The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-05-22
Atheus Cost.
Athens, Friday, May %, 1874.
Suggestions for the Consideration
Of Legislators and Others.

true ring about it. Nothing would DO
moro 70 elevate tho ethics Of politicians
and cultivate high moral tone in the
people than the bold advocacy OF tho
rough reform IN the laws of the State by
some honest man Of sufficient promi.
nence before the public to command at.
tention. His political tenets or affini-
ties, past or present, whether q "middle
man" ora granger" are of little impor.
lance comparatively If he should have
the strength, on all proper occasions, to
free himself of the ignoble trammels Of
"party"in the approaching canvass.
Please allow me space to briefly indi-
cate some changes in our statutes which
occur 10 the writer as essential to the
commencement Of the reformation every
good citizen must desire. The present
exemption law is not only disgrace to
the people of Tennessee, virtually con-
stituting a population of individual
debts, but It is a premium in effect to
the dishonest sharper. More than that
the example of such dishonorablc con-
duct as is encouraged by our exemp.
ton laws, fosters spirit of dishonesty
among the children who witness the
protection afforded those who meanly
avail themselves Of legal method to
defraud their creditors, and who arro-
gantly defy the officers that attempt the
collection of debts. Only the unworthy
are benefited. An honest man would
scorn to take advantage Of tho law
which offers him security against the
just demands ofhis creditors. Nothing
of money value should DO exempt
from execution for just debt. An
honest man will rarely ever DO In dan
ger Of suffering from the Seizure Of his
wearing apparel, cooking utensils. i'm.
plements Of industry, only horse or COW.
II some heartless creditor, or one moro
needy than himself, should insist on
taking his last pig, which public opin.
ion would usually prevent, when a
considerate conscience might not, he
would always find friends ready to
come to his assistance who would take
pleasure in supplying what misfor-
tune. not due to vice or idleness, had
deprived him Of. in other cases of ex-
IRENE necessity lot the community sup
ply his necessities. Better that each
one of many should contribute little,
than n large loss be sustained by one
person who may be as little able to do
without what is due him as the debtor
who withholds It. Should the present
disgraceful exemption laws of TenDes-
see be repealed, we would see less shirk-
ing the payment Of dues by the thrift
less and meaner class Of people. We
would no longer hear the impudent ex-
pressions "help YOURSELF If you can"
"let me know when you get your pay"
"crack yonr whip as soon as You please"
&c. Audacious and INSCRIPTIONS credi-
tors should no longer be allowed to
resort TO the wretched evasions and
subterfuges which now, like the barri-
cades of Paris mob during the days of
terror, are erected across every cause
way Of legal approach. We need legs-
lation that will secure speedy jnstice--
that will correct the abuses resulting
in that procrastination in the high court
Of equity which has made the very
name Of Chancery Synonymous with all
indefinite period Of time. Causes ought
to be heard upon their merits and
promptly decided upon principles of
law and equity. To insure which much
Of the cumbersome machinery and tech.
nical paraphernaia which now tram
mel the administration of justice, at the
expense and vexation of honest itigants,
should be swept away as pernicious rub
bish In which cunning reptiles hide
To defer the trial Of cause should re-
quire something more than erivo-
lous excuse on the part OF a litigant in
tcresed in an indefinite continuance. As
nearly every case of importance, civil
and criminal, is now taken to the Su.
preme Court, why not abolish the lnfc-
rior courts, and have three learned jurists
in each judicial circuit to try all cases
now tried by the Circuit and Chancery
~.--.-n a. ~ -. O"'nuivning q Jury
upon the application oe either party,
which would rarely DO done by any IN.
nocent man or honest litigants, as three
men learned In the law and accustomed
to weigh testimony would, as q general
thing, be far more competent to try
case than the twelve men who are usu.
ally selected to form jury. Then, we
would have this bench Of judges 10 re.
main in session at each county seat un.
til the docket has been cleared, or every
Al. Al.