Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-03
Homestead Exemption.

A law before inc L0ulSlduh Legislature ID earn
esty and ably urged by the New Orleans, 'Bulle-
tin" 1t will not interfere with existing con-
tracts, but provides that home worth not more
than 81 900 and $3.50 worth of furniture and
wearing apparel shall be free from attachment
for debt. A difficulty has been suggested by the
fact that in the city of New Orleans there are
few or no houses and lots worth so little as
$1,000.
The Bulletin" speaks of the law as embracing
Wing misunderstanding in origin, Wing in prin-
ciple, and Wing in effect" and states that it is
pending before "a Wing legslature-Whig in
both branches; y and adds, significantly, that if
it does not pass, it will be long time before
another Wing legislature shall sit within the walls
Of the State capitol
Have the people of the District of Columbia
nothing to say on this subject. The laws.en-
forcing the payment of debts do not here enable
creditor to keep in custody the dead body of
debtor until his children shall pay all his debts
do they enable the creditor to sell the debtor
into bondage for the amount; nor do they permit
the debtors Incarceration in prison as felon
nor do they permit the bed to be removed from
taken from the closet and sold with its contents.
But they do permit the smallest tenement to be
sold for the payment of debts, and an impover-
ished family to be driven from its shelter.
Many most excellent persons think this is right
but we do not HOME is word which some Ian
guages do not contain 1t is good Saxon
word, and very well understood in the United
States. II comprehends all our thoughts Of
worldly happiness--it Is the foundation of love,
of honor. and of virtue The heart that does
not vibrate with deep tones Of tenderness at it's
utterance is q sad heart indeed The gorgeous
mansion and its brilliant saloons may for time
excite the admiration Of all who behold them /;
but even the tenant Of the howell will there recall
its familiar scenes to his recollection with an
affection that cannot be impaired.
There is sentiment connected with the
associations of home upon which the good order
of society must depend. He who tenaciously clings
to his home as the abode of many years, and as
the dwelling-place of his children after him, is
united to the community by bond that cannot
be easily severed. His good fame will be all
the more highly priced his purposes in life will
be more stable; and his dwelling place will be
adorned with the tasteful suggestions and care Of
his life. Should reverses come upon him, and
his obligations to the world be increased be-
yond his abilities to pay his creditors will surely
have more hope of his ultimate success than if no
we're in the still more helpless condition Of one
having no habitation, or only such as it would
require one-fourth or third of his earnings to
pay for.
Upon what pretext does the memorable credi-
tor deprive the stricken family of their humble
shelter eff I do not divest them Of it, somebody
else will" Even the merciful man sometimes
acts upon this principle; but more frequently
the meroiful man suffers losses because of the
merciless extortioner Let the temptation be re-
moved from the one, and the ability from the
other.
Many cant dolefully Of wrong and injustice on
this subject. Thsrs il no wrong or injustice in.
volved On the contrary, fair dealing is hence
promoted. A bargain made with a man, with The
knowledge that you cannot take from his chill
dren their clothing, their food, and their shelter
to force him to fulfil 1t, Is not necessarily al
unfair bargain. A barharous usage alone ha
induced men to think it would prove SO. Oh
Priuli received the wife of Pierre as pledge
and the pledge was to him an exceedingly gooc
one There are other Priulies who would taxi
still more from the wretch whose door is illec
and damned up with gaping creditors" We be
leve,' however, that the people of this Distric
desire TO elevate the standard Of honesty anc
honor, and that they willing to do this by
permitting even the unfortunate debtor to dwell
forever in peace and security, with his wife and
children, beneath the shelter Of peaceful and
comfortable though humble home.
Railroad Convention.
The proceedings of this important Convention
viii be found on the last column of the mex