The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-14

,csscuiy To pledge the energies of the
country to preserve This right undin,inished
It's not my intention, said MIR. b. to launch
INTO the vast ocean of our foreign politics
Du, the charge was so direct and SO inaccu.
rate IN point of fact, that l thouyht il bu,
right to rcpel it by stating this single fact
Tut how is the merchant to be so materially
affected by the law and so entirely released
oy the substitute, SOFAS to JUSTIFY such a cata-
ract OF defamation against the one, and such
high wrought culogics in favor of the other
The original bill proposes to carry sub
%stantial relief to the dist, essed. bv enabling
them to give bond and approved security 10
guarantee the ultimate payment of the debt
without vexatioa and without expence from
sheriff. or lawyers or Clerks. The snbs,i-
tute proposes r~epievyiEg. Now ir becomes
an enquiry whether the merchant would not
as soon have a bond, according to the proyi
sions OF this act, to be carried into enrrt nm
Oh the rising of the next general assembly
asa replevv bend? Palpably his preference
VIII be IN favor of the former; for il is To be
Carried into effect in the ya.n. wav ..:.l.
ms decided advantage that il NAV be ouash-
ell al any time, IT the security, sufficient Al tie
taking, becomes insufficient and in addition
TO this, they will (let them be taken when
they may expire upon the rising fthe next
general assembly.
AS I the other branch of the substitute, that
debts OF certaiu descriptinnsslail he divided
INTO installments payable in 100 and twenty
days 1t IS adding insult to .njurv. To talk
about days in the country S idle. We, the
Farmers, we'll know that our REGENTS are.
once in twelve months, when we sell our
produce.
J. 1t mas been generally admitted, that we
nave debts enough already, vet according To
the provisions of the substitute, they are f.
be multiplied thrce-fold And for. one debt
say OF fifteen pounds, the unfortunate debtor
is to be harrassed with three different exc.
cutlons. IT this is the only relief we can give.
tor one, will give rome ut all.
But recurring to the assertion, that this
win rum the merchant let us see it's proba
bic effects. This declaration will be hazard
ed without the fear of contradiction: tina
no good man, unless himself pressed. would
at this time sacrifice his debtor. This la
then VIII tie up the hands only of the blood
sucker, whoilke a bird of prey has the grea
test harvest, when disease, pestiience and
death pervade the land. 1t is the condition
OF this class, which has called forth the mis-
guided sensibility of my friend from the CITY
whilst 1t is not at leisure to dep.ore the suf
tering, OF the beggared widow & orphan. The
good man who has no wish to enrici. himseli
oy abare derellctioR of every principle of hu-
manly, VIII be made sure ofhis debt and in
terest, to be recovered at the time when ou,
AFFAIRS shall become more propitious.
But it is alledged, that whilst we tie M
the hands CT our merchant in the State
Soirts' ne VIII be exposed to the judgements
recorded in the Federal Court. To this j,
may be answered. that we have a reSninti-
OIL lying upon our table, requesting congrcs.
so to amend the laws Of the United States a,
TO make the process in the Federal Courr
conform to the p:oces- in The State Court.
and be subject to the same restrictions. Blu
III addition to this. we cannot be unaware
that we are rapidly Fastening to a state O
nostiiit!, upon the happening of which we
shall be relieved from those Foreign Harmless
VINO, to use the Gentleman's own language
lnfest our country and eat out our substance
1 wish, said MIR. j. to be understooi.-Iu
ordinary times, a nation or an Individual. go
Vefhed by the maX,ms OF honesty, would no,
enquire who possessed is paper whether
Jew or Gentile, to him would be a matter OF
indifference. But in rejecting back upon
inc injuries we have sustained. at the hands
OF those nations, to whose subjects we arc
indebted !; when we reflect how they have
dlSteSarued every moral principle, it seems
70 me 10 be Dat an unfortunately directed be.
hego'ehCe' TO permit the subjects Of those ma.
tons to be e~nIrely exemDi from the iunr
D~-N'"iiCS, WHICH lilelr ftl.ON
subjects, and the nation to which t,ey be.
long have brought upon us. To say TIL,
east, would not cherish them as friends
VINO come only to destrcv. As to them, also
let the courts DC shut fer were it not from
the pressure produced from thas quarter, a
inohSst ourselves, possessing a feeling anC
an anectionate regard for each other, few
would be the suits in,lecd.
Passing rom It's expeuienc?, we come +,
the investigation OF an objection infnItel,
more interesting. 1t is sad, that so much o
the law as al present intercepts proceeding
upon deeds Of tIust, is unconstitutional.
tlis were true, Tor one, j should feel no he
STATION iii abandoning the law every con
Siuefatioh' moral or political, Influences m
10 h"id the constitution 1T the United States
as sacred. My firm conviction is, that tina
) instrument IS The key stone to the ark ofon
political fabric The moment / is withG avn
TINS fabric, the work Of virtue, patriotism
ana wisdom, must tumble 20 the ground. /
lSaia MIR. b. have neycf, upon this subjcc,
entertained Il doubt my opiuion always ha,
oeti, that 1t Is not unconstitutional. but tn
reverse oelnS tue case, with many geRtle
men, tCr whose Judgment | have Il high es
teem' 1t becomes necessary to investigate 1T
It's conceded, as a political axiom. in thi
country that the state soyereignties arc alb
s"iuee as to their municipal reg Nations, ex
ccpt where the constitution explicitly ha
transferred IL portion Of that sovereignty I
the United States, or where by the constitutt
; on, q state is forbidden to exercise som