The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-11-27
For The Spirit Of Democracy,
Homestead Exemption.

i.
its citizens. Many Of the most favored
countries in the world are at the present
time far outstripped by others possessing
not one half their advantages. Spain is
perhaps more favored than any country
of Europe, except Italy. The climate is
the most delightful imaginable; large riv-
ers water her rich plains. and flow into
the sea. She is at the extreme verge of
western Europe, and the rock Of Gibraltar
is the key to the Mediterranean. all the
commerce that trade along the shores Of
the Bosphorus, the rich countries on the
Adriatc and the islands that crowd the
great inland ocean. must first pass her
borders. Yet with all these advantages,
Spain is now one of the most dependent
states Of Europe. while England. whose
soil is naturally unproductive. whose eli
mate is so unpleasant that the sun is sell
dom seen 10 shine. supplies the world with
her productions. The cause of this is 10
be found in the fact that in England the
spirit Of enterprise and activity is fostered,
while in Spain habits of Incidence are
formed and encouraged.
Now the natural tendency of such
law as the Homestead Exemption is. to
produce just such state Of things as is to
be found in Spain; that is. the formation
Of class, and by the way very large
one too. OF ndolent and inactive freehold.
ers, who having just the requisite amount,
or less than amount, specified by the
law, will be willing 10 sit with folded
hands careless OF all around them. I,av.
ing enough 10 live upon, and that being in
no danger from any, the most foolish
or the most criminal act. they will be
content to exist in state Of listless
inaction. The execution of the con.
stable Can have no terrors for them
The levy Of the sheriff they heed not
Fines, amercemenls, the binding nature
ofcon;racts. the solemn authority Of courts,
what are these to men who have nothing
TO lose? Whatever may become Of the
property of their more enterprising neigh.
bors, they are at least secure. The law
OF civil actions, awarding damages, is
mere nulty. Let US eat and drink, and
be merry, for tomorrow we die, will be
their motto. What will such man care
for the improvements OF the age! He is
one Of privileged class, an aristocracy
OF loafers; his immunities will more than
compensate him for his position. He will
have no reaching desire to improve his
condition. Why should hel He will not
be concerned for the future, as he can al
ways supply his immediate wants. Thus
he remains moral canker upon the frce
Of Gods green earth, unfit Tor either inn
proyrnlent or cultivaiion--a dead weight
upon the impulses Of civilization, and
bar to the progress Of refinement and i'm.
provement OF mankind.
From such class we are all ready to
exclaim, may heaven defend US; but the
call upon heaven will not be needed, and
we have only to thank fortune, or that
better spirit Of our countrymen, that we
have not been dazzled by the briliancy of
the promises made by the friends OF the
measure, and deluded inro the experiment
to which we have just adyerted. As was
said before. the law has been disregarded.
and so far remains upon our statute book
a dead lelter--a monument of the wisdom
of our legislators.
This objection is not yet the most seri.
Gus we have to urge against the operation
Of this law, although i, is serious enough.
The formation OF the loafers' ari tocra.
cy and the ruin Of the credit system, are
two very great evils; one. We have seen,
tending TO grind down and oppress the
poor, and the other to reiard the advance
OF civilization. Yet the third we regard
as still greater, more humiliating in its
aspects, a greater stigma upon the char
acter Of the pseudo. .philanihropists who
promulgated the law, than has ever been
Witnessed in this state Of Ohio before.
But as this is sufficiently long ior the pre-.
sent, the third and last objection shallsbe
reserved til the next number. ClvlS.