Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-05-06
, F. J. ALFRED, EDITOR.
STAUN TON ],
Monday .Nos%nimg, May g.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
Believing that the people have decided upon
the call of a Convention, we wish to introduce
to the Reformers, for their serious considerations
subject, which, in our opinion, should receive
the warmest support Of every friend of man-a
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTlON--or, in other
words, exempting from sale, for debt, the home
Of the widow and the orphan, and all who have
the charge of families. II is not expected that
recommendation such as this will meet with
much favor from these soulless individuals who
have so often heard the cries of the unfortunate,
without afording relief, and who have often
been the means Of driving from their "humbls
shed' those who had none to protect Them after
having first disposed of their little effects, to Sat.
isfy the demands of him who loved nothing but
tho almighty dollar" The finger of God ha,
written that man shall live by the ssweat of his
brow,"-yea, His mouth has spoken it-and all
who have preceded us and all who are to follow.
until the end OF Time, must obey this law of the
Great Supreme. "The Earth is the Lords and
the fulness thereof" and yet how many suffer
sands Of paternal acres, laughs almost to ecorn
ut the humble poor, as he grudgngly grants him
leave to toll" But it is not the difficulty of
obtaining employment, or the small compen.a-
ton that men receive for their labor, to which
We would excite enquiry-it is the placing be-
yond the oppressor's reach, that home which all
may acquire by honest industry, and to which
~ &hn cofC II III
AK tho consideration of the people of Virginia.
Let no one suppose we are about to raise an a.
grarian cry for the equal distribution of prop
erty or the demagogucal one of the poor against
the rich. Far from it. The object is nobler one,
and should enlist in its favor the man Of wealth;
and if carried out, would afford to him greater
security for what he does possess, than an army
bristling with bayonets. II is simply, to en-
graft upon the new Constitution, that hereafter,
in Virginia, the Homestead shall be exempt
from sale, for debt-that all men, having farni-
lies to support, should have the privilege of rear
ring and supporting their families, by securing
30 them the homes they mag aequire-not exceed
Ing in value, say $500 This is no fraud upon
the public-it isno bankrupt law, to be made
for the benefit of the bankrupt, and to prevent
creditors from recovering their just debts-nei-
ther is it 10 encourage the idle to still greater in
activity-it is to infringe upon no contract that
has been entered into, or that may hereafter be
made-but it is to secure to man a "ltle spot of
earth' that he can call his own, and which may
not be wrested from him.
This is no new scheme. II is one that has
been adopted by nearly one-half the States of
this Union, and is either made part of the funda-
mental law, or has been the subject of special
enactment. The Legislature of New York has,
within the past few days, passed law, re.erving
property to the amount of $1,000, which shall
be exempt from seizure, and why may not vir
GINA have Homestead exemption, as well az
other States-professing Republicanisn, many
Of her people are wishing to enjoy the
"larsest liberty" themselves they would make
slaves Of others. If such a provision be
made in the new Constitution, better day will
dawn upon virginia-crime will be diminished:
Education will advance-the aims houses will
not contain as many paupers-and, instead of
the misery and wretchedness as often witness
cd, we shall see cheerful and happy faces.
These remarks are thrown out for the consid-
Grafton Of Reformers, and our object now is to
call the attention of the press-particularly the
Democratic portion of ito the subject. We
should like to hear the opinions Of the press,
and hope they will speak out and in favor Of the
measure.
70 The Spectator says that instead Of making
merry over s'the alarms of Whgdom" in order
to Conceal the sadness of cur own countenance
at the result OF the election, we had better see if
there is no dissension around our own "camp-
fires" There is less, we presume, than in the
Wing wigwam. The Spectator says Zone thing is
certain, the Wings know how to head Capt. Ty-
LER. Without arrogating anything to the
leaders in the Democratic party, another thing is
equally certain-had their advice been followed
Mr.. ABNEY would have been elected, and Capt
TYLER, as in former instance, would have
headed the Wings. We are Inclined to the opin-
ion that the Wings are not very well pleased at
the result of the election, as they were COM
PEELED to make "Hobson's choicen among their
did not all vote the Democratic ticket, but that
was not owing to any objection to the second
nominee, but to the lateness of the hour at which
that nomination was made, and when, too, it
was not expected-many having determined as
to their choice. These Democrats, we think.
did wrong, in not voting the ticket, as the re.
suit has proven-for. if they had voted other
wise, ABNEY would have been elected, and then
there would have been s'wailing and gnashinp
of teeth" in Augusta. On the score of sadness,
as to the result, we think we can play atquts,'
because. (and we speak on Wing authority ma
ny members Of that party voted for candidate
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