The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-19

The whole nation In indignaAlt opp lfion.
Wilt We shall sess Il does not IL
viii be one Of the worst signs We have had.
Afters that, the sooner, indeed, the country
passes under thetsword the better. There
viii not BE enough of virtue and indepen-
srience Ii the people 10 enable them To go
vern. sc 81 ssls s.. s II
The Homestead Provision Of the New
* Cpnsti tntion.
Qf oil hunbugs this is tile most trans-
parent. Il is not only . humbug, but it
declares itself to be so. Leaving out Of
view its direct eontravsntion Of the national
Consultation, and assuming that it would not
be condemned by the courts, it is, never
theless, Of no ysiue. 50 regarding il, we
have hitherto not written an article in re-.
gard to it. Il is inconsistent with itself.
It provides for its own destruction.
Several gentlemen Of Wytheyille recently
addressed . letter to Judge FULTON, JAMES
wv. SHErrEY, and ISAAC ]. LEFrwIcH, ask
ing opinions as to the constitutionaiity Of
I the provision in question. Judge FUIToN
very. properly declined to give any opinion,
forlthe reason that the question might come
before him in his judicial capacity. The
other gentlemen replied at length. 3 Mr..
sHErFEY expresses himself as follows:
The proposed exemption, when care
fully examined, amounts to no exemption at
all; for Che debts which are required to be
paid embrace, in my view, every class of
Liabilities except open accounts, and also
embrace all accounts for any property which
the debtor still holds. The only accounts
sgainst which The provision for the debtor
is q protection are accounts for articles
which have been consumed or disposed Of.
The pretended exemption is therefore a
trick and q fraud, intended to mislead and
deceive. ~ ssR s. 'sass:.5 Z. 81
Buff the exemption clause stood alone,
and was not, as II is aolsiittlsd doion to moth
ing by the provisoes, it is, in my judgment, q
clear violation Of the prohibition in the
Constitution Of the United States It pro-
poses to exempt from levy or sole under any
isexecuGon, order, or other process issued on
< any ucDlaUu lOT any ucut, uSICsUioAV VI
hereafter contracted, property not exceed
ling $4,000. Applying to debts heretofor
contracted, it is o Law impairing the obliga-
tion Of contracts No State can pass such,
law, either by its Convention or Legisla-
sture, without violating the Constitution Of
the United, States" (. 49, -
That disposes of the homestead hum
bug in short order. And whoever will
take the trouble to read the thing as it
stands in the proposed Constitution, viii see.
that Mr.. sHEFFEY has not spoken at ran
dom. Z IA 20 .'1l'i o
Mr.. LEFTwfcH says: s
.The. courts of; the country, in the last
resort, I have no hesitation in saying, must
and will declare the said act imperative
and void whenever, their powers are in
voked for that purpose"
These opinions occupy two columns of the
Wytheville Dispatch. We have quoted
enough Of them to show, that they agree
with the legal profession throughout the
State in pronouncing the provision contrary
to the national Constitution, and of no
value whatever. He is easily deceived
who can be taken in by a worthless bride.