Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-02
cO-HUUSJC37ED.
COMMUNICATED.
Extract Of later addressed 10 BASIL BRAwSER, Esq
of the House cf Deirgatcs,) dated

Of the House IF Detegatcs) dated
Prince WILLIAM county, Feb l6, 1913.
DEAR Sir: Permit me TO take the liberty Of submit
ting for your consideration plan bill for Relief
Stay iaw which feel confident, if such law pass
ed by the Legislature this session, would afford more
relief the people of Virginia than any other law they
possibly enact; for this reason-if you will
anime the records of Courts from the Magistrates up
10 the Superior Court Of Law and Chancery, you will
find executions against three fourths of the citizens Of
nearly every county in the Slae-and yon will also find,
that there have been since the first Of January, lS4
up TO this lime, (ony month and half,) nearly as
many warrants and writs issued as were issued in
all the last year. The plan is ths-that a stay of
executions be granted TO every person Except those
that are in favor of the Commonwealth of Virginia,
for any fine forfeiture, violation oony of the laws of
the State upon application for the bene, of such stay Of
execution for twelve months said applicant rendering
up schedule OF all his property, real and personal
10 the clerk of the court of his county corporation
where such applicant resides, making oath, before such
clerk, that it ia correct and true schedule of ell his
effects; for which, said clerk shall receive small fee
from the applicant, for administering the oath, filing
the schedule entering his name in book, to be kept
by the clerk for that purpose, and giving the applicant
certificate Of such deposit 10 prevent sherlffs other
officers from making levies such applicant. And
such applicant shall not sell dispose OF any part Of
the property named in such schedule without the
sent Of the plaintiffs in such executions or their ator
news, or attempt TO move such out Of the Common
execution; and the sheriff constable shall be i'm
medatey authorised to take and sell, according to law
all such property, SO much thereof as will be sui
cient to sstisty the executions.
The reason think this law would afford great relief
to the people, s, that i, is law that every person
have the benefit Of and it to the creditor oil
and every part Of property that is liable subject 10
his execution il the applicants required TO give
security for the stay of execution, that would Of itself
destroy the relief the law would afford to the poor class
OF debtors for the man Of wealth and property could
have the advantage of the law, because he could give
security when The poor could not; and his little
property would have 10 be sacrificed, when perhaps the
man of wealth might owe to the poor man small sum
sufficient TO satisfy the small executions against him.
This is matter that requires and demands The atten-
ton Of the Legislature at this session. What class Of
people ould this law affect? 1t is the shaver bro
kcr, or the man of money-not Of wealth The man
Of property, if he owes the small sum of twenty dol
lars and warranted for it, he has 10 sacrifice piece
OF properly TO pay IL or 60 10 the moneyed man, and
put in his hands fifty dollars worth of property to hold
his for double the amount, payable in some few
months. II man wants money TO pay small execu.
ton, big either 10 save his property, he cannot
get il for less than 5 per centum per month. few
days ago. for example, shaver of paper, who had suf
ered himself be sued, the return day of the execu-
ton having come, was called on by the sheriff for
the amount OF the execution: He told him he would
give forthcoming bond. The sheriff replied, al did
not suppose you would suffer me 10 make large
a commission out of you lie replied, "It will on
ly cost me five per centum and the interest
and can get that for the of the money month,
from others, who cannot give secury and by giving
this bond will make fifteen or twenty per cent,
every dollar, before have 10 pay t-although, this
shaver had at the time he gave the bond, not less than
Ten times much money, as would pay the execution
off, in his pocket Them il appears TO me- it is too
plain see, what class the people the Stay Law
to affect; il is other than the man ofmoney And
f such law should be passed. those very monryed
men, that require the sum Of five per cent. per
month, for the of their money, will be hunting
customers at the lawful interest This is not only my
own opinion, but the opinion Of every have
suited after explaining The plan OF the Stay Law.
Pass Stay Law. Give Justices OF the Peace juris.
dicton Of fifty dollars, and the defendants something
like the time they would have in suits for all sums
over $40. Pass law for constabes to execute on
all sums they permitted TO warrant for. Give JUS
tees of the Peace jurisdiction of trespass and permit
every county TO add one.f fourth to their number
of Justices OF the Peace; and you will every
who is in debt a, great deal of cost.
Yours, very respectfully,
! pcter and Tar. Poyer Of your county.