Middletown transcript., 1873-01-25
THE EXEMPTION LAW.

are without weighing them in the balance.
Matters Of importance should always be
most carefully considered before acted
upon aud when changes Of vital impor-
tanec to the people are proposed by the
/ Legislature Of a State, they should be fair
ly and fully discussed by those people
This IS what we proros, to do IL refer
cnce To the bills which have been and may
/ yet be introduced into our General As.
scmbly a, It's present session, aud We in
yite others who may agree or disagree
with US 10 give expression to thcir views
through our columns that the people may
have fair understanding Of these mat.
4 tcrs
There has been much said from various
sources about the repeal Of the existing
attachment law, and the extension Of the
exemption law, aud a ill is already be.
fore the Assembly providing FOR the cx-
emp,iou from execution of many articles
not hitherto included in the exemption
! law This is an act Intended. evidently,
/ Tor the benefit Of but one class of people
I All laws should be made f1r the mutual
benefit aud protection Of all the citizens Of
/ the State. but this lill introduced by Mr
/ Lewis Thompson, while i, might possibly
( be Of some advantage TO the llhoriug class.
e., would b. of the utmost disadvantage
Ia laniltrls merchants and others nlcr
th law ns it now exist. thr merchant who
/ sells bis goods on credit has the liberty. If
his debtor fails 10 pay his just debt to
compel payment by attaching money bt-
I longing to hi. drliugnut flrLtor. wher,,a.
e,er il may BE- found ani the property
owner who rra's house to a u,ct!ltni, dr.
other, hs, preferred lion upon tha good,
oihisieaaat until 4 ha, pail ,ha rent, All
oftbiN Mr J. Thompson proposes To abol-
ish; 70 prevent tha mrrcluu, from attach
Ing aagc,, aud t,hc from The landlord tie
Len utou ID -r#i, # hi, t,naaC
Part Of ,li> law existed many years
upon uur statute books. hut /, has only
been yery fw yrsr, since the privilege
Of garui.hmaut wa. e tended 10 crpora-
t4n,. aud L w "a cry j, ra;scl far it. all
i'iaa Til. mas or may not h. a wise
movement Ia one respect We b .icvc it
is a good thing Ne hlyc alway, argued
II favor u a strict cash system. believing
II 10 ba the very bcst policy ia trade that
can'i BE- adopted. aud should the Lrei-la
tnre pass N,,srs Thompson and Silver's
hills, We heiicve il would largely coniuce
70 this much to-bn desired cui
But there j, another pain, Of view from
which to look at lhi, question Will it
accomplish the purpose for which it il
designed VIII il benefit the Aborcr !:
rs the l.w now stands, II an industrious
marhan!c gots shuf; of fund, and goes TO
merchant aMl asks for short credit
lie gets it. far the uicrrhan, know, that il
hs fails irom dishonest reasons, 10 meet
his obligations, remedy is lctt in gar
nIshce attachment. aud notwithstanding
all that is said to the contrary there are
very icw men who will resor, to this
means OF enforcing payment, unless dis.
honest intention on the part Of the debtor
is manifested, hut if m industrious me
ehauic or other laborer gets in debt aud
goes To his crs ditor aud frankly admits
his inability to pay, and a, the same time
shows a Willingness to work. aud desire
to meet his obligations as soon as practi-
cable, 99O out of every thousand creditors
will give him time to get out Of his per-
plexity, but il a man folds his hands and
says II cant. no one will or ought 10
have sympathy for him. If he is well and
able to work. If he is disabled for labor
Of course no man would wish to push him
Again, while Inc law has allowed land.
lords to retain the property Of their ten.
ants as security for the payment Of rent,
poor mcu have always been able to rent
houses for the shelter of their families
without being compelled to give security
for the rent. but change the law and vi
opinc the small renters will soon learn to
their cost that it would have been better
to have let the law remain as it was
These are few observations that have
occurred to us in regard to this law. but
We do not wish to interfere with the pro.
posed enactment. for the reasons above
stated that we believe it will aid mater.
ially in bringing about condition Of AT.
fairs OF far greater importance to the pco.
pie than either exemption or non-exemp.
ton. But, while the law exists, its
provisions ought to be such as to give the
,rato,,;ap and spcurs fhs ADVANTAGE in.