The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-05-19

ote to redeem, at the recurrence of every
Fiftieth year, he might resume mis- lands,
he or his family, or heirs at law; might
re-possess themselves absolutely of their
forfeited lands, independently of any claim
or the title of either purchasers or credi-
tor. Lev. xxv.)
Now we do not infer from this author
;:y that we should copy the Hebrew Sta
tutes for our Government, in our altered
and dissimilar circumstances. But we do
mean to infer that here Is clear devel-
opement OF PRINcIPLE, as applicable to
ours, as to the Hebrew Commonwealth;
inculcated and enforced by the sanctions of
Laws, viz: That the Debtor shall not be
surrendered to the mercy and discretion
OF the Creditor that man should have
some reserved rights, pecuniary rights,
family rights, which ought to be set apart
and exempted from the operation of ordi-
nary contracts, debts or obligations; and
of which the Creditor could not deprive
him.
Here, then it seems to us, is clear, tn-
equivocal warrant for the wisdom and
moral obligation Of Exemption Laws.
Now We submit to any candid mind
that by the lights of reason and revelation,
there ought to be law securing some
property to every family beyond the reach
Of debts and creditors.
If, then, some property should be ex-
empted, it follows, as necessary de-
duction, that a sufficient amount Of prop
erty should be thus exempted to satisfy
the requirements of humanity, and sub
serve the ends and purposes Of the rule.
What species Of property, and how much
in value, should be thus set apart, is a
question, the answer to which, will always
depend upon circumstances. 1t may be
answered, generally, that a temporary
supply Of the necessaries of life, with the
means of procuring future supplies should
be thus set apart.
In an agricultural country like ours, it
may be safely assumed that provisions TO
the value Of $35, will only be Temporal
ry supply for family; and a tract of
Fifty Acres Of land and one horse to
plough with, cannot be said to be more
than the necessary means for farmer with
which to procure future supplies.
Now, if any property be allowed, what
can be so proper to farmer rs "a little
spot of groundy' Why allow him any
thing else, ererything else, but that which
is most necessary, most natural and most
congenial to him who digs his sustenance
from the soil WHr deny him field to
plough horse to plough withi If too
much land is allowed, then let us reduce
tho quantity, batahy not set apart some
taRd-a small Homesteadi
Such is the Homestead Law of South
Carolina, which did not affect any pre-
vious debt, contract or obligation and of
the operation and effect Of which, the
people had three months notice. Is it
rightl Whom has it injuredi Whom can
it injurei Is it wise to denounce, in ad-
vance, any measure which commends it.
self to the heart and understanding Of
man, before we have tested it by the
lights Of experienced
That this law does not and will not
affect general credit-useful and neccssa-
sary credit, has been abundantly shown
in former article. But suppose it did
curtail, some extent, that indiscriminate,
extravagant and ruinous system Of credit,
which not unfrequently results in wide
spread bankruptcy, will any thinking man
undertake to say it has therefore done
public injuryi
1t is easy for the Editor Of the Ledger
to cry out against those who may benefit
ted by the Homestead Law, and call them
idle" "lazy" fraudulent" and ''racally"
fellows, and to wish them all out of the
State. But he will find more difficulty in
convincing the intelligent, that man Is
necessarily lazy or rascally, because he is
involved in pecuniary mbarrassments.-
He must be "a marvellous proper man" to
decide that none but the fortunate are
honest. Pray sir, tell US who perform the
labor, who cultivate the zelda, who make
up the rank and file of the army, when
the drum beats to arms; who stand in
the deadly breach to defend their country
when the foeman's foot presses the soil
DO none but merchants and money
dealers go to battlei How many Regi-
ments OF such materials can you bring TO
the field He is rash man who deter
mines that public or private virtue Is found
only with those who have been successful
in the acquisition Of wealth. What can
mere manual labor accomplish, however
honest and unremitting, when opposed to,
or in competition with, the superior power
and advantages Of associated and combined
Capital
But we well understand this ciamor
against the Homestead Law, and the
source from which it proceeds. We un-
derstand the Ledger when il speaks Of
the merchants difficulty in crediting out
his goods and groceries. And for once we
intend to look this matter fully in the face,
and deal with il fearlessly.
II the merchants conceive their traffic
and their gains interfered with by the op-
Grafton Of this Law; and the question l.
made, as 10 whether the Farmers or the
t.k.-.o.A 2. 4