The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-02

IdlhSUAS .ss''' ...'as''s'~ - 80 q W.
The Danger of Encouraging People
Not to Pay
,5nr friends of the Wing have just had an
illustration Of the danger of arguments TO
show that people cannot pay, ana OF sne
ann,ovment OF what arc miscalled relief
measures to postpone the day OF payment
It has been argued not only that people are
no: able to pay, but that they are not SO 'oi
causes over which they had no CONTROL ana
which have been presented so strenuous.s
BY the Wing aud gentlemen concurr'ns !"
its views that people have inferred .n,y o..
morally exoncrsted from paying We A'o Wv,
we'll that the Uhta meant not 10 JUSTIFY any
snch inference, but with oil Slhoness we
NAV saw that 1t was not an extraVagan1 one.
And now the Wh.g finds itself taken 70
task BY one of its very intelligent CORE
snondepts for saying that after discharge
in bankruptcy the obligation upon the bank
rup, "te discharge his Indebtedness con
sinues in full force" The correspondent
claims that the bankrupt as he leaves the
court IS acquitted from all moral RESPONSE
kilisy for bis debts.
The Waig responds with spirit, aud right
rn|lv contends that discharge in oankruptcy
has no such meaning. The bankrupt may
no permi,ted to pursue his business uninter-
ruptedly to rebuild bis fortunes; "but,"
ssys the Eh,q, "not all the power of Con-
Sgress and Legislatures combined, can re-
" Iieye the debtor, who has enjoyed the pro-
~perty Of another, from the moral obligation
~to make restitution whenever it is ID DIS
=. ROVER to do So"
This is good and true morality. Every
u,un should have bis rights in his transac-
nons with his fellow-man; and no man can
be acquitted of bis obligation to pay as long
rs he fails to make compensation according
10 agreement for what he has had Of his
neighoor's property. We say that the bank
rupt law only depriveS the creditor OF bis
right to collect bis claim by Law. The debtor
is left to settle with bis creditor in such way
as right and conscience may dictate to him;
but morally he can never be released until
he has paid the debt he justly owes.
The Wing is right, but we repeat that
what 1t has said about poverty and aboet
The wrong of visiting upon the people con-
sequences of causes Of which they are inno-
sent has gone far to produce sentiment of
indifference to the public debt and to pr.
vate obligations, also. A state of things ex-
lists In Virginia which makes it dangerous
for representative to vote an Increase OF
taxes, and the sentiment that after giving up
his property the creditor owes no further
obligation to pay has become far too wide !
spread for the health of the body polite.
The Wing makes vigorous effort to correct |
Ibis impression. We wish it all success.
It lis great error. No people who entertain
md act upon this opinion can command the
respect of society.
We objected TO Governor ksXPER's fnan-
ial message because it dwelt with so much
arnestness upon the poverty of the State, and
aiied, as we thought, to represent with pro-
YER emphasis both the ability and the obi
,ation OF the people to pay the public debt.
indeed be rather weakened the force Of what
e had to say in this respect by max.
Dg case against the Federal Government,
nd expressing the hope that as it had un-
ues,ionably incurred the obligation to help !
Iirginia, it would in some way do SO. We
10 not believe that it ever will help us, and |
0 inculcatc the hope is only 10 diminish the
Glance of The people upon their own strong |
rms and stout hearts.
The system OF postponement of private
iebts-she encouragement of fallacious !
ropes of relief-the looking to the Federal
constant repetition OF the
argument that we can't pay because we arc
ooor-all have but relaxed the public eneT-
;ies, While The burthen has steadily increased.
It is dcplorable indeed.
The true policy would have been to dis.
courage all hope of avoiding payday, and
10 have urged the combination of all the
people of Virginia in a grand effort to re-
aeem the honor Of their State. Had the
Legislature excrted its talents and Influence
TO provide the ways and means Tor pay ing
As sincerely and steadily as it has to find out
the way not to pay we should now be easy
and the State would be trusted and be-
lieyed in, as formerly, by tue whole civilized
world. What aD inestimable jewel is public
honor How it helps private credit-hoW
it facilitates the prosperity Of State-how
proud, and bright, and happy, it makes her
people -.ss.
There is no way to preserve honor III this
matter but to pay honest debts, and how
ever the debtors conscience may be lulled
Into repose by assurances that there arc rea-
sons why he may postpone his obligations,
and finally may have reasons for not paying
ahen at all, he will wake up at last to full
conception OF his faithleSsness and the injury
which attaches to it.