Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-28
The Homestead Exemntion.

The homestead exemption feature of the
negro constitution was adopted, says the Lynch
burg Neaos, with the avowed purpose of securing
white votes This was the gliding used to con
ceal the black pill of negro supremacy--this the
sugar which was to sweeten for white palates
the bitter draught. Surely no political organ
ization that ever existed was more unfortunate
in its efforts to deceive So far from being a
recommendation, this provision constitutes one
of the most obnoxious features Of the odious
constitution Designed as a bid for the votes
of the laboriLg classes, it was argued that men
of small means would swallow any constitution
which provided homestead exempt from forced
sale. But in the form in which it was adopted,
so far from befriending the laboring classes, it
actually discriminates against them and in favor
of the man of means All persons who own
property of less value than $1,000 are, by this
feature. deprived of all credit They cannot
buy pound of coffee and sugar, bushel Of
corn, nor yard of calico, unless they pay the
cash. Enact such law, and the poor man,
who cultivates the ground, can buy no necessa
ries for his family on the promise to pay when
his crop is gathered or when he sells his
tobacco" When he carries his horse to be
shod, his plough to be sharpened, or his wagon
to be repaired, he will have to carry his money
in his hand, because nothing can be made out
of him by law. He does not own $4,000 worth
of property, and consequently can get no credit
but the man of wealth can still enjoy the ben
efts of the credit system.
This argument is SO unanswerable and SC
plain, that he who runs may read. The Labor
ing classes" will never consent to ratify con-
stitution which so far from placing them on an
equal footing with others, actually discrlminates
against them.
We have alluded only to the practical effect
of the measure assuming that it would be car
ried into effect. But the truth is, that it is in
direct conflict with the constitution Of the Uni
ted States and would not stand an hour before
any court in christendom. That portion of the
law which makes it applicable to debts previously
contracted, is er post tacto in its operation, and
also ''impairs the obligation of private con
tracts and in each particular, therefore, is
violative of ''the supreme law of the land. -
The trainers of this section, must certainly have
been fools themselves, or supposed that all the
people were or they would not have attempted
by so transparent ruse, to deceive and mislead
them. Knowing the great restitution and pc
cuniary distress in the State, they imagined, We
suppose, that the people would jump at any
thing which promised even slight measure o.
relief. But the black-skinned and black hearted
Mongres who devised the scheme were toe
stupid to understand, or too degraded to appre
ciate the instincts of Virginians, when they sup
posed that negro supremacy could be made more
acceptable by the passage Of a law which is Ger
tain to be set aside by the courts, and which, il
constitutional, would only add to the miseries
of the poor. by inficting fatal stab on theil
credit. OF all the misefaby abortve measures
of so called RELIEF this is the most puerile
and impotent.