The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-01

OF 6tate 1t appears thas more tnan two nun
dred thousand psupers have been during the
last year charge on the treasury Of this State;
and with our present population, every seven
teen persons are compelled by law, indirectly,
to support one psuper. The amount Of this
tax for pauperism is for this year, one million
three hundred and seventy-nine thousand dol
lars. In fifteen years more there will be one
pauper for every FIVE persons, and the expense
Of supporting them will be nearly seven mil
lone Of dollars per annum.
Again We have just passed through a
season of anniversaries, celebrated with as
imposing display Of figures, rhetoric and
eloquence as it b in the power of numer.
Gus and wealthy associations of men t.
make, in which the forlorn condition and
moral degradation of men and races across
the seas have been set forth in the most vivid
manner, in order to spur on the tagging cha
rity Of the public to greater and more decided
exertion. A vast corps Of colporteurs, preach
ers, secretaries, boards, managers, men, wome,
and children live by the very organization Of
these benevolent schemes. Printers, pub
lishers, papermakers grow sleek and rich or
this outlay Of humanity, and no one objects to
it, since the ends are so worthy Of attainment
Thus we have the great and growing ell
OF pauperism beginning to press itself on the
public attention, subject that our political
economists cannot long leave untouched; and
we have religious instruction doing its work
on the most gigantic scale, and with promise
of the most splendid results But whs. mind
will lay aside the study Of these great subjects
the increase Of pauperism with the increase Of
religion-to look at some Of the evils Of our
social condition, existing under q code Of laws
the supposed triumph of prosperity, of learn.
ing and of religion? Who will SHOW how much
of our pauperism is owing to these very laws,
and how much Of our intensest misery is ap-
parently beyond the reach of religious conso-
lation? What Howard is there who will visit
and openly denounce the prisons in shis city
and State, where on the merest pretnces and
the most shallow and interested testimony
parties may be deprived Of their personal Ii
berry for months and years, unable to regain
it, in many cases at all, unless merciless at
torney has been bribed to hasten and conclude
his proceedings?
Who will expose that Infamous doctrine Of
contempts, which lies only in the Imagination
of pettifoggers. and of which tie sutomaton
Judges who sign the orders for arrest, are often
totally ignorant? Who will exp,se the nefa-
rious charges made by the marshas and petty
officers Of the courts for attending debtor to
his house to bid his wife and children fare
we'll, or to have An interview with his own
lawyer, if he be able to fee one? Who will ex-
pose the prison charges, where for the coarsest
food, and the privilege Of sitting among the
servants, white and black, in tae kitchen or
scullery, larger sum per week is demanded
than is paid at the Aston and st. Nicholas! Who
will tell US of the brides daily paid to officials
for even the commonest civilities, or the mise
ry they cause if those brides are not paid?
Who will point out the enormous amount Of
costs now legally demanded by lawyers, the
extra allowances granted them by the Judges,
and the delays which money procures, to &C
cumulate still more money?
Where is the honest Anglo. Saxon who will
stand up for the right Of trial by jury, now
almost forgotten in the more convenient prac-
tice Of the chambers, where everything is tried
by affidavit; where criminality and imprison-
ment are ordered on en parte testimony, and
where the bewildered victims of the Code find
imprisonm ent for debt and the foulest dis
honor on their character awaiting them, on the
complaint of an enemy, and at the nat of one
man? Would it not be q theme worthy Of the
attention of some enlightened jurist II some
Of these abuses of the law were pointed out to
the public, in the hope of procuring REFORM
We fear that the hurry and hustle of the times
we live in; the universal grasping at money;
the corruptions visible in our national, state
and city legislation; the unblushing efforts
to seek place and Office Of men known to
be perfectly infamous in private character, and
the all absorbing political questions Of the
day, are too much for individual bene-
violence, learning and integrity to encounter
in struggle for the poor or the unfortunate
Before the introduction of the Code, the fee
bill was supposed to be too large and too op
plessive. Many attempts were made from
year to year to amend it; but IS the State Le-
SiGio'uAO Woo CVSi VVA GupPllSU Win pAOlCn-
sonal members, their acuteness was always
more than q match for unlettered honesty, aud
SO the fee bill, like the Code, has been growing
worse; and he is but dull practitioner who
cannot double the debt Of a defendant before
he IS through with his case.
Humanity for years clamored against the
doctrine Of imprisonment for debt Its barba
rity was admitted. A law abolishipg it was
finally passed, but not without severe strug-
gle against it by men who we're then creditors.
aud have since 10y Thousands gone into bank
ruptcy themselves. But the repeal was really
cheat and a deception. Imprisonment for
debt exists in its worst form. The Code has in
geniously distinguished by new subtleties, be-
tween civil contracts and civil contracts Of
the nature Of torts.