Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-07-25


never consent to remain here and delve as
hired servants on premises Of which they
we're once the lords and proprietors, but
which, in many cases, and by the most singu-
lar freaks Of fortune, will have been trans-
ferred to tie genuine enemies of their coun-
try. Would not generous Homestead Ex-
emption be more becoming, more honorable,
and even moro beneficial to the Creditor than
this revolving state of affairs? If it be un-
constitutional to destry the Creditors lien on
this property, why, let him retain his lien,
and let the honest man retain in his hands,
at least for series Of years, the means Of
profitable labor, whereby he may have some
reasonable hope and encouragement to dis
charge all his pecuniary obligations. A wise
and timely provision of this kind BY the Leg
islature, together with the amendment of the
Insolyent Debtors Acts, SO as to abolish I'm
prisonment for debt, and afford any other
practical and Constitutional relief to Debtors,
or the passage by Congress of uniform Bank
rupt law, and the adoption Of those measures
for the postponement of the periods of OBJ
tanning judgments, and making satisfaction
of executions, and for the regulation of the
amounts to bepaid on Notes for the sale of
negroes, would give such an impulse to in
dustry, and so much courage, hope, and con-
fdsnce to farmers, as to convince the Credi.
tors themselves, in short time, of their wis
dom and justice, and of their full conformity
and compliance with the spirit, if not with
the letter of the Constitution. Is it possible,
that set of men, who can see no "irpair-
ment of the obligation of contracts" in the
emancipation of our slaves, can hesitate and
sickle at the adoption of the very mild and
moderate remedies here presented? Can those
who swallowed that huge and bitter pill,
make wry faces over the sweet little grains
we offer them to take? Can those who had
the hardihood to rob us of three-fourths OF
our means of making payment, and to that
extent to impair the obligation of all our
contracts, come forward now, with burst OF
ill.timed honesty and patriotism, and declare
that we shall pay up right now, and to the
uttermost farthiDg? Do not Justice afd
Equity appeal in our behalf for redress, and
can the Legislature, the Convention, and the
Congress who have reduced us to this ex-
tremity, refuse this last petition, and turn
deaf ear to OUR earnest Constitutional de-
mands,-to the cries of our children for bread,
and of our women for shelter? Surely they
will grant us our Homesteads, for little
while at leastl They cannot turn ont OF
DOORS the men, who by their gallantry and
prowess, on so many fields, have made our
names honorable, in all parts of the world.
They cannot expel from their comfortable
homes, and expose to the bleak winds of
heaven, the manned, and wounded, and bro.
ken soldiers, who have toiled, and marched,
and fought, and spent thei. substance, and
spent their very life's currents, to win for the
South an immortal crown, and to leave the
heritage of freedom to our children. The
women and children of the brave who perish
ed in the vindication Of our rights, on the ten
thor nd batte-felds Of the South, must moi
be deprived of their stumble COTS" for they
shelter the nurslings Of heroes. They are
our special care-theY are the property OF
the State, and they must be treasured in our
hearts, for their natural protectors, their hus-
bands and fathers and sons and brothers,
have fallen in our cause, and gone hence,
where the rolling drum and the shrill-noted
trumpet shall never sound them to the onset
again.
"On fame's eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spread;
And glory guards with solemn round,
The bivouuc of the dead"
JOSEPH ABNEY.