The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-04-20
Correspondence.
@C~N%-
X. Y. D..


his able and interesting article on the sub,
ject.
The writer in your last ISSUE, over the
signature Of y. Y, u. in reply to-" Pro-,
gress y has sigua!ly failed to meet the
question at issue. His article is thetoris
cally good, but its logic Is sophislical his
spirit nnkind evidently, and his supposed
cases wanting in anology.
When writer lays aside sound, argo-
men', couched in courteous language, and
resorts TO sophism, and bitter inveciive he
always weakens his attack, and provokes
pity or sneer, rather than applause.
The writer evidently believed he was
pandering TO the preiudices of the pub
lie, and so took liberties of language quite
inconsistent with true dignity and courtesy.
Whenever person widely departs f ON
a gentlemanly style and kind spirit be
flourishes his lance to poor effect The
question to be met and settled AS stated by
Progress, is this, 6" Is il immoral for cor.
porations or individuals in Vermont to
take for the use Of money more than six
per cent? Instead of taking and defend
ing the negative Of this question, the random
writer does what is far easier, sets up Il
man of straw and pitches into it. lie
avoids the question and rings changes
about the awful necessities OF men Prates
about extortion and in face and eyes Of
Webster and Worcester and other lexi,
cogrophers, tells his readers that illegal
interest is wicked, because it is extortions
airy. He affirms in substance that every
Vermonter taking seven and three tenths
for the use of money is an extortoner.
Wonder if he knows what the definition
of the word means
Now all he has to say land he really
says but little else) about eYtortion, about
getting extavagant rates from men, by
hocus- pocus and hobgoblins stories, &c. -,
about taking advantage of mems ex-
tremities, is correct, and no gentleman
will differ with him in the least But
when he classes all men and women y no
take more than six per cent with "thieves
and house burners" we can but pity his
obtuseness or lack of honesty or common
decency. Shall every bank every col
lege or corporate institution in our State.
That takes more than six per cent for lis
funds, be branded as committing what is
"akin to theft :" shall every laborer who
has saved from his hard earnings few
hundred dollars; shall every widow left
with scanty allowance for the support
OF herself and children shall every sew
ing girl who has saved few hundred
dollars, land we know of some belonging
to each of these classes, all of whom have
to pay high rents and high prices for the
necessaries of living, be ted that if they
lend dollar and take more than six cents
Tor the use of it, they are TO be counted
with thieves and house burners lie who
can advocate such monstrous doctrine
has heart full of all manner Of cruelty,
and is fit only 'for stra.agems and spoils. ;"
No man but selfish Y. Y. Il, can ad.
vocate "such brazen faced sentiments. -
The question lies in nut>shell.-is it
immoral in Vermont to take more than six
cents for the use OF "A dollar for year.
We know of good Congregational
clergyman, who has managed to save IN
the course fyears $500 We also know
that neighbor offered to hire it, and pay
ten per cent for it; and we happen to
know moreover, how the poor but wor.
thy minister freely and openly committed
(accordlng to y. I. Z.,) the monstrous
crime OF accepting the offer Shall this
pious minister be classed with thieves
and house burners" We know of wor-
thy Methodist minister Rev. Mr.. b,
who has laid himself liable TO the fragrant
charge Of lending fifteen hundred dollars
TO the U IS. government at an illegal rate,
for he receives one and three tenlhs per
cent extra interest, Must he too be classed
with ''thieves and house burners ?" There
IRE several thousand christian men and
women in the churches in Addison coun-
ty who receive more than six per cent for
the use Of their money. Shall they be
permitted to retain their church relations,
or be dealt with, and turned out, and coun-
ted in with "thieves and house burn.
ers ?"
Really this question IN its extent and
ramifcations is not confined to brokers
merely, so odious IA the eye of the bate
iant y. Y. Il, bat really reaches all classes
and both sexes, taking IN Banks, Insur
ance companies, and monted institutions