Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-07
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND TAXES
ON MONEY, NOTES AND BONDS.

EDITOR INTELLIGESt In an article IN the
IntelliReucer Of the 18th ultmo, a correspondent
calling himself ''rlain Dealer" modestly sug-
gests an unconditional repeal oil the Hone
stead Exemption Tax, " by tn. next legislature
OF Missouri. With all due Difference 10 the
opinion OF said correspondent, 1t Is respectfully
suggested that the legislature cannot justly, and
VIII not do any thing of the kind The wisdom
oiexemption laws, under certain crcumstan-
ces, might well be doubted. but the legislatures
OF nearly Nil the states have adopted some form
OF exemption, recognizing the fact that debtors
hive rights as well as creditors. and common
humanity demands that the unfortunate debtor
should not lie entirely at the mercy OF relnorse-
less and Iapacious creditors. The present. de-
plorsble condition Of the whole country Is such,
that = repeal of sail law would breed a multi
sude Of heartless Shyocks, who in exacting
their pound OF flesh us ''nomln:,,ed in the
bond." would not only bleed the country to
death, but entail on large portion of the people
utter inability to ever discharge their 0bliga-
tons, which most OF them are manIully strug-
CLING to 'lo. ami which they could do with case,
were the country restored to prosperity. which
has, In great measure. been crippled by leg
islston unwiss and dangerous, suggested by
parties in their own interest. and recklessiy
Effected by inefficient representatives, who
ignore the fact that they the agents Of the
whole people. Simultaneous with the article
referred to, comes Information that a conclaye
of bankers and bondholders of New York City,
have met and resolved to render imperative,
the silver bill, passed by the last session of
Congress, ty using the means they control to
prevent the silver dollar from circulating At It's
legal tender value. Without entering INTO any
analysis OF the principle that underies this
movement. sinLly assert that it is the same
last growing principle that this government
belongs to the creditor class. snd must be run
IN their exclusive interest. notwithstanding It
may paralyze commerce. blight prosperity,
des0late homes, and prostrate multItules al the
fest OF wealth and power. The sentiment Is be-
coming universal Ms may lie seen by such out
Groupings AS may be found IN the communIca-
tion Of Plain Dealer
The most ridiculous part OF the article IS the
assumption that the creditor class has Inonopo-
lized all the honesty, christianity and denoc-
racy OF the country. Evidently he has been
searching the scriptures to find pillars on
which TO found this proposed legislation. He
Is respectfully referred to the fourteenth verse of
the twenty-third chapter OF Matthew. to com-
plete the research. To test that honesty, 60
modestly assumed. and the want Of which is 50
confidently imputed to the poor struggling
debtor. who is laboring to discharge his honest
dues gives all he spare To his creditors and
struggles on, knowing that il he can prevent
reckless sacrifice. his property may enable him
TO pay all. 1t Is suggested that other aypInpri-
ate legislation might he had by the next iegi,-
laturr, and with so much honesty, he cannot re-
fuse To concur with ME. lis a matter uf fact
which all rejecting and investigating persons
know. te"l and realize. that the most productive
part OF the wealth of Lafayette county, and
perhaps the state OF Missouri. rarely ever fnds
Its way to the ass"ss"rs hooks, tn. notes bonds
and money of Il great number ci people On the.
assessor's books ar. without Il habItution or Il
name. avaricr so distort, the human min and
heart, that men sol.mnIy swear that thy hav.
not, when they have. The burden of taxation
is thereby taken OF wealth, sound and sul,stan-
tiai, AMI put on property "f poor men, bcruuse
i, Is in sight, To rem dy this evil. only one
thing :sn be efiectuai, that lis tor the next icgis-
luture to pass AN act requirinI all persons sub
Ject TO pay taxes to return To the assessor Il
written Inventory of all notes by them he'd the
same to be verified by oath. ard all notes not TO
returned to become outlawel. and not collect
able. This is fair, honest and impartial ais,
constitutional and practicable. aud meets the
case fully. VIII Pluin Dealer !ndorse u2 Rish,
and. justice demand, and the present Is the time
to effect 1t. To recapltulate, the article not only
misIepresents worthy but unfortunate class
OF persons, but unjustly stGmati1es them and
while personally the interest of the writer OF
this would dictate IL repeal of the act, he canno.
ask 1t, ut the expense of large portion of the
people whom the great financial depression
and consequent depreciation of values have
lGost Affected While, as to the ne
eessi'y OF some legislation to bring the
most valuable and productive part OF the
country's wealth to bear its honest AMI Just
part Of the public burden, there can be 30 dis
pute, anu h wise and just lesislaiUr can and
Will see 1t. and the plan proposed certainly ID
umobjectionable, but If found So. any other tha.
will meet the case will be satisfactory to til.
people out on The LITTLE SNlA