Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-02-09
'vitsfnAa Lcgislature.
HOUSE or DELEGATES.
IEExAKxs OF Mr.. FRAzlER,
Or AuousrA.

DENNIS or MR.. FRAZER,
Or AUGUSTA. \
UPON The PROPOSED sTAY.LAw,
<The motion being the Indefinite Of the
bill with the Substitutes.)
MIR. FRAzgeR remarked, that after the able
discussion already had upon this subject, as
well on the part Of the friends of the propos
ed measure, as its opponents, he felt some re-
luctance 20 participating in tiie debate. More
especially In view Of The mastery argument
submitted on yesterday by the gentleman from
Halifax, on the same side with himself pru-
dence might dictate silent vote; but the
magnitude Of the subject, the deep interest il
excites among the people, and the omission of
some views and Arguments by those who had
preceded him, would hold him justified, he
hoped, in asking, for q brief space, the a,ten-
ton Of the House.
What, Mr.. F. asked, are we called to DELHI
crate about. Questions intimately affecting the
rights, the obligations, and the property, OF
every citizen Of the Commonwealth. WeSare
in our Representative character to pass upon
propositions which go 10 the root of every
contract Of every citizen Of the land The
subject before you, then, Mr.. Speaker, is one
whose importance, and whose magnitude, |
cannot exaggerate; for in its scope, it is broad
as the wide limits OF The COMMUNICATIVE
In its character, is one which "comes home to
the business and bosoms Of men, As such.
1t challenges the gravest deliberations Of this
! Assembly.
For myself trust shall not be regarded
as using the set phrase Of an affected moles,v
when Iaver that address myself TO the task
OF this discussion with an overwhelming sense
OF the magnitude of the subject, and of my
own inability to dot just;ce. And vet, sir. If
can at-asl succeed in conveying to the mind
OF this House those views and considerations
which have commended themselves TO INV
own mind, and Informed my own Judgment, /
shall not altogether despair OF placing il in such
light as may cause some member, perhaps,
to pause before taking step which, though
prompted by the most humane motives of The
heart is nevertheless faught, as it seems to
me, with unmixed evil to the State
Wherefore is this sort of legislation now
invoked We are told that it is to relieve a
people suffering unexampled embarrassment
that property is depressed in value, and if fore
ed into market, must be sold at ruinous sa-
cr6ce.-Sir, shallnot attempt TO disguise to
this House or to my own mind the distressed
condition OF the country, nor seek to throw
over the gloomy picture one ray of sunshine
that does not right(uily belong to it, But |
baneful effects of an embargo and non-nter
urse-iaw, that we are no longer ravaeed bv
desolatng war; and that in a,,ime of profound
peace, peace with all the world, no foreign
foe upon our shore, no internal strife or dis
cord. no speck of war i'll all the sky; in
time like this, when the grateful earth Yields
her teeming fruits to the care of the husband
man, and the Creator is lavish of his bounties
TO his creature man, in such time we are
asked to interpose between debtor and credit.
or, and to lay the rude hand of Legislation up-
on that mos; delicate subject, commercial cred
It, But grant TO gentlemen every thing they
demand on the score of popular distress, adj
init (whichNI do for argument sake, and not
because suppose it literally true) that the
country, with all its interests, has attaineI the
last stage Of atrophy and exhaustion, still tina,
does not show---itfalls far short of showing-
that the proposed measure of relief will oner
ate any relief 1t shall be my purpose. Mr..
Speaker, to demonstrate if can, that itwould
have the directly opposite effect, and would
itself constitute all important accessory and
ally TO that combination Of causes which has
already wrought such lameniable decadence
OF public and individual prosperity shall,
with the utmost possible brevliy, consider this
subject under two general heads--its constitu-
tionality and its expectancy.
lst. Is il constitutional question never
addressed in vain to Virginia Legislature.
nor lightly needed by them. And if a rigid
scrutiny Of this branch of the inquiry lead TO
a conclusion in the negative, there is an end
of the question:, for nothing can be expedient
which is not constitutional, as it may be sand
with emphasis that rigid adherence to the
Constitution is the highest expeGiency
Rightly to investigate this point would re-
quire us to look back to the history of the
times and of State legislation anlccctlcn, to the
constitution Of the United States and to mark
the necessities out Of which that instrument
grew.--Mr. F. briefly advered to the condi-
ton of the States under the old Articles of
Confederation-their unlimited issues of de-
preciated paper currency-their slender laws,''
and valuation laws, &C., many of
which were to be found npon the statute book
OF Virginia, and yet more abundanily upon
those of other States. He cited the stay law
Of November, 1871, staying executions Till
Dec. 17S3-and the act of December 'S3 re-
wing and extending the former act. This
sort Of legislation it was, this famperigg with
contracts by whole brood Of so-called relief
laws, pestiferous and fatal to the character and
commercial credit of any people, which con-
trbutej as much as any other cause to the
adoption Of the Federal Constitution and to
The introduction into that instrument of the
10Th section containing this among other re- |
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