizure and
for debt no longer stands in
need Of vindication. The Roman barba-
rism Of selling the debtor to satisfy the
demand of his creditor and the more alb
surd and recent enormity Of shutting him
up in Jail, to be an expense 10 the creditor
aud no benefit 10 himself or any body
else. are now generally exploded. In
stead OF depriving the debtor Of all chance
to earn livelihood, or to support his fam
lily, il is the wiser effort Of our time to en-
courage him to work and earn by reserv-
ing Of his property certain household ar
ncles Ot prime necessity, and his iInple-
snents OF labor from the clutch of the sher-
i'll. And we are very sure that these ex-
emptioDs. though sometimes abused, have
in the main operated justly and benef-
Cially. 4 man hitherto in easy circum-
stances is often rendered bankrupt by
misplaced confidence, by endorsing for
friends by q commercial rcvulsion, or by
q mistaken estimate Of his own resources,
by fire, flood, or some other calamity
OF course. as soon as it is known that he
- unable to pay. everybody insists on be-
ing paid. and his remaining property is
sacrificed for less than half its worth just
when he most needs that il should com
mand its full value. The law. as it has
been, steps in. not to protect and comfort
but to harrass and skin him. until he finds
himself not merely destitute Of property
bur Of the ability TO earn any. His i'm
plenIcnfs Of labor, the shelter Of his fam
lily, their bedding, clothes and cooking
ware, are dragged away and sold for a
song; and he has the pleasant prospect
before him Of seeing any thing that may
be able TO earn carried off and sacrificed
in like manner hcnceforth, without paying
his debts or contributing sensibly toward
that consumaiion. Law costs, eat UP
pretty much all that such small matters
will fetch. and he is if left out Of prison.
hardly better of than If in il. Discour-
aged, despairing. avoided by his sunshine
friends. he IS, in the expressive language
Of the street. rm,nrd. lIe sinks in stupid
lcthargy under the crushing load weigh
less, inefficicnt-very often dependent
idler. pauper. drunkard.
Public sentiment, enlightened by obser-
walton and reflection, has outgrown this
policy and subjected j, to many important
notifications. Imprisonment for Debt is
nearly extinct; liberal exemptions Of i'm
PIGMENTS Of labor and household furniture
have been enacted in most States. includ-
ing our own: and now the question is fair
~ prescnted-'Shall shelter for wife and
children. "a piece Of ground where from
10 grow their food be added to the present
list Of exempted articles! To this ques-
ton we must eInphaticallv answer. Yes!
Let the bankrupt's wife and children have
shelter in spite OF his misfortunes. Let
him still have an assured opportunity TO
labor on and produce from the soil now
that his other resources are cut Off In
our diseased and unsuitable social condi.
ton. the banker Of o-day may be the bank
rupt OF Tomorrow. Let US all in prosper
ny remember the teachings Of adversely
and be merciful.'
Now we know all that may be said.
and have said part of it against the self.
ishness. the dishonesty. the gross culpa-
bility Of large proportion Of the debtor
class. We know that no man has NOR
al right to give entertainments, 10 buy
fine clothes and jewelry. TO inhabit cost
~ house and live sunpuously, while he
Is or pretcnds to be unable to pay his hon
est debts Such man is swindler, no
matter thougl, Hon is attached to it.
We will go as heartily and as far as any
man for furnishing him as swindler but
not for turning his family into the street
on a simple allegation Of debt. Indeed,
it is one of our reasons for urging the fur
ther prosecution Of the Exemption policy
that we wisl, to see loose, idle livers de-
prived Of the facilities they now enjoy for
running in debt. Credit. credit every
where--crcdi, TO men Of doubtful charac-
ter or principlcs-crcdit for articles that
never should be bought except by those
who have the money To pay for them and
more behind it--crcdit absorbing half the
movable capital of the country in chan
ncls where it is least usetul-such credit
is among the sorest evils Of our time
Credit should be given TO the upright, the
frugal and the industrious only--to farm
crs for farmers implements or stock; to
mechanics OF dTtiSatS iOI oI
materials; to forwarders and eNchanpers
to enable them 10 purchase produce with
cash and market il advantageously for all
parties. But credit for silks. pianoes and
Brussels carpets-ior wines. liquors and
peIfumes--ihis is about as common and
as extensive as the right sort. and II is bad
policy to encourage such by Legislation
We did hope thar the mortal blow had
been struck at such credit by the Nation
al Bankrupt Law; but faction and folly de-
stroycd that law just when its evils had
all been encountered and its blessings
were about 10 be experienced. We shall
rejoice if tho same end is reached. to a
more limited extent. by Homestead Ex-
cmption.
M,. Alfred Since. OF the Royal Society
Of England. has published a book on the