Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-24
FOR TIE ENQUIRER
STAY LAW.
To James Baii, Esq, Of Rockingham.
CONFECTIONERY OF THE ESQ

COMMENCEMENT OF The ESQtlRERI
Dear Sir: Permit brother Democrat 10 thank you
Tor your timely and appropriate letter TO "John Taylor
of Caroline" and allow me TO add few remarks to
what you have SO well said. Ths,is party question
And what proves it to be no party question, as between
Wing and Democrat is that, upon the protested pr,n-
cples of both, neither consistently oppose Stay
Law, under present circumstances How does this APP
pearl Why, the hobby OF the Whigs for years
has been-Rciiet. relief Relief to manufacturers
relief to Banks-reef 10 laboring classesrel'e to all
classes, classes-reef by Tariff, by Bankrupt Inv
and what not. Where then their consistency in oPpo-
sing the only just, feasible, and constitutional means OF
relieving suffering people, We Democrats 90 for
the greatest good to the greatest number We are OPP
posed upon principle TO Governments granting exclu-
siye privileges my Ii is just because Governme nts
have unwisely departed from this great equitable prin
crple, that it becomes the duty OF the Legsla
,ure relieve the people from the effects OF H. and do
ultimate justice TO all.
The Banks, time and again, have made Stay Laws for
lthemselves-suspended payment-and the Legislature
has winkcd at it-nay justified H. Congress has passed
law only annullIng contracts bat sponging out
debts forever. Many honest man, it may be by the
misconduct Of Banks, and BY the operation and effect
of the Bankrupt law, finds himself involved beyond
present ability TO pay, and asks of the Legislature
what No violation Of the CONSTITUTIONAL law i'm.
pairing his obligation TO pay his debt-bnt simply 10
give HIM time by economy, hard work, and another
crop TO pay every fsrihng Of what he owes, and not
allow tn usurer aud extoroner to take from him a.!
that he By the strong of the law But for the
rapacy Of such creatures bone violent creditors would
wait and there would be cessity fnr Stay Laws.
| l. an intelligent and suffering community to be told
that a STAY Law is "immoral?' Where the mmorali
~, where the injustice when nation has bee n
whe!med by the uqul,ies of men, ''making haste
To lie rich Where the immortality in the Legislatures
,iyipg the people time 10 work out Who oppose a
STAY Law a ie noisy and interested persons, here
| and there, who have money To buy their neghhors
property sacrifice and some good, but rather pru
dish men, who are, nevertheless, not whit better
than the thousands of sufferers who pray for relief and
no must sink, with their families 10 poverty and be-
curne burdens 10 the community, if they should not
obtain relief. There may be another very small mum
her-som score or of very formidable opponents to
this humane and equitable law-and these our
country alornies of large town creditors. i is my
decided belief that Stay Law would meet the apPro-
val Of large majority OF the people; creditors aad all
The eItoriiuncr and the cogetons might grumbie Shy
lock would get his pound of hesb bull all good and
humane creditors, especially those protesting to be
governed by the dictates of Christian benevolepce
would be we'll satisfied. Let the Legislature pass such
law and they at once lessen The demand for money
They thus only relieve The sued debtor but ntford
relief incidentally, to the community at large. The
Stay bonds will substitute, in part, circulating me
dun.
Stay Law ought be passed for two years AT least
But for Banks and their influence, direct and indirect
such law would pass by large majority. Let it's
opposers heed what they do Their great care for the
public morals will not avail them. The odium of re
pudation does not reach Stay Law II has no uifi.
PEG ple at the polls will repuda,e and sponge out the
men who DO act in this matter the high princ'
| pies of Justice and humanity