Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-22

Gen. Packer the Poor Mans
Friend.

Uen, IncKer, tno Dempcratlc caudldato
for Governor, contributed very materially
by his influence toward the enactment of
that now popular measure known as the
Three Hundred Dollar Exemption Act
During the winter of 1850, it will also be
remembered, a strenuous effort was made
by persons who fancied themselves az.
prieved by the law, to have it repealed -
Gen Packer was then in the Senate, where
he at once took the lead among those who
opposed repeal. A romonstrance against
the law, numcrously signed by his own
J constituents, being forwarded to him to
present t. that body, he complied with the
request, acc mpanyiug it with the eloquent
remarks which We print below, and which
the Philadelphia Sun, when publishing
them, at the time, prefaced as "philanthro.
pic, Just, and truly democratic" We need
hardly say that they contributed largely
to prostrating further efforts at repeal /;
and the poor unfortunate debtor and his
dependent family now enjoy the protection
which that humane law affords and sym
pathising public opinion sustaius.
Gen. Packer said -
Mr.. Speaker, | do not sympathize with
the prayer of the petition have just pre-
sented. do not believe that tho law of
last session will injure the "l1oor ANIL mil
die classes" Of community. | do not believe
that by excmpting the last three hundred
dollars worth of property of the poor IN
fortunate debtor from levy aud sale on
execution, and by driving from tho door
Of poverty and distress, the sheriff aud the
constable, urged on by close, 6sted, mi
serly and heartless creditor, that you in.
juriously affect the interests of the poor
Sir, it cannot be true. Do you for a
moment suppose, that you would benefit
the "poor and midd classes of c6mmuni.
ty' by exposing their last article of house.
hold furniture-their last bed-their last
stove-or their last cow-to the tender
mercy of al ayarcious creditor!
If Senators entertain such an opinion,
let th"m comply with the prayer of the
petitioners, and vote for the repeal Of the
law of last session, together with all the
exemption laws previously enacted, and
thOy VIII ptOihVtS eaiO lbtClCSlb " tuC pOOl
and middle classes to the hearts conteut
of the rich. Sir, So far from sympathizng
with the petitioners, l would extend the
exemption law still further And, permit
me to say, which do with all con6deuce
that the day is not far distant when it will
be carried further. The day is dawnng
when every family will be protected in
their little h0nse, in defiance of the bad
conduct of an Incorporate father, or q
proaigate husband. Tie d"y is coming
nay it as hOt0 here, phen ii 0iA be concede,i
ttut the man Nth a conyortable, permanent
ho0,e, actH much sooner pig his honest dtJts
than he 9rho rs almost diStr0cteL 1csh I'M.
pending troab'cs, anil qrho Is eccr al ttt
mercy gf an executioa.
Many of the states of this Union have
led the way in his humane reform. Maine
exempt' a h mostead to the value Of $500
and in the absence Of Homestead person.
al property to that amount. Vermont
exempts homestead to the value of $500
Iowa and Minnesota forty acres of land OF
q lot. California exempts 320 acres OF
land or lot, worth $4,000 Descret. tn;
great Mormon state, it is said secures a
home to every family. All the States and
Territories named having acted on thi.
subject within the past few months. Geor
gia, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Cun
nectirut, have long since enacted hbera
exemption laws. New York, always among
the foremost in popular reforms, is alsi
pressing on in this matter l have befor,
me the annual message Of Governor Fisl
to the present legislature Of that grea
State, to which l beg leave to call the at
tention of Senators. On the subject o
homestead exemption, the Governor says
"Whilc it is admittedly a primary duty
of the legislature to enact laws for tho
punishment OF vice, it is no less its duty tc
remove the causes which frequently lead t:
the commission Of crime. The imp prcssions
made upon the youthful mind, by the
gentle force Of parental authority and ex
ample, and by the associations OF the family
circle are among the most active and en-
during Of the influences which control the
conduct Of after life. Much Of the vice
that we are called upon to dcp'orc, may be
traced to the removal of its subject from
the reach Of that authority and example
anu iiOhi 'hc inupCeht, DuG WHOicSOine as
soriStion of home, however humble
The cause Of morality, no less than the
dictates of humanity, demands the prcsor,
vation of the family circle, and the moin.
tenance of the family lame, as efficient
preventives of vice, and sure and perma
neut contributors to individual virtue and
happiness, and to public prosperity ant
ORDER"
Such, Mr.. Speaker, are the views of the
Governor of New York. They are the
sentiments of humane and far.seena
statesman--and honor him for his manly
independence in giving them the weigh
and sanction of his official station. Sir,
go with the Governor of the Empire State
| would secure to every family a HoME
and HEARTH. / aeOuM not PERMIT III,
covetOus and hard,hearied creqst0y 10 dyivt
htS untori"a0te debtor, NAKED and 11euni.
less, out upon lie cOia charities Of an in
hoSPHabIe a0orM, The laws that authorize
| cunh nraoa1nra sLa,,1l l. l1-.,-1