Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-24
4 STAY LAW.

70 Il Member Of the Prgtasa Legislature, dated
'DEcEMBER IL, lol2.
al is gratifying TO see that the Legislature has gone
10 work ~ good earnest, apparently determined to des
match The public business, business like manner
Yet; there are symptoms of brewing mischief, calculated
IN eyrile uneasiness the minds OF those who thnR
sserlv measures, with an eye to the principles IN
voved and 10 their practical operation drowning
man vil catch al a straw, in the hope of it's buoying
hun % upon the waves which threaten 10 overwhelm
b,n And 81 il - with those who are overwhelmed
with debt They eagerly grasp al any measure winch
IS rendered to them under the promise OF 'RELtEF =
Gu, wise legislator must look deeper into matters
rcst not lJuk 10 promises names, or pretences-must
mo- consider himself peculiarly The servant OF any class
Of c,zens bat emphatically legislator, under the
OBLIGATIONS Of written Constitutions for the beneht,
protection and security OF The commun,ty-muss not Tor
re, tina, all his powers derived from the people, and
that ne has no means of paying the debts OF any por.
ton OF the people without rotbng other portions OF Inc
people. Yes rcJbing s the wotd-ior II IS Downright
lenazsd robbery, tor one citizen TO avail hnSeii OF the
labor or property of another aud then by process OF
law to retiers hself of The Inconvenience of paying
FOR IT. ! make many grains of allowance tor the
feelings and motives of those who seek, by Stay Laws
and olasr relief measures 10 ease oil the burdens OF
hose who are loaded with debts which they are una
tie TO ray But those who attempt by Stay Laws, and
other Wanted rei'f measures to minister to the DIS
ifesses those who thus embarrassed, ought TO oe
warned of the fact, their philanthropy IS oneeyed sort
Of thing, which squints at usurpaiIon; which, whilst
looks alone the stresses OF portion OF the people,
perceive that It is unfIghleousiy uringng Oils
t:as.es upon others.
I'VE hear much said about the Debtor Glass;
sast Of US both debtors and creditors We cannot
paw unless others pay And when law makers say,
that the obligations to pay shall not be enforced We oil
become involved increased difficulties, save only The
miser who neither favors nor credits anybody, bu,
hoardS his money, until he can take advantage OF those
who have neither money cetitand who, therefore,
mus, exchange their labor property for the means OF
keeping soul and body together upon such terms as the
money holder may choose to dictate
"talrss d, he the aim Of the Relief men, to bring US
to s pass-n other words, to destroy all cedit-they
lnns a5andon their relief measures Some of our peo
pc who, upon the frs, view, were ready to sgn me-
morals favor of stay. law, have upon reflection
and upon looking at things they are and upon work
nr out the consequences which must follow such
measure become firmly persuaded, that increased difh
cu lee and embarras5men's would How from II. mat
such would be the case none doubt, upon thorough
examination and mature consideration. See Tor IN
stance, how things would work under the proposed
law. To dslsy Judgment upon forthcoming or delivery
uont. for II months. by the way, those are wrong
who saw thu, delay The sole object OF delivery BONDS
the object keep the property ct the debtor out o,
the hands Of the Sheriff Constable from the lime OF
seizure III the day Of sae) But let that pass The
proposed ia would stay proceedings for six or twelve
nlohths Now tn, fact is, that those who are notori-
ous!y ec,baras.i with debts even now, Ind difficulty
~ gvng the required security upon delivery bonds -
STAY the proceedings upon them tor twelve months,
md they could not give that security of course,
coud not %, the benefit Of the relief promised them
" the relief men--and of course the very portion OF
6e community whose embarrassmen's they pretend to
elieve could possibly get the promised reief, ou'
would b. off from thu benefits, Vt benefits they be,
Of thu present laws and usages IN regard 10
bonds ,
4gair: There others, not in desperate but dorot
?a circum-tances who would be sued or warranted IN
the hope Of additional security 10 the CREDITOR by means
Of security upon their delivery bonds and unless Inc
r.el men intend dispense entirely with such secu
rites hich would in fact, be to eIpunge The debts,
they may depend upon il, that their relief measure
would increase the already fearful length OF our dock
cts, and serve only to increase the ices OF lawyers
clerks, ster As and constables Away with such re-
lief
"ConGdence is the soul Of the credit system" So
say Bank credit system men. But confidence
can't 1--we long i,hout something substantial TO i've
upon il will starve and de, under laws snnctIonng
tn" violation o,he obligations subsistng between debtor
and creditor IL you would sustain confidence, you
must sct good faith, and teach all men 10 'toe The
nak'-and, above all things, let the world know, that
the Law making power means to be true TO the oblga.
lions Of law and morality. If everybody could know
that, to certainty, confidence would be restored,
and, with i, the prosperity of ALL except those who
have consumed more than they have made, and run IN
Gebt beyond the7 means TO pay. All such are broken
already, and Ii is downright dishonesty to attempt TO
rebuild them at the expense of others Forbearance
tue-bnt you will in vain invoke that forbearance, un-
der dishonest laws, not only designed TO that
orbearance but attempting TO rob others for their be-
nett,
all of US, when called upon TO pay our debts. With
most Of us, it is true. But it is not with all
There IS money enough and capital enough, if it could
circulate. ~ nimSle sxprnce is worth than a
lazy shilling Capitalists hoard their treasure from
lack of confidence the safety of loans and invest
ments-and that lack of confidence has crown ont Of
the prevailing disregard of pecunary Obligations sane.
TONED and ofmes legalzed by The law making power,
Men who are able TO pay, will pay; because even the
la~-making power has said, that men "as GOOD as the
8ans stall not be compelled to pay In this state OF
things though millions upon millions may lie idle in
the hands of capital New York. and though money
may be 40 plenty in England to reduce The rate Of
interest 10 q per cent per annum-yet money will not
circulate amongst the of our people. PAYER
.ssa to y9sr M pence should be The rule Of every