444 Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt. [ APRIL, 



in (HIS bills of costs, incurred by endeavouring to recover the wages of 

 his industry. 



We will'notice but one point more, which indeed is wormwood to us ; 

 it is the unequal manner in which the law affects the different parts of 

 the community. The law-makers, both peers and commons, exempt 

 themselves from the fangs of arrest-law, disgusting anomaly ! The 

 powerful body of large traders too are screened, i. e. if insolvent they 

 may take refuge in the bankrupt laws ; and a long list of public func- 

 tionaries, with their domestics and caterers to their various appetites, 

 whose duties are considered by the legislature of more importance to 

 society than the culture of the earth or manufacture of its produce, are 

 privileged from arrest and imprisonment. What can be more conclu- 

 sive of the absurdity of imprisonment than the very fact of privileging 

 certain classes of individuals, that they may not be impeded in the 

 exercise of their duties for the public benefit ? If this be beneficial to 

 the state (which is the only reason they dare assign for its existence) in 

 the instances above cited, it is surely much more so when extended to 

 labourers who have nothing but their power of labour, but without the 

 benefits of which the machine of government would stand still. Nor can 

 you draw blood from stones men truly insolvent cannot pay. Deprive 

 yourself of their services, or what is worse, allow every man at will to 

 deprive you of your useful members, and you sap the best interests of 

 the state. Industry and character are two of the chief pillars of our 

 constitution in the name of patriotism let us use our dearest efforts to 

 preserve and foster them. For our own parts we hesitate not to attri- 

 bute much of the existing misery of the country to imprisonment for 

 misfortune and the unavoidable consequences flowing therefrom. If 

 there be any utility in imprisonment it must be useful to all ; but had 

 this been made the condition of allowing imprisonment for debt to exist, 

 how long, we ask, would the lords and members of the House of Com- 

 mons have tolerated it ? We have done. 



The rights of humanity, the voice of reason and of true policy both for 

 the individual and general advantage, call aloud for impartial justice ; 

 they demand of the legislature the prompt performance of an imperative 

 duty ; namely, that of acting upon the recommendation of the report of 

 the law commissioners, and sweeping from amongst us the absurd, 

 impolitic, and barbarous practice of imprisoning insolvents. 



R. T. 



