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Editorial
January 20, 1821
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
An editorial denounces imprisonment for debt as a horrid, unjust practice akin to the Inquisition, notes most states are abolishing it, and urges Congress to follow suit to prevent family ruin and enable repayment.
Clipping
OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
Imprisonment for Debt.—Almost every state in the Union has done something towards abolishing this horrid and odious feature, and we see no reason why Congress should pass it by.—Injustice and oppression shows upon the very face of the writ by which a man is committed, for instance: You are commanded to take the said to prison and there safely keep until he shall satisfy, &c. Has the inquisition, the horrors of which have been sung throughout all Europe, any thing more dreadful than immuring a man in a loathsome prison, and thereby incapacitating him from any effort to obtain money, to the ruin and prejudice of his family, while the remorseless creditor cries "I will have my bond"—stay there until it is paid.
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What sub-type of article is it?
Legal Reform
Crime Or Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Imprisonment For Debt
Debtors Prison
Legal Reform
Congress
Injustice
Oppression
Inquisition
What entities or persons were involved?
Congress
States In The Union
Creditors
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Abolition Of Imprisonment For Debt
Stance / Tone
Strongly Opposed, Calling It Injustice And Oppression
Key Figures
Congress
States In The Union
Creditors
Key Arguments
Almost Every State Has Moved To Abolish Imprisonment For Debt
Congress Should Abolish It As Well
The Writ Shows Injustice By Committing A Man To Prison Until He Pays
It Is More Dreadful Than The Inquisition's Horrors
Imprisons A Man, Preventing Him From Earning Money To Pay Debt
Ruins And Prejudices His Family
Creditor Remorselessly Demands Payment Regardless