The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-10-13
ELECTION-TUEsDAY, NOV. 8, 1859.
Abolition Of Laws for the Col
lection of Debts.

aSGtkOR Oh aBGDEs.
Abolish all laws for the collection of debts
and leave creditors to their own powers of dis
: eliminating character when giving credit. Thi.
is the point to which our growing civilization
tends, and to which practical wisdom and phi
, losophy point"
Tie above extract from the n. Y. Tadependea.
contains truthful sentiment and indicates witt
unening certainty reform at no distant day t.
be realized. Our civilization now looks back
with horror on the period when the poor debtor
was dragged from his family and incarcerated
in prison, because of shis inability to pay his
debts Since then the humanises of legislative
bodies, have abolished many of the barbarisms
Of past generation.
Among the many theories which have appear
ed, as explanatory of the business arrangements
OF the country--of the embarrassments of the
various trades and occupations and the extent
Of individual Indebtedness, too little has been
charged to legalized credit system 1t is fair
to presume that full three-fourths ofthe existing
individual Indebtedness in this country, was
contracted in view Of the collection laws, to en-
force payment to the creditor in case of necessi-
ty. That the present collection laws afford but
little aid in securing payment to creditors cam
not be denied. The supposed availability of the
law, leads to over trading, and in a vast major.
ity OF cases, disappoints the expectations of the
creditor Thousands Of merchants, mechanics,
end tradesmen Of various descriptions, are an
nually compelled to stop payment, with ruined
credit and fortune, because Of a sort Of vague
dependence on the collection laws, for the en-
forcement Of their demands. For every thous-
and dollars saved by recource to the laws,
many thousands are lost, because the laws are
Of no avail to reach the sought for address,
Surely a system-if system it may be called,
which works so little good, and so much mis-
chief, ought to be blotted out Of the Statute
book. The collection laws only induce the
seller to urge the sale Of his property upon Gus
tomers-whether they need his goods and wares
or not This practice is the fruitful source of
failures and bankruptcies.
Had the collection laws been abolished FIVE
years ago, the pecuniary condition of the COM
munities and of individuals would now be far
better than it is. Thousands who are now in
solyent-who have been5made so by misiudged
dependence on the laws, might have been saved
from bankruptcy. 1t IS in accordance with ev-
cry principle of sound morality and philosophy,
that laws, as far as practicable should be SO
framed as to encourage honesty and integrity
If honesty aud integrity were made the basis Of
credit, in the common business transac tons n,
men, instead Of legal dependencies, q hesltbv
condition Of trade would soon be inauynrated
A good character is the best of capito' on which
to commence safe and permanent business il
is the kind of capital which is attainab]e bv ev
cry one, and he who fails to acquire it, is with
out excuse. SO frequently now are the AZ,
tenpts to eTado sh1o law in the fufllmenb of
promises to pay, that they have become TO be
looked upon with Indifference, and 2nspire no
particular feelings of disrespect, outside of the
parties Immediately interested A high stand
ard of character and of honest dealing, wouj 4
be induced, were the regulations which the law
attempts to make between seller aud brver 70
moved. A legal evasion Of the payment of n
debt, is now often regarded as an act of prea
shrewdness, and subjects the person guilty
the evasion to but little or nc censure. The vi
olation of mans word of honor is repugnant
to the moral sense Of the community. Make
character solely the basis of credit, and many a
knave who now luxuriates with the property Of
other men, would see and feel a strong necessi-
ty for acquiring better reputation