The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-05-05
410lltl(al.
O
REMARKS of CGenni w. scofsesd,

sqayissneafa5-g 20 tic exemption ia'r he foiioap-
IN amendment altered Ly -Gr. Scofeta deing
lsndcr eoasid-ra,i5a, c,@:
Whenever the property selected by de-
fsnGaut, under the exemption laws OF tins
Commonve,l lth, shall consist in whole or IN
,a,rt of the dwelling house Of such defendant,
10 O. sac hs.Hg housekeeper charged Win
The maintenance of = family, the amount OF
-sluation shail he FIVE hundred dollars instead
of three haHdred, as heretofore
While the aboGe section was under con-
federation in the Senate, Mr. SCoFIELD
inade the following remarks:
The policy OF exemption, SO tar as 1t now
goes, is to leave to the debtor the abso-
lutte nccesaa~ics of life. The same policy
ehould certainly spare the family roof
Mauy articles allowed under the old law
might possibly be dispensed with; but "a
house of some kind must be had at all
events. If the policy of an exemption is
well founded, the poor mans home, which
comes clearly Within its reason aud spirit,
should certainly be free. But while the
principle upon which all exemption laws
.est, would leave to an unfortunate family
!. emall haDitation as an object OF hrSt ne
ec>sty, there are sume reasons IL favor OF
the measure that DO not apply to any 9TH
cr species Of fproperty. \ dwelling house
i always accommodated to the size, AZ
ranged aud ornamented to the taste of "A
particular family. In this respect 1t Is
unlike store, shop or tavern. / hese
IRE Planned, not to suit particular trades
y, An, but particular trade, and are As
suitable for one person carrying en- such
trade as another. Experience shows that
while this kind of buidlng will generally
sell for more than cost, a dwelling house
is often sold at ruinous SacYhee. The
family residence, like family portraits. is
tar more valuable to the occupant than 10
auy one else; and when forced to sale,
though it does not enrich the purchaser,
laaves the unfortunate sufferer poor ln-
deed Ii is more or less a sale of all the
attachments and affections which the
whole household cherish for their old
haunts and hearth for to them it is nut
only shelter, but the depository Of cher
i.hed associations The tree they have
plauted, whose termination and growth
they have watched and watered, has to
them an ideal value. If you drive them
from it, you deprive them not only of its
shade, but the mental satisfaction with
which they regard it as the product of
their care The vine that spreads over
the hovel its protecting and bcautltylng
green, ciing5 not more closely to It's rude
support than dothe affections OF the child
it shelters to the objects of its first famll-
iarity. THis home affection never chlils.
The child grown 10 manhood, and wan
lering where he may in new pathways of
life, will pause, even III the busiest mo-
anents of ambitions prime, and turn PEN
sive thought or a reyerent step to this
first Mecca of the mind. These senti-
nlents exist in the coarSest heart. And
submit to the Senate if it is good poll
cy, 10 say nothing of humanity, to turn
these amiable traits in the human char
soter to articles of merchandise.
In opposition to this measure, 1t IS said
We cannot build men houses by leglsla-
tion. No, SIR; but we can do much to
encourage their acquisition. Place the
family residence beyond the reach OF chi
cane or misfortune, and you stimulate the
idle and thrlftless to habits OF labor and
economy. The present proverbial uncer-
rainty Of fortune is the great discourage
rncnt of human exertion. Now industry
knows not whose 0yergrown estate It's ac
,,uistions may nnally swell. The hand
that would plant a tree knows not wha
lbidden stranger may enjoy It's shade
The household, whose united efforts might
earn common home, knows rot how soon
simplicity or mismanagement IN Its lega
control, may expose 1t to the eXactlons oi
credit or of craft
Cannot give poor men homes by legis-
lation Sir, it is by long course of ad
verse legislation that the poor are depiv,
sd of their portion on earth. 1t Is be
cause the books overflow with Legislation
that encourages land monopoly. that she
anaiioa has not place to rest the sole O
bis foot not turf to cover his grave, ex
cept by leave of ''my lord. - here il
space enough III the world for all, auC
plenty to spare. Naturally, we are bu
tenants in common on its surface. Nat
uralIy each person has an equal right will
his brother, to spot on which to pItci
his tent aud erect an altar---to ground il
which to plant and gather harvcsts dunn!
life; and 10 whose familiar dust his ashe
may sleep when Iiies t;ful fever is over
1t is because this natural right has beer
,egilAted away; because sing man
authorized by law to draw an hnaglnar
line around whole leagues of land, an'
hold it away from the world, that tn
child of want is compelled to "beg hi
lnrdlv fellow worm to rive HIM leave t