The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-31
grgTsna Lesadas,u'e.
Il GUJgENrT
ON THE ExE.CurIoN-LAw
SATURDAY., January
Mr.. SheSey spoke to the folio wing effect
(CcN d. }

NNAh& 49, NCioAO = StAOulu ultC pCCU
silent on tins subject but the dusy which owe
10 myself, ami to the country. requires that I
stouid not give a silent vote. My remarks shall
be but few, and compressed into as narrow II
cooPass as the question will admit. Indulge ii
nope therefore,, uat they viii meet vita a patti
cut hearing.
/ regret very mech, that in times like these.
q measure. such as Ia contemplated by the bill,
should HaSe been deemel necessary. Consider
ing Che state OF our foreign relations, il beco,nes
me AmeF,can people, not 10 inspire by their pub
lie or private ACTORS, & sediment that they are
unable 10 bear the pressure which arises from
the SUSPENSION o! our foreign commerce., made
necessary by the injustice oi the European belii-
sgerents. IL has been uttered, that we are indie
Incodent OF every nation on earth I'VE have de.
ciared that we @al. e':ee,ffdih.yf submit 10 ali the
piItatonS necessarily incident to the present state
OF uhmgs and IL has been considered as inviting.
foreiBn nations to a continuance of their injurious
measures, even To suggest a doubt, as To The a.
biiity Or disposition O. tins country, TO continue
the course which The government mas taken.
But after the expiration of one year from the
commencement Of this course, we are about de-
ciaringto the world, by the passage of this bill,
that the nation is in a state OF bankruptcy-tLat
the country is reduced, by the iniustce of our
enemies, TO a state, when it becomes indispensl.
Bic To interrupt the coarse of Justice, and destroy
the ordinary relations between the citizens
What viii be tao Impression which this and si-
nniar measures will make? Will any, but this
conclusion be drawn, that it is 4 temporary ex.
pedientto postpone. for 4 little tune, the effect
ofthc pressure ot our situation, which has alrea-
dy affected the vitals OF the country J Will it
not be the strongest encouragement to England
and France to continue their orders & DEGREES ,
For they necessarily must, and will infer, that
That course will, IN a short period, ensure your
SUBMISSION, and bring you TO their feet.
Indeed, Sir, such would he the conclusion, not
only OF your enemies, but OF every rational indi-
vduai. One great object IN entering INTO the So
Gal compact, is, that society shall cause Justice
to be rendered to its members, in red; essingl
then wrongs and enforcing their rights Til. is
done, in our country, through the medium, of the
Judiciary. Blu -what are the decisions of the
courts, without the means TO carry them into ef-
feet I! And what consolation does it afford, TO
your people, to be told, that their rights are pro-
tected, when, IN reality, II is a mere shadow
What awaits It &c them II p0sses p9ti1cat rIghts,&
that they have a snare III the government, when
tHeir eisil rights are suspended and private ias-
tice dlsregsrded ! Disastrous must be the STU
atlon oi that country, wien such measures are
conceived necessary y
The evils which are now experienced by the
people, haYe,bccn presented TO the committce in
the iiveliest colors. The picture, | am certain,
does not approach to a resemblance of the reli
ty. How IS it possible, under the existing state
III things, tiai tiiese great sacrifices could have
been made! NO mans property can be sold, ex-
cept In particular cases, unless it brings three
fourtbs otits value, iftiie destao can give sccuri-
u. Is 1T a sacrifice to Obtain three -tourths of the
tjue OF property, estimated by the scale estab-
fisled " lne repleyy act of last session /: Is there
u real honest nan who will refuse 10 pay his debt
on these terms?
III, however, it is real, that great sacrifices of
properly are now made, 1T dors not, in my OPT
nien, afford sufficient grounds for tuis eXtraord,-
nary interference Justice often falls, with a bea.
Wv hand, on those WHO are Its oblocts, and there
are but few eases, where the uuc execution of
the law does not produce real Inconvenience to
those whom il ..i.ects. l reside in a county,
where there is great equality of property, and
where there u, c consequcntiyfc fey distrcsses, yet
/ have seen, even IN prosperous times, the last
COW One only means to SUPPORT a hume. on, ia
mily) sold 10, satisfy a just debt. Codia ! suffer
the feelings winch such circumstances inspired
to govern me as a legislator, l sBoIld probably
forbid tho creditor, III such cascs, TO fasten his
fangs on the oni1 means from winch the innocent
derive their support-buLItbaCoInt me and this
to establish and enforce the great &
leading PRINCIPLES OF Justice, and contemplate the
partial inconvenience as unavoidable ana Incl
dent to all human regulators.
Two reasons have been urged as the basis of
the bi.l under consideration. L. Ihe great sacri-
fees of properly that viii! tad c place in the pre-
sent disastrous tmes, shouid nothing be done.
2dy, Thc speculauons which monied men
will effect. Inave already observed that the sA-
crifces are, in a great degree, visionary, and i
am strengthened, IN this opinion, by the dcci.ra-
ton of uie gentleman rom Ofatgt (hHr.1B J VINO
has told us, there is very little d~ ger OF oppres-
sion IN cases between our own cItIzens. But II
partial s~.s:riiices should take place, should this
biitHe. pass, will not tho elect be equally injuri
Gus should it, passage be effected, whatever
The law mas be, tsere will still be honor in the
country |, and there ate Individuals, vino will do
justice to their creditors, though yoa suspend II.
The consequence Viii be, that beng deprived Of
the t~ordipury means to eject 1t, they will sacri-
fee their property, and thus your Law viii be pro-
lection 10 the Dishonest, while IL is rulntO tile
Just ard honorable debtOr.
thus argument equally proves the probsbility
O specuIauions should this bin pass besides, the
bonds directed to be taken, will become a EuiI OF
dcprecihted circulating medium, the value of
which, will be regulated according TO the neces
stiles OF the ~assiguor, or his anxiety TO pay his
delf.
Tpe gentleman from the City (Mr. W. has,
in avery eloquent and impressive manner, stated
many other evils which Will arise from this mea
sure. / most cordially agree with him, that 1t is
calculated, completely, TO destroy every mer-
chant who has not a very large money capital, x
who is indebted TO foreigners and citizens of o.
tllcr states, and though gentlemen may feel it
Gle on their account, yet IT ought TO he recollect-
ed that the prosperity OF The merchant ~ essentl.
aty the prosperity of the agrictdturist. The sur
l,,,uI,,,. cF lilo ccpnfpysia cent a., f,rstc-u eli