The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-08-01
WEALTH WRONGFULLY OBTAINED

W EA LlH w hONur OLLI ODA n'''A'
No man in the long run ever prospered'
who obtained his wealth by unfair. MEANS
If in the end he did net lose his property, he
lost that VIII ich was far moro valuable-hls
character. Aud when this is gone what IS
a nuns enjoyment worth2 To feel that he
is not spected-that none repose confl-
dence in him-that ho is despised. and that
his name is a by-word, is q punishment
greater to bear than poverty in its most
distressing shape. or even death itself.-
What saith the Bible? "He that gettelh
riches, and not by right, shall leave them in
the midst Of his days end, at his end shall
he fool"
Yet notwithstanding what the Bible says,
and wha, experience ,es,ifics. there are not
n few who are bending all the energies Of
their minds to accumulate riches. They
care not what means are resorted to. Prov'd'
ed they can escape the law and would, Tor a
few dollars, condescend to pursue the mean
est und The ylcst course. They will betruy
confidence, deceive, lie. cheat, do any thing
and every thing dIsrepu'abe and consemps''
BILE, to carry their point and make triHlng
sum.
1t was but recently, that man OF liberal
educotion-a lawyer by professlon-wns
sen. to the pcnienliary in New York State,
for crimes he had committed in ex'oring
money from the poor and the distressed
He is worth fortune, which he has amass'
ed by unfair means, chiefly, to use the
words of New York editor, "by purchas-
ing old judgments against persons whom
his evil eye had detected in trying 10 make
new headway in the world. He would de-
scend upon these victims like q vulture'
blight their enterprises, depress their strug'
giles, wiring from them their new savings
and at length, fastening upon their bodies
with the compulsory S'illwell process, con-
sign them 10 Jail where he might drain the
last farlhing from their pockets, os the fat'
ted vampire drains the watery veins of the
tenants of the tomb. He wus cold. stony,
and unimpressibe. He knew neither truth
nor pity; and if the drops Of blood which he
has wrung from the suffering hearts OF the
desoIate wives and heart broken sisters OF
his numerous victims, could be collected III
a pool, it would suffice to float frigae. or
food the dark channel Of another Styx TO
bear ti.n to persiit,on.'' THIS language Is
severe but the facts will bear the editor out
in the remarks. There are Just such men
IN every community, and although they may
not meet with their Just deserts as enrly IN
life Us the New York attorney. the lime
will come when they will be looked upon as
wre,ches and despi.ed by all men. Yet
sucI, characters vainly hope TO find enjoy
meat here. Enjoymeni!-it is utterly I'M
possible for them 10 ind it. God has de-
cIared that those who oppress and extort
money from the poor shalt never be happy.
What pleasure can be derived from The
possession of large house, every brick ano
stone of which has drawn tears from the
eyes or blood from the heart! What en-
,oyment 10 bc surrounded BY we'll clothed
and q well fed family. when their comforts
are built on the slgbs md gronns and sleep
less nights of victims of cruel avarice? No,
no, no-,here cannot be erjoymen: derived
from iIl.got,en wealth. We repeat The
words Of inspiration on the subject-and
we wish every ex,or'ioner would commit
them to heart. "He that geiteth riches, and
not by right, shall leave them in the midst
of his days: and in his end shall be TOOL
IL.