Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-01-14
Vol. XXI. Whole No. lO42. No. 3.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT


largely mitigate the evils of so extreme rene
I dy Tor the enforcement of the rights of credi-
! tors. yet they seem to me unjust and unwise.
+ Practically they rarely aid in the collection of
claims against dishonest debtor; il is only the
honest but unfortunate debtor that is reached by
I them. Our criminal laws are already sufficient,
I or may be made so, TO reach dishonest debtors
guilty OF fraudulent acts. But statutes which
/ authorize the Imprisonment of penniless debt
or who caunot secure the means TO pay the
| costs OF Il d.,closure, where no fraudulent praC-
tice or intent Is alleged, operate iDjuriously to
I the interests Of industry and trade, foster an
unwI>e use of the credit system to the ultimate
disadvantage of the creditor and the not unfre-
! qurnt oppression Of the debtor and his unof-
\ lending family. and are contrary TO sound
public policy and the spirit OF the age.
RIGHT OF WOMEN 10 HOLD OFFICE.
/ In response to questions propounded by the
Governor and Council, a majority of the jus
tlct> oi the supreme Court have given AN opin-
lon that. under the constitution of Maine, wo-
mon cannot act A. Justices Of the Peace, nor
Huid any other office mentioned in that instrlI-
lhtht out That IT Is competent for the Legisla-
turc 10 authorize person, of either sex to hold
any ministerial Office created By statute As
th'rt can BE- no valid objection to- but on the
contrary great convenient, i'll having women
Wao may D. acting as clerks in pubnc or pri-
Nttc dl'ts, authorized to administer olths and
tdNe ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF d.tI,, / recommend
lht passage OF aH act providing for the appoint
( IN M Of persons OF cltAaT SEX, 10 perform such
OH -ia duties. Indeed. If turl her legislation be
} n n.rs,>Irv to establish that principle 1 suggest
/ Ia Justice and cNprdiency OF an enabling act
. recognizing the tilzT bliity OF women to office
III th' sans manner ~ men; for KNOW OF no
Nuiii ,Ieut. reason why woman, Otherwise
IatIau ii, should b, excluded from any position
aIJpted to her taste, and acqutrenlciiis winch
tAt people desire she should nIl.
REVISION OF THE CONS rIrCrIoN.
4 L viii b. necessary for the legislature to
pruEtd for th' submission to the people ut the
annual state election in September next, an
amendment oi the constitution aboiiShin, the OIL
ne pI LlHd AZ nj, | suggest whether II would
hbt D. wise 10 unite wIth this proposition such
pth@r amendments of the fundamental law Of
thS state as may b. found uecr ~sary. Indeed ii
seems 10 M thar no more favorable oppOriuni-
/ {! could D. had to secure such a careful rvSi-
SION " many features Ot the constitution OF the
state, A. has for some time appeared TO many
thpu Shtlul citizens 10 bc desirable.
tuty-nEc years have passed since the con>ti-
tutloI WAS framed: Almost TWO generations
nave come anu gone; and the conditions OF ltc
AMI dtm4nd' on social and political organtZa-
ZION nave - changed IL To require Important
m'ltl-dii1ns IN tn iuulttm sutii law ot TINS, 4,
N-.t .1' psher states. At different times within
h past tAirty-uEe years, We have "ndcaN OgrI
tp H tt lN'-r Il nIut> bt disconnected am md
In'Ht>, uhut our olatr constitution has become
p1et5 OF Ie-I p4,eh-worN, IN which the
pa ltN AMI uI.-U.-a,Li' ~lrrd- cover half tn'
tH' lhlrtf-; pIEa, which thr revised statute,
vote - tn ia, rum Ht and The clsuI. reader
olcu uuI, IL u.ii-.It {, understand ,,i,tt ,tn-
th WuItm.ata, law os To. STAT. Bar a>d.
from Mes. difficulties. nor to m .ntinn tho am
b-d-Y OF ~'m' provisions. many vital qlte,-
ltIA' are untouched which ought To bc put .,
r.--.
tn. constitution pr,y!l., onl4 oar way l.,
secure . iplIht.ltipn ol any of IT. provisions.
Iyl-. htrI, OF HptA uou-,, of tls. legislature
H4i-. Ar>. t1sar oI JsA sA,tueuI, to b. proposed,
ANA tl.u -.j.l amendments must b.. r4tlii-,I .,
ga ppp.c a, the "a ~ anuun election IN : ~
tamo.r Il j. obvious, however. tAlr :tl!:ld a
pru--Irc pj ,.i. ordinary legislative b.l,.u,.,,
dua4s ih. britt period t..p..,I To- the ,,.,.l3u
up commute. ot l5i- legislature can give thar
prolonged AMI vxru,tt,. attention requisite To-
rls. careful. cou,d .rl.ipn OF th. yar.ou, Inpor-
GDt constitutional qIg,. .5ou- ~ alcA are ,.auu-
H- pI5i. attention. A. first thought tA,r,.
m'Sh' srr;1to D. Il proprirty in >uumonin. i
constitutional cput culiyu. bat th,- douDr winch
exist, iu ,nuia mind, ~ 10 the troprigty ui do
IIr tli., without lir-r submitting the question