The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-21
2dly. But. Mr. Speaker, were I convinced

%tntionai. yet should give itr,v mo> leciaet
nega'ire-nectuse l IN; = Ii mexu, dent.
1 think It partia; in is operation, and ruii.
"ns M its consequences: a few remark
npon each of these mead, i'll order, LIST. as {
me e%rcniency OF the law. BY it you prevent
the recovery either in whole or i'm part of All
"e"ts' 'he e:lc. of which viii be, that 40
class or description of people can live excep,
me inonied capitalist. and the agriculturis,
Win you immediate the TEST of society in !.
yam atte'npt to protect these two c,assc, ;
oy the passage of the law upon Your table.
YOU rit a deadly blow ut the credit at he
hail"n-ior every legislative interference
with private rights affects public credit. and
creates disrust. This want of confidence.
w'li completely unhinge society. It will eli
ther induce HE monicd man to hord M nj,
treasure, or It ne is tempted To use it at all.
NC WI, speculate upon the need and d,stres-
SEQ Aour bonds, your property, the hard
earnings OF 4 life Of industry is swept from
lou ,or q trific. ard YOU and your family are
isft destitute and sunk into the blacklist DO
verify.
2diy. Your law is partial, because it ope-
rates almost exclusively to the relief of the
doctor, without sufficient attention to the in
terest of the creditor. Debtors form but a
portion ot your Societv, and though many OF
tnen a''e unfortunate and have strong claims
upon the humanity Of this house, vet there is
another portioa of them, the imprudent and
irnprovidSbt, who would be debtprsi in the hes;
OF times The former class are entitled to
reiicf' TIC latter it would be unwise, in any
country, to provide for. .
Inc bill upon your table, proposes to pro-
VIDE ior the interest of both. by a sacrifice of
the rights al fine creditor !; and from the ne.
rioa gwen TO the operation of this law. TO
l WI rho c,r AE IL.
Assembly together with the arguments urr-
ed in its favor it is but the first link in a long
chain OF acts Of Subsequent legislatures. for
their further reliet-Now, let me enquire.
"hat provision there is made in behalf of the
creditor! HE debtor, who is eniovinp his
property, gives him paper, with "A security
10 De incSed OF by a clerk "a court; (if the
curt is not in SESSION. AN officer, interested
IN taking the bond to obtain his ;se-shonld
the security be adequate, the bond must 90
ihto the market to procure YOU the means of
subsistence. But such will be the fatal stab
gwen to public credit and private confidence,
by the passage OF this bill, that vour paper
thus secured, will not bring you enc half it's
nominal vaiue-Again, the mercantile nor
ton OF the community are completely immo-
lated by the provision of this bi,l-thc debts
winch they owe, are due to citizens of other
states, or to"c'gners-the federal courts are
open 60 such claims, and the property of the
merchant, though lie may have ten tirnest The
amount due him within the state, is sacri6c-
ell.
| 81. he bill upon your table, tho it pur-
ports TO be a law for the relief OF debtors,
wiz Ultimately tend 10 the ruin OF both.
debtor and creditor. The law is bottomed
upon the low price Of produce. arising from
the act OF Congress, laying an embargo
When the embargo is withdrawn. and Eu-
rope returns toa state Of peace, it is question
aS!c "hetaerth present price is not as good
As TIC feacc hrtce. Should this be the fact.
& that it's, IS rendered more than probable.
1rom a comparison of the average prices of
produce from the treaty Of peace in 1855
I'LL the commencement of the French revo.
lutloh' WIN The present price, and the price
during TIC last twelve months creditors will
loose debts, the payment of which is SUSPEND
e' oy that bli-Fo If the price be now as
hign as the peace price, and vet so low AS
to induce the Legislature to pass this bin.
the argument vii! operate equally strong a.
gainst Il repeal of'the law-Should the debts.
however, be paid, they viii fall most heavily
ana ruinouS!y upon the debtor--in your re
pieVy bond, YOU include debt, interest and
costs ana take 3 per cent. upon the aeere-
gate sum-few landed estates produce more
ithan2 per cent. to the farmer, uDon the a
mount Oh CapitaI employed IN conducting the
tarm l.; a heavy debt running at Is per cent.
interest, high 1t any time for "A ftrmer-but
at a time like this, is inevitable ruin.
Gentlemen say, that the voice ri the peo-
pie requires this measure this | canno, be-
ieVe- / hat The people fee the pressure of the
present times most heavily, is certain : but I
nave more reliance in the virtue and Datri-
oiisin ct the people, than to suppose that they
would be gratiied by the adoption Of any
measure contrary to the constitution oftheiy
coilntry-a measure productive IF bnt a de-
ceittui relief 10 themselves and attended
with 30 many deletcrious effects 10 the com
muhity at large. ] am happy in having it
III M! power torecord my vote in opposition
to this bill, so that hereafter ] may have
ms consolation that if Renie il destroued.
l tor one warned her Of her danger.
(.HrgHmeut TO be conciuded in on, nert)
To tie HeeAohirrs IF hc Congressional Ds,rict
c~'nibose4 tMe Counties IF Posghutau, Ggoch-
fn"f' dn,hiG and CheateJfeM
FELLOW CtrIzENs,
our present worthy Representative, having
fu5icSIy announced his intention to decline being
a candidate for tie ensuing election it, of course
deVolyes upon us TO elect some person to sue
coed him
Sensible Of Tho great responsibility, and ardu-
ous duties attached TO this important Office, and
OF my own inability g discharge it. to it's full ex.
tent /; is with humble difference. that 7 nre.
s''hnc 20 offer M pretcGtiDns for a trust so high
and d i'icult But cmbold-ncd by tn. friendly
solicitations d some of my FeIiow.C Citizens -;