The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1876-03-22
DEBT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
VI ----------
[From tbs Southern Planter and Farmer.
pY Dir q. n BAkER.s VII

pY pis c. III. BAhER.g
The farmer who owns his land. is free
from debt. and has toierble improvements
oauaot realize the full meaning of the term
hard times, His situation is one of
comfort and independents, and stands in
striking contrast to the corroding care and
life-sspping anxiety incident to city bust
less
Asa rule. the farm does not oford The
means ii extrayagant living. but the true
pleasure Of the yocalion is derived from its
intimate relation to nature and the posses
sioa' OF all the rational enjoyments of lits
The rock. upon which iarneTs split. is
debt !; il is 10 him. curse, mure universal
and more disastrOusin lis results than all
causes combined. The occasion for going
III debt j. tao-fold, either improper, and
hence improbable farming; or u morbid
desire 70 live. what may be termed fashion,
ab!e. and beyond our means.
The 6rst results IN dispruportion between
the products Vi tue iarm and the necessary
and proper expenses u living.
The secoud involves . demand for more
inoncy than it is possible To realize from
the iarm and Its operations.
Now the result In either cave Is. the
farmer IS soon hardened with Indebtedness.
whict. entails untold anxiety upon himself
and faulty, and after longer Of shorter
struggle, ends With the sale Of his property
81 great sacrihce. or perhaps he takes
shelter under bankrupt or homestead laws,
thereby deirauding his creditors Of their
just dues.
How then shall We meet this question
Its one Of vital Importance to the farmer.
- tie State, and . society. propose 10
answer il by three propositions:
lst. The farmer must free himself from
debt ~ once. Ii be can do this by strained
productions Of bis lauds. Il mean by an
unusual area Of erUPs) for one or two years.
IL py heavy sales Of stock on hand, coupled
siih tie most rigid economy, why, say.
". BIN adopt this course ; this will apply,
however, only IN thsse cases where no great
amount o. Indebtedness exists. II this
eoar-e i not open, the oaly alternative left
s 70 cell whatever amount Of land is De-
cesssry 70 free the remainder from the in
s4sss u debt. lor ! maintain that under
the present. order Of things. this will be
brissr tnan 10 bold on - large farms and
p-y exorbiisnt rates VI interest on borrowed
money. With costs on judgments. &c; to-
gether With the thousand anxieiies aud
sex1ii0as iocidsnt to this state Of thing
and after spending the best years Of bis life
man unequal struggle. Dc forced at last tC
yield up Bis property f0r sale 1t half it.
Ssiae. No nan IN this country eau afford
50 pay twelve per cent. on ra1ney invested
10 land. asI the farmer. Who il 10 debt. is
5iseel a. avery great disadvantage IN The
rn.tiva.ion and Improvement. Of hi. farm =,
Yell - in the sale 81 hi- products. ....
~. he IBaSt trlag his lands into the
hi-hess possible ssie Df cultivation, III
y ier . make every acre yield the greatest
sissoat. and this realize the laTges, ne;
ir.oosas psEcti.abIe. We deem tllas no ar.
,.gHsa, Is pes5rd y establish the truth of
6i.is proposition.
3l L i or sacred and binding duty Ia
live aithin or iasolse. bs Ii great VI small.
| consider Il 70 be our privilege ani duty
- inrssie cor cailjTes e. elothe them ia
attn. pnrp.e and fine linen" and to live
% The f.t Of the Isnj.s provided that We
re not IN debt. But il We are 10 debt. j,
tee0mss our daiy. however .ad aud painful
i,nsy se % u. % leny ourselves aud
t-nily everything except absolute nece34.
res. rntii or creditors are discharged.
Bot. ~ approved culture. reasonable
eo9rV'ny aunt iadieious tBaneiering. tie
farsn viii yield ~ comfortable living and
requisite ioeans fer educating our children
b.A laEurious living j. not practicable oI
~ iaar- farms and mast BE- fgregone.
We conclude that every mat has th.
rrsisputsd right 70 supply bis table. cloth,
a educate be family. and supply bin.
seit With every laxury. fancy or Taste MAJ
fef1ire. provided. always. that lie has toe
surplus menus xbsreTitb to obtain them.
b. - question VI social aud politics.
sconomy, BE has no moral right 10 buI
nsnr than The neseaarics u life, whilst il
debf.
IL every msn 10 the State Of Virgins
seaid sct upon this priBcipls. the vail O
f.aacisl distress tlIst We nov hear wl,ereyel
- ~. would speedily die away upon Oul
shores. and Tie twin sisters. peace nht
plenty. would enter and abide In ever,
household.
Emytbs county. Va