Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-11-08

L
REPLEvY, STAY AND RELIEF LAWS.
Our "Country Correspondent" infers from or
arguments, that va did no, know that there is sx
ample enough, in Virginia legislation, Of Relic
laws. He is mistaken. Having, ourselves, no con
hdenec in the possibility Of discussing any publi
question usefuly, without the soundest information
We made it point al the very first step in this dis
pu'e, TO possess ourselves OF the history OF Relic
laws, in this commonwealth and in the younger on,
which has copied them from US. Il was only sfte
such an examination that We said, that Stay law
had, heretofore, been he'd excusable, when adopted
10 time OF war; but had ever been regarded as infa
nous and had always proved TO the last desre,
runcus, in time OF peace. We drew the frat con-
clusion from the example of the several Virgins
Stay-laws, oil Of which belong to condition Of var
| aud tho second, from the example OF Kentucky
which really differs from the other rather its Sub
'equent excuses, than in its original conesp,ion.-
The real dissimilarity between them was No, at ali
10 their FORMS for these in the latter insanss were
aggravated Lu, naturally into thsir subsequent
Amendments Of iniquity, when their intended injus-
tics was, to large degree, foilsd, by the impsei
menis which peaceful relations with those with
whom you trade offsr In q word, Kentucky
Relief set out, ia ,ine Of Peace, to do what il
then impossible. The measure was des;ssed to
be tho same Virginia, her mother country,
had practiced Immediately after or during a war
IL only went further, afterwards, and plum
ged into auxiliary txsesses, for the very same rsa-
sons which would now conduct our legislation from
one reirsctual crime TO another uoder that de!usioz
Of the bad which constantly persuades them, VIXEN
on. piece OF wiekedness has no, served their pur-
pose, that another at their elbow will bo certain to
| answer
Thus Kentucky began with Relief law, mo
dslled (as we have said) upon those OF Virginia.
This was found incapable Of OfTording the expected
relief; and new provisions were added. So, too,
they began to mitigate another matter of suffering
the confinement OF debtors within certain Prison-
bounds. These, they enlarged e IRE limits Of the
whole county. Pressntly ths>deblors found they
were
"Cribbel, essinsd ami confined"
by this dursnee OF IS milss SQUARE: il was abso-
luIely suocatins; they gasp.d for brsatt; and the
Legislature, that they might &c, Itls fresh air,
amended the law, and extended the prison bounds
10 the whole State!
When once, by such laws, all Public Morality
and all Individual Faith are over,hrown. what stop
what hating place should there be1 The guard,
the fence OF public and of private Integrity is bro
ken down. Ths law itself has declared that there
shall be end OF nearly all Justice in matters OF
Property, and that each man shall, for time per.
lisp, limited at first, kesp possession Of ~hatsvcr
his neighbor has tru ted him with. When once
such laws made, what prOba bity tina, they will
not, upon a new Glamour, b. extended You may
81. f..
were wanted, will have found saiieien; relief, by
the close of the term fest appointed. That, We
have shown cannot be, under natural causes. But
giant it could be the pretended relief is then for
the purpose OF enabling them to re'ain the profits
OF their property, until they think the prise they can
get for il is fair one. Indulge men with this sort
Of legislation, and when will they think the prices
high enough You have taught them that the law
is TO yi-d TO their private convenience, real or al
legged: when are They like after that to fad it con
venisnt to strip themselves of all their goods, in
erder to pay their debis1
But the necessary effect OF such law 10, for
years, to demoralizs the entire socsty. The mere
conventonally good -they to whom what tho Law
sanctions is always moral enough-wilI, of course,
support tho state Of things Just as they before
did tho old. The distressed will want, as before
to better themselves, if they have found the law do
them good and others will wan. i, for purposes Of
fraud, or fortune, who had, in the beginning, no
distress to plead.
However sincsrc, then, mems present persuasion
that they will not want any second pos,ponement,
we ara sure they mistake themselves. Let them
look into their own bosoms and see why they think
one or two years will and shall satisfy them. They
persuade themselves that by this period they viii
find themselves relieved. The Relief, then, is the
object and the time a mere Incident. Can any
body make bslievo tina, they are likely to prefer
the Incident 10 the Aiml No, no they say one
or Two years now: but they know not what they
will say year or two hence, when the laws and
public character and all the restraints Of morality
and shame are gone.
In war, when the very behs OF the Community
% at stake, and when, for that reason, tho usual
laws Of faith towards strangers and among your
own people may often bs set aside, those wi,hou,
your bordsrslcinnoi sigmitiz3, as dshonorl ble,
measures which so.f-prsservaton demands; and
your own citizens eoneoed, among each other, TO
the common pert, large suspensions Of their civil
interests. The general danger dissoves tho ordina.
~ morality Of poiceful life; and Patriotism and il.
higher necessities take the place OF Ccmmsfcia
Faith and tbs other virtues oil mere Peace. In such
4 time, the citizen may, by the laws, be told thai
bis obligations towards all beyond his own country
are at end; that tie STATE may take his property
from him, il it rsquifsSIi and that a relaxation OIL
the usual engagements between man and man il
necessary, TO tighten each ones efforts for the pub
lie. All this msy be done without any loss Of cha
raetet abroad or morals a, home.
But no other state Of things can offer the loas
excuse for such pevsrson, such a corruption o
the laws The nation that can bring herself 4
commit it knows not and cannot know whore en-
will stop. when people have inside up their mind
10 plunge into an open iniquity, no moro virtu
need he expected Of them, for some time, " ever
Here, after the frs, m1nslrous violation Of oil hs
IS correct or safe, every thing else will be easy
'Tis but like getting into The cold bath; one shud
defs some time on the brink; but once in, and III
srss shock over, 'd' very pleasan We ffolic about
souso ourselves oil over, and dive to the very DO,
tom. The general appetite TO make meHm Of iuI,
i the robber prcpen,i,es Of the human race one
awakened, no man can tell what will be done, an
more than the General who gives up a city to N
pillags Of his sodiery, can say that they will no
;, slaughter and ravish, aS we'll as plundsh
IS THE MAN OF ACcoMACt
Mr Wise threatens disclosures 90 awful as hi
shn. k.yn nn.f,,..t.. 49,. L.. ......f.....