The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-11-25
The Relief Bill.

Inc Keuef Bill
A correspondent of the Ledger thus refers
10 the act Of the extra session of the Lsgisla.
ture:
Turn over the act OF 18th October as we
please, and examine II in whatever light we
may choose 10 view il, we shall find its pro-
visions, when followed out 10 their legitimate
consequences, working nothing but evil to
The banks and The community. Better had
it,been if the Legislature had not been call
ed together, il, whec assembled, they. bad
adjourned wihou, doing anything. The oP.
GRAFTON of the provisions of the act upon our
city banks. and all solvent banks IN the State,
is but 10 obsiruo; and embanass them in their
endesvprs to get themselves into position
10 resume specie payments. It's operation
on the country banks, though at presen,
seemingly advantageous, must be ruinous
and fatal in the end. lis requirement that the
banks shall take bank notes, other than their
own, in payment OF dehs due to them, is
unjust, and in the opinion OF sound lawyers
clearly unconstitutional. It's interference with
and avoiding of, the contracts existing be-.
tween man and man, is altogether wrong /;
and lie insisting that the banks shall resume
specie payments in six months after IFS pas
sage, while debtois owing the bank and
others are allowed more than twelve mouihs'
tine in which to pay their obligations, ip
cruel and oppressive. II is dangerous thing
10 break down ard PROSTATE the standard of
mercantile integrity in business communi-
~. To legislate a man out Of debt is an
outrage upon all principles of justice. We
shall for many long day regret the demor.
alzing influence which this act will produce
upon our community. o that our Legisla.
tors were wise . that we had more states
men and fewer politicians and currency tink.
ers among them! Pity it is that our business
matters had not been allowed 10 right them.
selves. When The panic and alarm would
have subsidized, the confidence OF the COM
muEily would have been restored 10 such of
our banks as were worthy of it, and we
should now be handling their notes, so ia
miliar 10 our eyes, instead of The Lotes of
banks hundreds of miles away, OF whose
goodness we can have no knowledge. Sure.
ly tits better go bear the ills we suffer than
fly 10 others we know not Of" Already our
banks begin to feel the pressure Of this loalh-
some burthen; after a while it will become
iutolerable boih 10 them and the community
Had business matters been allowed 10 right
themselves, debiors and creditors would
have come together and arranged their af-
fairs between themselves, as their mutual
interests might have dictated.
This is the only just and business way that
such matters can be arranged IN. When leg
Isaion steps in 10 unsetile account between
man and msn il does injury-noihing but in.
jury. II rumor is not al fault onr city banks
already regret that they did not refuse 10 &C.
cept The provisions of this Act, and throw
themselves upon the mercy OF The commu.
nifty. Happy had it been for both parties
had they done SO! Even at This early mo
ment they plainly perceive that with PropeI
management on their part, and generous
forbearance OF the part Of the community,
(Which the community will, perhaps: have
reason TO regret, had moi been extended 10
wards them on The Gay of the panic,) they
could easily resume specie payments, even
at The time fixed in The act, were it not fo
The horrible incubus under which tb ey labor
of receiving the country bank notes in pay.
ment of their dues. THIS Requirement
paralyzes their energies and renders them
incapable of moving single step iii the righ
! direction.