Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-29
FOR THE Eve CiRER.
tn the Is1islgfuye strft.

| RATKING-STAY l.AWS-REpfDiTiOS.
We have observed that Gniie Gngf disssnsion ss
brewing in the Wing ranks in this State the sab
zee. OF stay Laws; whist, far our limited observa-
ton ex,ends there is bot opinion IN the subject
amongst, the Democrals-that Of opposition 10 stay
laws, and resolution sacredy 10 enfrce the obs erv-
ance o! contracts, private as well as public
For ourselves, we believe, however, hat reputation
between man and man. sucn is evln,ed by bankrupt
LAWS and STAY laws discovers far more degraded mo-
raly than State reputation. Governments and other
corporate bodies have ever been proseiay dishonest
even where the people composing them we're indivdu-
ally honest; for responsibility minutey divided Is res
possibility destroyed and crowd OF philosophers might
readily become a wicked mob. 4 nation may be ind'-
riduay honest, although their government and corpo-
.u,ions be distinguished for dishonesty, Nor wond the
example affect private morals for he whose moral sense
is 80 perverted 10 be satisfied with that standard OF
morality. acted by men in any collective capacity Is
already degraded 10 be made either better or worse
by any kind Of legislation.
State reputation may become question OF casustry
Of very difficult solution, indeed are disposed I" be-
leye that this difficulty already presents itself IN seVe
raj States of the Union Take the case, that Al single
of legislature, by system OF log-oins, con,
tracts for schemes OF useless and unprolabie 'netnai
improvements are entered into, which cucumber the
State with debt enormous that the tax, necessary
To pay the interest, makes the people slaves we say
slaves, because the only political slavery now existing
in the civilized world, is that Of heavy taxation Ter
sonal liberty practically secure throughout the
rest Of C!rs,cndom, as in America. The question IL
this, Shall The people eli State, so situated foh inc
contracts frauduleny made by their talthiess les'sa'
tive agents, preserve national iah and he siaSes-or
repudlae and be free' we will not answer the qnes-
tion and humbly pray may be never so situated as
TO be compelled answer it. In this supposed case, 1t
is easy 10 perceive, that National faith pushed 10 us
extreme, would be quite potent an engine oil opples
SON. The exploded doctrine OF the olvihe r9nt o'
Kings Ia England the latter doctrine has gwen place
to the former and national debt is found TO be more
oppre ssiye and exsctng tyrant than King James the
First
We think that a portion Of the Democratic party Got
late We hope large majority are practically the only
opponents III this country Of reputation. portioh
only Of tina, party have been ever found opposed TO bor
rowing than pay, whilst the w higs ana
part Of the Democrats have favored hat pocy "n'ch
encounters the States with debt The gulity authors
of repudalioh are those who contract the Stale oens,
not those " no merely discover and declare INC ao!
of the States TO pay them. , 49,,
| Virginia is already encumbered win q heaVy ueo' /,
| if you add TO it you too, become re puoatols. ~
would avoid reputation, you Will increase the 'aA'
which are now light, and borrow no more moh nll
any purpose whatever. Such, we have no DOUBT, WIN
be your course for such is the true Democratic poc5
You will have more difficult duty to perform VI 'ne
attempt to alleviate the distress OF your
arising from private Indebtedness. IL wen sno
truth IN political science that labor and economy alone
and rot law. can mako money or pay debis. 40 IA"
can add ce a, to the wealth of people bad e
gislation may, and often does cran'P ana GRIPPE m
energies Of people, SO as to i'npove'isii mem
Stay Laws, you no doubt consider unlus
to toe examine pms. legislation TO find it, you can, the
causes of present evils and when found, 10 remove
those BY repeating such acts Of legislation Tine
laws which you vi" find SISady fios s,
other CIVILIZED nations, will be our RESTRAINING,
laws I, NJ. other countries credit is left free; with
crime in it, 'G ns
The banks who would reap ,n1 had they
any credit elt 10 exercise # has been well said thai
the boosted march of the human mind progresses N
circle. The absurd,ies of yesterday are exploded 0u'
10 give place TO the grosser aesurdtes Of "
We were the first TO besow man The tree exercise o.
conscience in matters Of religion-but we we.e also
The first and the only people who took away from MN
free exercise Of his credit We did &c. ,ss eoena
I'LL s ts;, end we have retained the statutes, sim.
py because people never dream that there can be any
thna yery wrong OF prepo,serous in what they have