Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-04-10

stances Tch1tdUer 6ff0re ne Hr9t DAY q
November neat and read TO me the
four first lines of the 9th section of the
bank act, which, he said, repealed the
stop law altogether. Surely, said /,
is it possible the stop law is repealed in
SO secret and informal a manner Ii was
passed after great deliberation, and pro-
claimed throughout the state, so soon as
passed. 1t had but one object in view,
10 suspend executions, and arrest the
progress OF all law; and if its repeal had
been designed, it would have been done
in the most explicit terms. The inten-
ton Of the legislature is the first and
great rule of construction, and if il
had been your intention to repeal a law
50 soon alter its passage--a law OF such
pregnant character--so generally spoken
of--and SO sensibIy felt in its operations,
you would have done i, in language not
susceptible of misrepresentation, and not
lett its repeal to Inference and impl.ca-
tion--to be gathered frons an apparent
repugnance to four lines oil long act Of
40 sections, passed few days after, the
last oil which repeats an act supposed to
be Inconsistent with it.
To all these reasons, however, and
others which | urged, my lawyer was
unable to yield, and left me, observing,
i'll the language Of Sir Roger De Cover
ly, that much might be SAID on both
sides.
If the stop law be repealed, thought1,
II Is matter Tor public congratulations
The Legislature had no right 10 pass II
in the first instance. They transcribed
the limits of legitimate legislation when
they did it. A WIS legislature will
make, and put into snccessiui operation,
wholesome laws. The stop law was
eminently calculated to destroy The very
interests which ii Is The object OF lesis-
latlon to protect. l. aimed vital stab
al the vilals Of good faith aad honesty.
Ii drew from the VEINS oil the body poll
tic the llie-blood which supports it.
As 10 the four first lines OF the 27th
section oithe bank act, they cannot be,
la" OF any country where the social com
pact is the common bond OF union, and
where men arc not entirely re leased from
the obligations originating III sta;e OF
civil society. Tie legislature might as
veil undertake 10 absolYo mel. from li,eir
allegiance 10 tue state, or eXempt them,
for period OF lime, from all accounta-
blhty for crimes. WITH equal proprlely
they might have passed an al ct gene
raj license tor the preparation OF every
species OF vl!lany ull the frs day OF No
vember next, and repeated every iaw
imposing restraint upon the wicked
ncsS ol The human heir.
a late event has satisfied me you dad
not intend unqla!iilediy 10 prev ont men
from securing and collecting theIrdeb;s.
Not many months since, | recovered u
Judsemt mt OF $500 against a gentleman
ihen res.d.qs IN tais county, but VINO
WAS off before l could get Oh exc
oatlon. A few days STAG. nc was re-
tn ming through here on his way out Oh
ne STAG, wlln 500 in his pocket, aDei
having read your laws relas!ve to ths
COLLECTION OF money, took The liberty,
boasttuily, to put me at defiance, by tel
ling me, might pay the costs and los
my debt, for he should be LOCO miles
.Isianl IN few days, and could AXE no
execution against alma beiore November.
| raa TO the Clerk to demand execution,
aud told him WIS willing 20 make The
most solemn oath ever sworn by mortal.
tongue, tina was IN the mos lmmlicDt
danger OF losing my debt, il | delayed
an hour. He't0id &c, that the said fur
lines ofthe baHk tuzv, tatd u no lire oeto
uhoa all executions, 7g.'t}!2ut discr!miAa-
INN or reservation. then weot o ny
lawyer to adyis, concerning wi'It Of ne
ereat. He sageiy Informed are it WAS
impossible the Legislature intended 10
authorize the det, alton of man eight
months by one kind OF writ, and at the
same time, prohibit his arrest, five M
nntes, by another, and boih for the same
purpose. have, accordingly, los. my
debt. Now, what makes Inc THINK you
did not intend the toar lines TO be The
law OF this country, is, that il such be the
TACT, you have made yourselves liable Tor
he payment Of my debt, and all others
which may be lost in like manner; and
| cannot imagine the legislative hail has
such attractions, as to induce YOU to pass
laws at your o7yn expense. | is a prl
mary article Of our political creed thai
no mans property shall be taken from
him, but by the laws of the land. Now
mine mas been taken from me, or rather
lost, by the want Of laws. Al the law
vers agree in opinion, that all debts can
be recovered OF you, which shall be lost
by your unzvarrantable, Legislative in
terference. Let it not be said the Cha
racter of legislators will project you.