Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-02-17
From the DelaWarean.
TINE ATTACHMENT LAWS.
An Extract GrOm ~ speech of sEOm. Tho =
=. Records.

Am Extract RrOm % speech of SEOm, The
=. Records.
In TaE STATE SENATE, FRBRUARY 11TH, 1873. |
II understand correctly the effect Of such |
law as this bill proposes, the wages or hire |
of mechanics and labOrers and the salaries Of |
officers are not liable for any debts they may
contract, notwithstanding they may be in al
fluent circumstances, while the Door farmer
may toll day and night in cultiyatlng the soil
In order t1 Produce grain and other pro
ducts f0l the maintenance Of his family, all
OF which are liable to attachment not only
for debts contracted for neccessaries &c,
while cultiv0ting his crops, but for any old
claim which may be hanging over him.
Should his crops escape attachment before
maturity, it does not exempt them, because,
not only the grain after garnered, but the
proceeds after it Is disposed of are subj ect to
attachment Agaun the poor man who by
honest toll has accumulated some money and
has invested 1t in merchandise, ceases to re-
ceiVe the protection which such a law affords
hlm as SoOu ae the money which Is the com
pensation for his Tabor, or q portion of his
salary, Is converted into merchandise, &c,
for then, not only the goods while they re-
main in his shop become subject to attachment
fOr his liabilities, but the proceeds of those
which he may dispose Of any credit are alike
subject to attachment. After thoroughly in
Vestigating this subject and carefully conside-
ring it in all It's phases and bearings upon
every class of citizens, 1t is impossible to
conceive how any candid gentleman. who de-
sreS to meet out eYen-handed Justice to all,
can urge its passage, because it evidently
dlscriminates between certain Glasses of citi-
sens hy po9ferripg greater privileges upon
one than 1t does upon others. without refer
ence to their pecuniary condition. The wives
and children of the poor farmers and trades
man are 9A frequently reduced TO destitute
circumstaAOes - those OF the poor mechanic
and labOrer, yet they are, excluded from the
benefits which this bill proposes 10 confer
upon the latter In my opinion the reasons
are Just as strong in favor OF exemptlng the
stock, crops and farming implements OF the
husbandman fEOm attachment for his liabil.
y ties, as they are for ekempting the wages and
hire Of the mechanic or labOrer for his. lsO
lated cases iOf severe suffering are cited by
PORTRAYED In glowing c0lOrs for the purpose
of ellcting sympathy.
We are t0ld that the wages Of the poor IA
borer whose, family is afflicted, is frequently
attached by bis creditor. leaving him nothing
with which to procure the common leeessa
Ties OF life Tar them. This, lF,maY be the cas-
10 some Instances, but wal venture the asser
ti0n that such cases are rare, and when the!
do occur, there is some just reason for such
regld enforcement u tha law. ! am credlDl!
informed by gentlemen in various parts OF tn
State that when tha wages of labOEing mei
are attached, whether they are In the ample.
Of corporate companies or individuals, al
agreement is entered into between the Office
Of the law and their employer Oy which Onf
) SIiah portion Of lheiF weeks or month
wages Is retained at tho close 0f the week i
month, rs the ease may be-, and applied 10 tn
attaohment, thus giving every honestly dis
posed parsOn an opportunity to pay his debt
without being reduced to suffering circumstaI
ces. Again, many mechanics and laborel
live In rented houses, and others who have n
families board with some poor man or wome
Eho IL ENGAGED 10 keeping boaRding-ho1s'
Row, siE, il the wages Of mechanics and laO0
cts DIRE ~ pied from attachment OF their Ii
abilities, Is 1t reasonable to suppose that owl
eTs of property will rent their houses TO the
without either demanding security for the rel
or compelling them to pay it In advance
Doubtless In many instances, 1t would le "
possible tqf Aeatto comply W ta these ca
ditiOns. These same conditions no dOu
would be imposed upon those vino board,
the prOpFietOrs of boarding houses would n
like to assume the risk OF trusting many
them upon their word OF honor, whereas,
thelr wages were subject to gttaehmenC I
their rent, board, sc, they would not have
undergo thaj mOFtifoati0u df being deni
credit t0T small amount, or of having to o
Mr. Speaker after calmly and dlspassiO
ately considering tho bill under eonsideIa ito
and after viewing 1t In all Its phases ana PEI
ings upon the community ut large, am full
convinced that should be guilty OF gr6
act Of injustice TO large majority OF the CT
zens of the State, were to rscOrd my "
for 1t. Sir. am willing to go as taE as q
Senator 10 protect the rights OF the poor ma
and WhdnRVer measures for that purpose
Introduced In this body which are general
their application and not repngnant to the
terest Of any, shalhaecoEd 70 them ny cor
al support