Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-14
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
DEBATE or TIE ST.7Y Law
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
UsdnlSAnll, Ett. !, 1873.


card
TO TIE EDITOR OF TIE Eve IRER.
Having been called Oy you for report OF the re
marks made by in the House delegates, on wed
nesday last toe SUBJECT OF relief take leave TO aEe
the following e2panalon
had always doubts whether The benefits expected
from the proposed, would De reazed; nay,
felt certain, that they wonid not be. But saw that
such distress ard excitement. prevailed IN the country,
as render probable. that there existed IN the case,
q higher expedency, than merely lecuniary enc J
beheld the Of all legislative action, iberai
and n,olerant, make fear that the cause oil Tie
relief party wouid JUSTICE and 80 excite IN
me spirit Of resistance; and had reason 20 believe
that large maIeFtr of nay conettu-nts desired soine
action Und.r these circumstances, determined not
only give the relief party the aid of ny vote, but
By stating the lessons ana eigumen MS on which their
expectations rested, 10 sustain them efficiently as
possible.
Having made The remarks which did, solely with 4
view 10 further tie views and vindcae Tie motives Of
n,y constituents, and those who think with them,
before the House. vii! not go further and pub.
lsh those remarks, when such objects longer be
promoted Every scheme oi rele. has been aost sig
nally defeated, Notwithstanding exeriions to the
contrary Whether for good or for evil, the course Of
the Legislature has been taken, and will do nothing
dissatisfaction with that Course, by
publishing merely 'tpiausibic speech against II.
Distressing nay be ;Ge condition Of the country,
we have bat To bear 1t in quiet. trust tbs. no,
ripple will be permitted 10 break tie smooth current
ing no longer 10 legislative add VIII End that zine,
dustry and economy, confidence in their gps,
and trust in the fostering smies OF kind Providence
will bring tina; relief which Virginia Legislature be-
Iieves itself unable 10 afford.
THOMAS S. DococK.
Mr.. FRAZIER of Augusta remarked, ,ha, after the
able discussion already had upon this subject, wei!
the part of the friends of TIE proposed measure,
ba
in the debate More especially v.cw Of tie ma
ly argument submitted yesterday by the gentlemen
from Halifax, On the same sde with himself p.uccrcs
might dictate sani va.s bat the raiinde Of the
subject, the deep interest !. eXccs among the Peepe,
and the omission OF some ye"s and sGmeus b. those
who had preceded him, would hold him justified, he
hoped asking, fer brief space, the attention Of Ike
House.
What, Mr. +. asked, arc we called 10 deliberate about
Questions intimately afTeciins the rights the obliga
tons, and the property Of every citizen Of the Common.
wealth. We are IN our representative character TO
pass upon propositions which GO 10 the root Of every
contract OF every citizen CT the land. The subject
before you, then, Mr. SPEAKER, IS whose import
ance and whose magn;r!,, caanct exaggera,e; for
in lis scope, IT is broad lie wide limits %! the Com
monwealth-and in lis character, one whlch ':comes
home 10 The business and bcsoms of men" As SUCH
1t challenges The graTest deliberations Of this AS
semb!y.
For myself trust shall not be reg1rded as using
the Sc. phrase Of affected uodesy, when aver that
address myself The TASK of this DISCUSSION wit an
overwhelming sense OF Tie magnitude oil the subj ct,
and of my inability 10 do Justice. And yet sir,
II can al all succeed conveying The n..nd Of this
House those and considerations which have CON.
mended Themselves TO my mind, and informed my
own Judgment shall not altogether despair OF placing
1t in such light NAV cause some member perhaps,
TO pause before taking step which, though prompted
by the most humane motives Of the heart, neverhe-
less traught, es 1t seems TO me, with unmixed evil TO
the State.
