The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-01-15

Limitations A man OF untutored reasoning
powers, whose faculties had not been sharpen
ed into an unnatural state of acutpoess by legal
study, would suppose that the longer deot
stood unpaid, thp more would th- obligation
o. increased. He would BE- astonished, there
fore, t. find that Just at the moment when he
was about to claim Old debt with interest,
simple and compound, and probably going
10 reproach the debtor with keeping out OF The
way SO Iong-that what he considered TO be
moral crime was an act of well calculated
thriIlinrss, having the effect of annullng the
claim according 70 act of parliament. 1t
would be difficult to explain to such man
upon what principle an act was framed, That
allowed every debtor TO 20 free who contrived
to keep out Of the way OF his creditor SIX years
The wonderful doctrine that the more you
wrong man in trade the you may, being
embodied IN a siatut. having legal force, Is en-
couraging TO that large class that | call deb
tors but i not so encouraging to that other
largr, and very useful, taX-paying class that
call creditors. The inference is. that the State
wishes to cultivair The first at the expense OF
The second. Or perhaps, ii is only masked
movement intended hy discouraging th~ second
10 destroy the first! When thr Right Honorable
Lord Baitleaxr, X. c. B., takes, as a rule, from
his tradrsman, five yrar$' credit, he has only TO
stretch the period one year more TO carry It into
eternity.
certainly was delighted TO find the Rever-
end Origin Blk, NJ. A, whom Tor rather
the late John Smirkpr--bad nurSpd through the
different stages of lighting OXonlau, piucked
undergraduate crammed, B. A. down 10 the lIv
ing Of ST. Virus-in-the Frns, plrading ''statutr
rum and declining to pay for the college
eXtravagaNces which h. had indulgpd in with
such vigorous Prodigality. 1t is a good sign
when man-r$prciaIly cirrgyman-Eo far
reforms the errors Of his youth as TO turn his
back upon early designations, even TO the extent
olrepudIaiIng payment for them II ever the
protecting shield of legal mercy was rightrously
extended over he PROSTATE form OF the suffering
debtor, it is in he case ofthr Rerernpd Orgen
Blk, NJ. A. F4 has suffered much from the
ruthless hands of the importunat1 creditor, who
insisted upon clothing him with the richest pur
pie and the finest linen, FEEDING him with the
daintiest vianGs, and nouriShing him with the
rarrSt wines, aud who now would seek him
out in the calm exclusion Of his clerical hsrmi-
lagr, and who-did not conSderalr law most
benevoIently interfrre-wouId destroy the un-
rufllrd serenity of that medlative mind, which
now dwells upon things that are higher than
the tailor'S bill which perShpth.
The same tenderness to debtors who keep
out OF the way, distinguishes even some of the
spveTest laws which have been the product of
our recent legislation. The debtor is the dar-
ling of the law, and it cannot find it IN IFS
heart TO deal harshIv with him. The new
Bills Of Exchange Act, which allows NJ the
tyranny OF a judgment in the short period
OF twelve days, suPPoSIng that my victim has
no valid plea or answer that hr is not indebted
to me, breaks down entirely if my victim keeps
out OF the way for six clear months: and nv
THIRST tor vengeanc nee is tantaIizPd with the
tortures Of the old, tardy, and expensive mode
of proceeding III apply for thu more hum
bic assistance Of he CnUnty Court, | find |
have still many weeks 10 wait b-iore the pres
sure Of business will allow OF: nv obtaining
hearing. Whrn my victim comes up and tells
plainiive story of his inability to pay in less
than given time OF very long duration, the
Judge. lmbuPd with the proper spirit OF the
law, lnclInes his ear to the dictates OF mercy
Checks the Eager tyranny OF the heaTtleSS c:edi-
tor, and grants an order TO pay in twelve easy
lnSialiuentS. When the time for the irsl and
second payment has long passed without my
victim making any attempt TO keep TO his
bond, have th~n the option Of procuring
what Is called Judgment summons, which,
1t | am fortunate enough 10 get it served per-
sonally upon my victim, within certain time,
will fix another remote day for a new trial
when my victim, will have TO show cause why
he failed in his contract. If the claim should
he under twenty pounds, and my victim be
single young man victim, residing in furnished
lodgings, with no estate, properly so called, he
has merely 10 state this fact to tn. willing ear of
the court, and leave mr, like batfied tiger, how
ling for my prey. If my victim thinks proper
TO set sail for the Cocos Islands, or some other
land, where creditors cease from troubling,
and the debtor is at rest, can watch him 90
on board bis bounding bark, and, like CALYPSO,
mourn for the departure ;my Ulysses but
alas . | can do no more, for he only owes me
nineteen pounds nineteen shillings and eleven
pence. Two pence more, and-shades Of So
Ion and LyCurgus-I am avenged
When turn over the old unpaid bills OF
exchange of my predecessor, the late John
Smrker, and 6nd amongst them many under
five pounds, | am reminded of an old act
passed in the time of George the Third,
aud never yet repealed, that is perfect tri-
umPh Of protective legislation. The bill of
exchange-the pride and glory of modern
commercials looked upon as modern lux
ury intended only for the enjoyment Of the
wholesale trade, and only granted TO the re-
tail under the most praiseworthy precautions.
Poor Smlrker's bills, need not say, are SO
much waste paper for he had no idea of the
requirements Of the law taUchng the imple-
ments he was dealing with. A bill of exchange,
according to George The Third say accor-
ding 10 him, because he was anything but
royal nonrntity in the state--if under FIVE