The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-17
Go the Whole Hog or None.


Go the Whole Hog or None.
The above is not very euphonious motto,
but it is one involving some sound philoso
ply. 1t possesses the merit Of frankness
and comprehersiveness. Applied to any
principle, it advocates its employment to
the fullest extent. 1t is at war with all
shams, subterfuges, and compromises. We
commend the motto to our legislators. For,
it is evident from their proceedings thus far,
that their legislation would be vastly i'm.
proved, even if it should proceed hereafter
upon swinish basis.
The measures designed for the relief of the
people, and which have met with the great
est favor among members, are little better
than hypocrisies and swindles, on their face.
The most prominent railroad scheme, is
absolute reputation under the cover of an
equitable arrangement. The relief bill,
which passed the House, is an abortive
compromise between public justice and pri-
vate interest. 1t is an unwarrantable inter-
ference with the rights of contracts and their
remedies and in its operation will prove
equally unfortunate and unjust to both
debtor and creditor. If these rights and
remedies are to &c tempered with at all, let
them be utterly abrogated. $50 the whole
hog in regard to them, or let them alone.
Let the laws encourage and enforce honesty
or dishonesty, one or the other, distinctly
and unequivocally. Let not the laws them
selves place the moral status of our people
in state of uncertainty and doubt.
If our people are unable to pay their
debts, or, if, being able, it is public policy
to encourage them in an unwillipgness to
pay, go the whole hog at the first step,
and abolish all laws for their collection.
There is a certain respectability in audaci.
ty and this proceeding, if it would not be
strictly manlike, would at least possess the
merit of being bold. Our legislators need
not hesitate to endorse such a measure on
any ground of novelty. There is precedent
for it no farther off than Wisconsin. A
distinguished statesman of that Common
wealth, the Honorable ANDREW E. GILMORE,
now member of its House CT Representatives,
an officer Of high position in the Sons of
Malta, formerly of still higher position in
the Oriental Evanic Order of 1901, and
popularity known as the Sage of Mukwana-
go, lately introduced bill of this expunging
character, which seems to be received with
great favor in many quarters. The bill is
short and explicit, and yet it "goes the
whole hog" in the direction towards which
our relief measure only points. Its pro-
visions are as follows
SEC. l. There shall hereafter be no final exc.
cution issued, upon any judgment rendered
upon an action for the recovery of money due
or owing by reason of any contract expressed
or implied, either for principal or costs.
Sec. 2. Process, in the nature of final execu-
ton, may be issued for the sole purpose of
restoring to possession of the cest, que trust,
Pledge, mortgage, lessee, or other person
having special lien upon or interest in, spe.
cifc property, personal or real, and entitled
to such possession or lien, by the terms of the
judgment of the Court.
There is positive relief. 1t is tangible.
1t emancipates the debtor at fash. The
debtor, under its operation, could walk up
to the creditor, and flourish his ten digits
from the tip of his nose, with equal conf
dence, serenity, and immunity. 1t would
furnish brilliant and practical commentary
on that great truth embodied in our Declar-
alton of Independence, in regard to the
equality of men, and of their inalienable
right to the pursuit Of happiness, unmolested
by the judgments of courts and the execu.
lions of bailifs. Like PATRICK HENRY,
we're for the Declaration. If there is to be
any change in our laws, impairipg contracts,
either in their rights or remedies, let our
Solons "go the whole hog" and wipe them
out of being. There is no sense in halfway
measures. Turn the Capitol into general
Clearing House. Then we can all start off
even and he who can prove himself the
shrewdest Swindler will become our highest
Representative Man. "Go the whole hog !"
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