Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-08-12
RELIEF SYSTEM

We think the people begin 10 und.,
stand the system. but il will be lone h.
fore they discover all its beauties and yIo.
riou, advantages. The paper part ot !,
has already become odious TO many wbn
once admired the Ieserdemain iDvenljo"
and all begin to have distinct view Of ,hs
wise expedien,s adopted 10 su,tain j, br
Relief Legislators. But the system in u,
its ram'hcations is YET unknown. W. ~
derstand that Mr. Wickltfe. III a powerI"l
address ia The market house on Monda"
last, observed that The people were iDdeh;
ed to it Tor defamation and s,umo .Io.
quence, bat that too many Relief speechs.
had been palc for in advance, the 'rreau.
~ being, as he haG predicted las, re,,
actually insolvent! Such is indeed the tact
We have il from an unquestionable source
that there is not even paper dollar in The
Treasury, but on the contrary, the Trp,.
surer has overdra~n from the Bank Of N.
Commonwealth 1896 dollars and l. CTS
So wego.
THE SCALING SYSTEM
This is part OF the Relief S, TEN =,
very necessary part OF it. The last relief
Legislature enacted, that executions with
the. paper endorsement, should be collect.
able alter three months repIevy; but exc.
cutions without: said Endorsement mirb, h.
repltvied two years! All judgments ar.
given Tor money, OF course: and the juries
under the instructions of the Courts, give
what are called scaling verdicts," which
means the value OF claim in specie. Those
who have not experienced the operation O.
the scaling law, will find, on enquiry tia,
il is wonderful expedie nj for The beDeGt
Of a debtor--it is just the thing that de.
serves patent. John Shoemaker sued his
patron aud customer Jeremy Diddler. on a
note given for boots and shoes made in lhe
year 1890, but for which he would no,
pay in 1921, when the account was pre-.
sented, except by note reading lbus-"0n
demand promise to pay J. 5. for value
received thirty dollars IN Commonwealth
paper--J. D." The judge instructed
the jury 10 ascertain the value of Com.
monwealth, and bring in their verdict &C.
cordingly. ''We of The jury find for the
plaintiff fifteen dollars" &c one half
paper money being two for one The
judgment being for money Jeremy Diddlr
had the privilege Of paying 2 years hence,
but John Shoemaker being hard run, en-.
d0rsed the execution, and will be glad 10
receive The fifteen dollars in common.
wealth paper. at the end of three months.
repievin. This is what is called The sea.
ling system; and il the case did moi occur
last court, something very like i! did, 10
numberless instances.
In a DeIghboring county. case like he
following, We are informed, lately became
mailer Of record A poor man sued on .
| note for l2 dollars, credited on the back,
by 6 dollars received There was no
proof that the 6 dollars were paid 10 pa.
per, and The Magistrate said be was bound
TO consider SIX dollars, six dollars, and a.
paper was worth two for one, the amount
of the note appeared to have been paid,
and accordingly gave judgment Tor COSTS
against the plaintiff. Into wha, absurdi.
ties ar. We plunged by the Relief system!
What mockery to talk OF justice and
freedom and happiness. when the Consli'
tuition is brought 10 the level of such legiS'
ative acts as have been adopted by the
Relief party - have here in Kentucky,
Code OF such relief laws: code intend
ed TO suit the case Of every man who !;
disposed to wrong his neighbor, q code
which incites all men to break their con.
tracts Ii Irespass be committed, and
property destroyed or taken away. CANA.
ges for one haJfthe amount OF injury only,
can be obtained and that bali payable 10
paper worth 90 cents 10 the dollar liza
man refuse to pay bis bond, judgmen' can
be obtained against him Tor one half only,
and thus he clears fifty per cent ny beng
sued. II he prefers not paying even one
halt of his just debt in commonwealth pa
per, he can repIevy two years, and al lbe
expiration Oftwo years he may send IL;
creditor to seek wild lsnds--provIded The
relief Legislators hold the scales Of justice
two years hence.
TIE APPRAISEMENT LAW.
This is also part OF The ''systen.' Tut
where It comes in we do not exactly know.
The whole is hoWevers so completely dove.
tailed that the system would mol he COW
plete without it The poor debtor cap
sItC us uOusc "Oftu leu tuOuSdUu uoIidi''
TO the relief commissioners, TO be app!aI'-
ei; in their estimation il will probably be
valued at 16 thousand, as it is to pay The
mechanics six thousand dollars Tor build
ing it and finding materials. The claim
OF the mechanics being for six, the ludg'
ment OF court IS three thousand. The
house must sell for IL thousand, (lhree
iourths OF the valuation) or it cannot be
sold. The "scaline system" here ope..
rates inverseiy. II reduces the demanded
the poor mechanics one halt. but advances
the value OF the rich debtors house when
it is to be sold. We cannot imagine 40"
such a law as this can be viewed in any o.
ther light than as 4 nuisance--to st"'e
which we hope all honest mechanics wi!
unite on The first Monday OF August.
(Lering'on Reporter
This is to give Notice,
HINuAT tho enhe,, ;ha.e nj AtDyapdrIa