Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-03
RICHMOND, FEBRUARY 3 $50
VERY BRIEF SKETCH
~ certain Points in the DEBATE on the Er-
ec"tiom LdW-i CONTINUED.
JANUARY 20TH 1900

Mr.. LoreH tot the county of kanawlla,)
rose to speak IN favour of the bill. He
said he took very different view of il
iiom the gentlemen last up, (Messrs. Sci
den and Stevenson y that lie regarded If,
not as the poisoned shirt of Nessus or A.
a gIlded serpent. but as ihe ark which was
10 bear The people of Virginia safe over
the troubled pillows. II was true, as mad
been alleged, that there were 10 petitions
on the iablc /; but he stood here 10 press
upon the Legislature The prayers of his
section ot country. III these PRAYERS
were not embodied in petitions, it was
because the people left their representa-
lives, who knew their wants, to act for
Them. Ii was because the people had an
entire confidence IN the wisdom of fis
House. Though they were not at This
time larassed by war or devoured by
famine, their situation was scarcely
inferior 20 the visitation of these calamI-
ties.
Mr.. l.. entered into an argument TO
prove that this bill was not contrary TO
the constitution Of the United States :;
thai the right of a state 10 change IFS
execution laws does not affect any debts
which are due 10 citizens of other states;
That the general government was ONLY
bound TO see that these obligations were
preserved; and that The clause of ihe
constitution, respecting the impairing Of
contracts, was intended 10 prevent
The confiscaiion or importing OF debts,
due not only to British creditors, but 10
those of other states; that IL does not ap-
ply 10 cases Of the description involved
by this bill, between citizens of the same
state. He asked why If The general gov
ernment had fell itself aggrieved by such
laws, II has not demonstrated against
them AT this moment i, is the existing
law of Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana,
&c. and we might adopt the same inter-
probation of the constitution as those states
had done.
The gentleman from Richmond had
said that his views of the question did
not bear AT all upon state rights. But
does ii matter, whether our rights are
torn from w by force, or whether we
voluntarily surrender them The victim
in both cases is equally bound and given
up.
The gentleman from HenricO had care.
fully enumerated The cost and expcnces
which would fall upon The debtor who
should avail himself of tie provisions of
this law bu, has That gentleman looked
INTO the bill Why talk oi sherifi's fees,
and the expenses of suit, when he no.
nest debtor has the power under This very
bill to tender judgment bond, and thus
save himself The slerih's fees, and The
costs of a suit lie would have only Ia
pay the legal interest. Every honest
debtor would no doubt, in all cases where
there was no dispute, himself come for
ward and give judgment bond, rather
than be dragged into The courts. So far
from swelling the dOckeis with new bust
ness, II would have the effect Of Olsen
cmmbering them of old suits for many
would be taken off the docket, and secur-
ed by Judgment bond.
We are told, however, that there is no
necessity for this measure; that no war
RACES but that The country is blesscd
with large share OF prosperity. is this
true Decs no UNUSUAL embarrassment
prevail Look al Tie condition Of the
general government deficit of some 5
or millions IN The Treasury What is
Tie situation Of The great monied mon
sier, The National Bank II wound up
~ this moment, II would not pay 81 per
cent. upon IFS capital siOck.-Look near
er; ~ the state NJ oar own treasury bui
Yesterday, dctici 10 our WAKE aud mcais
o. 5 80. 0OO was reported 10 this Iiruso
What j. the condition at your state bdIihS
Little better thau the condition oi ,ht
United States Bank: during ihe las
} ear, they have not MADE The ~dlnar,