Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-03-26
stpEAL OF THE COLLECTION LAWS.

sundry persons, for the repeal OF all laws for the
collection Of debts:
Mr.. Sholes from the select committee, to
which was referred sundTy petitions relative 10
n. abolition of laws for the collection of debts,
Submitted the following report, TO wit:
The special committee to whom was referred
,updry petitions praying for the repeal of The
laws for the collection of debts, have had the
zane under consideration beg leave to
REPORT:
The question presented TO them seems one
solely of expedency Whether the exemption
laws which now are total repeal of the collec-
ton laws for fully onc-half of the population Of
our state, shall be extended to embrace the other
half That moral obligation exists between
Individuals TO pay debts is not denied or doubted
80 obligation which the laws can neither add to
nor detTact from. and that the law neither does
nor seeks to interfere with The law prescYibes
remedies, aud we think it will neither be doubt.
ed OF deHied, that it is perfectly competent for
he law-,nakng power, TO frame its remedies to
SUN itself0r TO abolish eatiEely if it is thought
best Then az We said, the question is one en-
rrey of expediercy. and your committee pro-
poses, foH want Of time mainly to treat it brief
~.
The main object, if any or all law on this ques-
ton, weappFehend, is to secure the paymen. Of
debts, and any modification proposed or abolition
sGGght can De Justified only on the ground that
!. will better promote the end.
The greatest essential for debt paving. your
committee believe TO BE- ability II men are able,
sfIer providing for the essentials of life, to pay
rh5:r debts, they will as a general thing pay
taej:. and if not ub!e no compulsory law can
makeghem so Then all we can do TO secure or
promote this ability. is the grand step towards
a., e 4 3 i
curate statistics show the fact that the total cost
Of she collection laws, the country over is not
:auch shSgt If S200 100000 per annnm, and we
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES would show another fact,
VIZ that the anhua! debts ot those who produce
tie wealth OF the country, and who Of necessity
have This cost TO pay, do not exceed the amount.
What thea f0lio@s-why simply this If you
save 10 the producers this amount, you save 10
ihen the necessity Of contracting debts, and DO
away with the necessity OF these laws or in 9TH
er words, the laws themselves creute all The ne
ses>ity there is for them.
Another fact is still more promincEt and quite
as important, viz t.: that the records OF courts
show that the costs Of suits instituted ON the col
lection of debts amount 10 more than the debts
collected.
il is not only folly then to contiauo system
which makes OF itself all the necessity there s
hardly think it wisdom for al individual to erect
and run machinery that cost more for hands To
run II, than il yielded in return, and why is il
any wiser IN OnF political or auciaI relations -
Surely, judged in Ihe light OF expediency, these
laws have no claim TO be spared on our statute
books.
We are we'll aware thati,i4a iarorite assump-
ton with many persons, that rascai:y is the nor
nal condition of humanity, and that nothing short
Of the strong ann of the law can extort an hon
est action from the great body of the race
Such is not our theory, for the very fact of the
law seeking to compel honesty shows honesty
90 b. the Fundamental desire of those mnking
H. AMI the dishonesty OF the few mus. be atIrIbu-
ted = the force OF uniavorabe circum stances
surrounding them, rather than inherent 1sposi-
lo1
About one half Of the race perform no produc-
tive labor, and the other halt, of necessity, are
compelled 10 double Ia.ur II sustain those w..o
labor not; aad IN ,nn 'clIol, t1l~ imp ,rtant idat
presents iSsnIf, and those who do nj lab n pr
duclvt have, general thing, al the wealth
Of he country AMI tho,e who do, As 4 general
thing, suffer IN penury. When, then, uue-hai'
Of tie race violate aud neglect their duty, and
throw IN con,"qnencr, double Guty "n the otn-
cr half, we must not be surprised il that half
who are compelled 10 sutf r this Unjust rc DO NOT
exhibit all the f,rbnrlncr aud aII The siruts TIA,
Nr profess to admire. Ii Is rather "A matter OF
surprise that :hty are no wursr than Ihty are,
and come up II arly to the inH uf WHAT is
CURED uf them. II should be- the cti,'rt I all Jaw,
- tar "a possible, 90 remove this Injustice, AMI
encourage il; and The abolition OF t,. collection
laws. Your cnmmuee believe would ht Grand
step toward thus result, 70 minister these laws,
we hav" an army Of men scattered tAr"agIsout
The country, equal in magnitude To- the standing
m lia'y inrce # the country, costing even murr,
And even less required. IfthS grand army were
disbanded, and those who compose il compel
INTO the field of productive labor we p,.rc,.ivrnt
once the enormous burden that would b. rcmoy-
ID irhn the shoulders ot those now labnring,
endthe immense amount that would Be speedily
'.ded 10 the real wealth " the country. We
perceive Of once too that the IbI.ItQ t. purchase
-0'1nodltI"S and pay debts would be vastly in
STeosed and. a. consequence, all the best inter-
esis Of community sub-crycd.
Why, then, not act in accordance with conclu-
Sons so apparent no law exists on our statute
books compelling men to give credits Men are
lett entirely TO thei" own viii, directed by their
own sagacIty, III giving credits. Why, then,
no; put the liquidation of these credits upon tn
sane voluntary ba>i, and particularly when,
by doing. we remove from productive labor
vhc vast ,burthen before alluded to, now resting
.nE upon IT, We propose To take no man prop
erty--to Interfere with no nau'S right. We slu-
ply propose 10 abollSha system which costs more
shan II comes to, and save this cost tc those pay
ING it.
We are aware Of the arguments which may
%, and perhaps. Will Be used against the reform
proposed They are snch as hnve been used
against all reforms, and particularly tho reforms
- Tics particular laws Rum To the State was
predicted with the same z"aI and force, when the
body Of the debtor was exempted from the Jail,
IS i has Sipce been with reference to all prop
.ary exem pti0Es, apt IS i ISL prutGhy now De,
NlIh reference - tbs ,prcprsot IEeHsnrrs. Con-
tsrvsusm stan1o forever with hands nplitted, la
meaunr the inevitable destruction which it sees
impending, or tie occasion Of every step IN re-
form. and we cannot hope that it has lost either
Is disposition capacity 10 discover the same
Dire casmiIes should this measure he received
w.'h isyor. But a the world yet stands and
stc.6ty yei yogS on IN the even tenor q Is way,
growing better and more united, We are noI vitk-
81; hope that this measure may be sdopIed, AMI
Ne Republic still survive
Topartlay carry out the views proposed, your
committee would beg leave 10 rererl the fsltaw-
-ag blt All of which is respectfully submit
iet
(Signed) c. L, SHOLES, Chm.