Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-16
For the Freeman
In What Does the Right of Property
Consist

In different sections and by different in
dvldunls this question will probably cal
forth different answers, as the tastes, hab
its and interests of those concerned shall
dictate Thus the merchant will say
My property is vested in stock, goods
cash on hand and debts due. These
invest in such manner as shall promise
the quickest and best return. am care
full in small things in the management of
my concerns. yard of tape, or an
ounce of nutmeg | uually turn to profit
of from one hundred to two hundred per
cent. If II scamp takes one or the other
of these articles from me, he wrongfullv
takes away my property-is guilty of lar
ceny and punishable by the law of the
land. | must enforce this punishment,
not only for my own safety, but for the
good OF community, whose interests are
in jeopardy by having thief at large in
it. 1t is not so much the value of the
thing | contend for, but the principle. |
bought the article; it was mine, and if
small things are not safe, large ones will
soon be missing, | know not to what
amount" All right, Mr.. Merchant. We
will gladly help you to catch the thief.
to one: :" am unwell to-day" He will
advise you to simple prescription, Or
perhaps give you trifling amount of
medicine; OF inquire of the other respect
ing some tritiing point in law. You have
in both cases taken counsel, and probably
in both cases a fee will be required for a
detention of three minutes, which might
otherwise have been spent in fruitlesslv
discussing politics or perchance in asking
you some question of no importance to
any one Why is this? You have taken
professional counsel; their professions are
their property their stock in trade; they |
must live by them, after having spent
money and time in studying The mysteries
TO these callings. This too, is
night, beyond question.
lhe mechanic has similar plea. He
spent an apprenticeship of time in getting
his trade, and his stock is property ac-
CURED by purchase. In this he must see
us money refunded, and for his present
line taken, and that which was spent in
earning how TO do the things you wish to
lavo done, he must have compensation,
or he too must live; and for setting n {
patch on your shoe, Or sewing II buckle to
H'' iASSS 'iilhSo iuSOilSlutEuDlt 10
ook at, he must be rewarded Very s
light that he should be, for the reward is s
lis honest due. t
But how is it with the farmero He. i
90, if he would succeed in his profession, L
must study, for ignorance shows her folly J
n cultivating the earth if she does any |
where; he must have his cash capital g
lvested. whether he purchases, hires or J
likes on shares, as much as the merchant t
+ mechanic; his time and his education "
re us much his living us are those of the h
MUSICIAN or the lawyer. lie probably fl
WINS his farm, rs most of our American Il
nltlvators do, and has II clear decd of b
le soil, " With all the privileges and APP
urtenances thereto appertaning," to be t;
cid by himself his heirs and assigns for Il
yer, free and clear of all encumbranccs n
hatsoever. y
Now the question is, is this land SO ii
1rchased and SO decided his property fl
oes he hold it by the same right that tic g
erchant, the mechanic Or the lawyer u
res hise In one respect he does, for The hi
W calls it property when it demands her tn
for its protection, and as he improves nj
S cultivated grounds and makes them tit
ore productive, and as the size of the lw