Wherefore il tiiis sor, Of legislation now invoked;
We are ioid thai II Is TO relieve people Suffering
exampied "E!t-ffas-nen'-tAat property depressed
value; and. II forced to iuarkel must be sold
ruinous sacrifice &F, s3;.il not attempt disguise
to THIS House or 10 '.,Y iiaG The distressed
ot'on OF t.c country, nor seek 10 throw over the
gloomy picture ct sunshine that does not
rightiu!iy belong IT, But cannot forget that we
nre not now suffering the banefa effects Of an enbar.
go and non intercourse law: tGat we longer
ravaged by desoiatng war; and that IN time Of pro-
found peace, peace with all the world, foreign foe
upon our shore, no internal strife dscord, speck
OF war IN all the sky time like this, when the
grateiui earth yields her eemng fruits to the OF
the husbandman, and the Creator LAVISH of his boun
Ties 10 ms creature mann such t.Ee, are asked
TO ln'etpose between debtor and creditor, and lay
The ruce haud oil legislation upon that most delicate
suhJec commercial credit. Ear grant 20 gentle men
every thing they demand GA ,. score Of ncpaIar dis
tress; admit (Which do Tor urrutapa; sake and mo-
because | suppose i, literally true tha, HE county,
with oil lis interests, has attained the last stage Of
Rtrophy and exhaustion, su that does not show-it
falls far short Of shcwngihal The proposed measure
of relief Will operate any relief 1t saii be my pur-
pose MIR Speaker, TO demonstrate, It | can, that It
would have the directly opposite effect, and would ii
self constitute Important accessory and ally 10 that
combination of causes which has already wrought such
lamentable Gecadencc OF public and individual pros
Peri,y shalt, with the utmost possible btevity, con
sder this subject uncer two general heads-its consl
tuonay aud its pspeGiencv.
ls Is 1t constitutional A question never address
ed in vain to Virginia Legislature, nor Lightly needed
by them. And II rlgd scrutiny OF ihis branch Of Ike
inquiry lead to conclusion ~ the ncga,'Te there
end 10 the question; tor nothing can be eXredieni
which is rot constitutional; Il may be SAID with
phass that rigid adherence 10 the Constitution the
highest expedencv.
Rightly 10 investigate this point would require Us 10
look back to The history of tie times and Of State
legislation aDtecedent the Constitution Of the Umi
ted States, and 10 mark the necessities out of which
that instrument grew. Mr. +. briefly adverted TO The
condition Of the States under the old Articles OF
Confederaon-their unlimited issues of dep.eca-
ted paper cGrrency-their "ten3os laws, suspension
and valuation laws, &c, many ot which TO be
found upon the statute book of Virginia. ard yet more
nbundantlv upon those of other States He cited tie
StGy law of Nov, ISL, staying executions until Dec
11o3-and the act Of Dec, 50 revirng ard extend
ing the former act. THIS sort of legislation it woa,
This tamper'ng with contracts by whole brood OF
so-cGlied .eel laws pesilIeou5 and fatal 10 NE cha
racter and commercial c!ect oil aGy people, Which!
contributed as much rs any other GAUGE tie adoption
of the Federal Constitution, and TO the Introduction
into that instrument Of the 10th section containing This
among other restrictions of State power $40 State
shall have power to coin money, emit bills Of credit,
make any thing but gold and silver tender in payment,
of debts, nor to pass any post fac,o law laws i'm
pairing the obligation Of contracts The manifest
design here, was TO restore violated faith and raise up
the country from ha, PROSTATE condition in;o which
it had been plunged, by immoral Safe legislation
The Constitution designed 20 establish the sGaeti,y
OF contracts, not 10 weaken ihem-to enforce their
execution, not TO abIosate itapGir lken. What IS
meant 5y the obligation of contract Every contract
carries with il two sorts of ohligaons-a ncral ana
tesai-the former is suhjec. only to Divine authority
of the latter human laws, also, take cosnizance-A
contract is defined to be ''an agreement between CON-
petent parties 10 do not TO do, particular thing
the law eniorces the performance Of This agreement, and
this is The hsai obligation Of the contract Bat gen