Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-07-01
For the journal.
HOMESTEAD LAW.

For the Journal.
HOMESTEAD LAW.
have noticed, recently, movements in variousl
quarters in favor of the passage of what is gene
rally called "lIomeStead Law" by the next
Legislature of Missouri That is, law ex-
tempting from sale by execution for debt, the
homesteads of creditors.
am aware that it is considered unpopular TO-
oppose the passage of such laws. But, notwith-
standing, will present few reflections that oc .
cur to me in opposition TO any homestead BILL
believe there is great deal Of wrong senti-
.ment upon this subject. Underithe impression
that such law would be popular, many politi-
clans have seized upon it as a hobby, and de-
claim earnestly in its favor, thus believing they
sare pleasing The masses.
Now, sir, very much doubt the sound policy
sof all such laws; and, upon fair view Of the
gsubiect, l believe the honest laboring men and
mechanics Of the country will be its most deter
4 mined opponents. WA @CE
4 OF all classes in the community, believe such
ka law will operate harder on the honest poor, la
boring man than any other, and whatever may be
Ethe intention Of the advocates of Homestead
kLaws, / regard them as The greatest enemies, in
Reflect, Of the true interests of the laboring man.
Their zeal far outruns their discretion, and what
sthey intend for the poor mans benefit, works to
This injury.
\ II is fashionable, in declaiming upon this sub
ect, to dOnounce all creditors as hylocks and to
kspeak of debtors as a poor prosecuted class,
Egroaning under the oppression Of hard-hearted
AaEd grinding creditors, who tCW have their
k''pound of flesh"
Now, sir, | am one of those who believe that
xcreditors are full as often honest as Debtors and
kthat many Of the hardships the poor are subject
Ned to arise from the refusal Of some debtors 10
Apay them their hard earnings.
Most creditors of the Shylock order manage
Ito have their debts well secured. They general
Sly have mortgages on real estate, or pledges of
Hpersonal property, or the endorsement of some
kconfding friend. or some other security, before
kthey part with their money. .ac
n 1t is only the small dealer, the DAY iaOorer, or
kthc mechanic, that cannot guard all these points
Kand they find, after they have performed theil
klubor, that their creditor, perhaps one of the
k''upper ten''-will shield himself under the pro
ftection of your Homestead Law (passed TO pro-
htect honest debtors from the grasp of their Shy
lock crcditors) and live quite snugly for severn
Eyears, at the expense of his merchant, his tai
lor his shoemaker, his boot-black his washer
hwoman, &C., sc.
And, when his Credits exhausted, he can sci
out his homestead, and go to some other locality
lYand play the same game, and thus manage TO picl
sup quite decent livelihood without submitting
sto the degradation of labor. A
q / regard all such laws as premium for dis
lEhonesty, an article that needs no encouragement
y it is of sufficiently luxuriant growth without tn
u fostering aid of legislative enactments.
4 Homestead laws are Of no advantage TO hon
est, poor men, but quite the contrary; becaus
honest men will not avail themselves Of thei
FL benefits; they are too proud % own home at tn
i expense of others; they would not do it il the,
-Iwere starving. And thus is, that all such law
enure TO the benefit of rascals, who will ava
themselves of them. Do not understand me {
I say that an honest man cannot avail himself {
such law; on the contrary, believe there ar
ISL circumstances under which he might DO 50 wit
= Eperfect propriety; but will he do it?
n Who that has ever been in business does NJ
hknow that there are numbers of poor men thi
VI HE can trust with such small amounts as the
dkwant with perfect propriety; knowing, at III
4 same time, that there is no law to compel the
Ito pay him, and yet how rare is it that men thu
btrusted do not pay the little debts they owe fl
/ lneccssaries, how great soever the inconveni
ri Fence. ........
Il Again, regard such law as wholly unnc'
kcssary in this country. II is well Known la
What with very few exceptions, creditors a
Every liberal in adjusting their claims with the
: unfortunate debtors. Instances in whichi wh'
G. IA man becomes unfortunate he cannotg get lib
! raj compromise with his creditors, are very rar
1t is almost universal, whether from humanit
'h or self-interest it matters not, that creditors
#cept the very first offer their debtors maj
kthem, for a compromise. a7sff ~ H
W 1t is true, instances now and then occur,
o. (which debtors are held in thraldom but the
n form rather the exception than the rule; and
kis also true that hardships are sometimes ext
rienced by debtors having their property sac
On, feed by ruthless creditors-but that is not
lotEquestion. The true question is, will not gre
40, aer and more hardships be experienced by
aboring poor man not being able TO collect
hard earnings from those gentry who make
appoint to get all they can, and keep all they &
- Fregardless of who suffers, or whose rightsare
rfolaed? How often do we see men living in
Oh Aegance and even in splendor, and at the sa
on Ftme refusing TO pay their bills for the comm
for est necessaries of life, whilst their creditors
oss sacrually often pinched with wantP Such Ia
are calculated TO encourage that sort OF Til
veA and they throw open door for fraud and q
tesN honesty without any corresponding yadvantu
yithSto the classes sought to be benefited. ,saar