Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-02-14
Illinois LEGISLATION.

The Chicago Tribune of the 10Th has the fol-
lowing:
A dispatch from our Associate at Springfield
last Friday evening, put US in possession OF the
gratifying intelligence that two most important
measures had passed both branches of the Leg
islature, viz, the Central Railroad bill and bill
for the Exemption of the Homestead to the value
of one thousand dollars.
Exactly what the Central Rail Road Bill con-
templates we are not aware, but the exemption
of homestead worth $1,000 is very plain mat
ter to our comprehension, and is subject of sat
| isfacton to u.s. We think it little strange
though. that Legislators should limit homesteads
to values in dollars and cents. 1t is certainly a
most unstable, unsatisfactory, and uncertain ba-
Sis, on which to rest such thing. and to de-
gree destructive of the very end sought in a
homestead exemption. Thus suppose home
stead to-day be worth $1,000, and tomorrow ILL.,
nois passes law increasing the issue of Bank
paper times in amount, then the homestead be-
comes worth $4,000 and two thirds of it are liza
Bile to sale. Now if it originally was necessary
for the wel-being of the man and family, then
under this currency expansion two thirds of this
necessary homestead, has been taken from him.
Understand, under this imitation, his residence
is not increased one foot in size, or added to one
particle in comfort, nor is his ground one whit
more productive, but simply through an initiation
OF the currency, a homestead once exempt, is no
longer exempt. 1t looks to US very much as il
this were placing homestead exemption on an
entirely wrong basis. Wisconsin seems to be
the only state of the Union which in this matter
40 acres and the Improvements, and it is subject
to no viscssitudes. 1t is 40 acres, whether the
currency be inflated or contracted, on the as
sumption that 40 acres are just as necessary to a
mans comfort in one condition as another, which
is undoubtedly the case And another object is,
that man may have some motive to develop
wealth on his homestead, that he may make it
just as valuable as his ingenuity and industry
will enable him to. If it be limited in pecuniary
value there is little object for man to 90 beyond
that limit, in his Improvements or efforts. a
homestead exemption it is supposed stimulates a
mans efforts, and pray tell US, if it be good to
stimulate mans efforts up to value Of thou
sand dollars, if it is not four times as good to
stimulate it up to $4,000, and so on. Suppose
you make the limit 1000 and every farmer in
the country makes his homestead worth $1,000
and there stops. Suppose then you increase the
limit to $4,000, and they commence again and
make the homestead worth $4,000, which is the
best for the State and all concerned. Well then
suppose you have no limit at all but invite every
man TO make his homestead just as valuable as
he can, is not that better yet We'll this is just
the difference between these exemptions which
limit mans enterprise to certain amount Of
dollars and cents, and that which places no lin
it. But we are thankful for $1,000 exemptions,
and it is most too much to expect that such states
as Illinois and barbarous states further east,
should be as enlightened in their policy as Wis
consiu.