The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-08

THE STAY LAw-Nr Editor: / think your remark
some weeks ago. that the Stay Law will damage the
people of the State than the war, is 1t
will benefit the of small means and who de-
sires be honest and pay his debts have but little
property but then had good name, and before the
passage of the miserable law by the Legislature, had
some credit the merchant and others being willing
trust me until my little crop sold But now con-
fderce between man and is destroyed, and
looks on his brother with diSrust. These who have
engaged in speculation, and who many debts, but
have property plenty in possession may be benefited
by the Stay Law and they will be enabled to cheat and
dcfraud their creditors but the common people will be
injured and broken down unless the law is repealed.
The great of the people opposed to the law.
know but who is in favor of it, and he is a
large property holder, but VIGOROUSLY bad pay
masteV. | glad to see that you have not hestated
expose and oppose the law from the start, and
know you be good friend to the poor man as any
one who voted for the law. r.
Our correspondent is rght-the "miserable" Stay
Law is doing all more harm than the war, and we
frequently hear the hope expressed that the Convention
will repeal it. How merchants to comply with
which the merchant the North is to be paid into
the Confederate Treasury, but if the merchant
collect the debts due him Tor if his debtors aided
by legislation in defraudng him) how is he to pay any
thing into the Treasury? 1t is notorious fact that
men who have plenty of money now refuse and neg
lcct to pay their debts. There is money on
deposit in the Banks OF the State this time than there
was year ago. Why is this money not in circulation?
The answer is, the Stay Law has locked it up-the
best men cannot borrow it the best security, for
the law will protect the borrower in cheating the lend
err out of it, if he is disposed. Man is afraid to
trust his brother and thus the necessities of many
honest men are uurelieved. If the Legislature had
protected the creditor while pretending benefit the
debtor, there would be less cause for complaint.
The removal of cases from the County Courts to the
Superior Courts crowd the docket of the latter
that a man who resorts to Courts for justice will
scarcely get hearing during the present generation.
Besides, term of the Superior Court is abolished:
though the Judges will receive the salary as if
they held two terms. We should like to know how
MANY Of the Judges favored the adjustment of one
term of the Superior Court. Those who did so, GER
tanly ought resign and let their places be filled by
men who willing to work and attend to the busl-
ness for which they appointed The interference
by the Legislature with contracts with the trading
business of the State and the adjustment of Courts
&C. will bear bitter fruit in the end Were 1t not for
such proceedings the people of North Carolina would
scarcely feel the effe It's of the war.
Since the above put ia type, we find the follow
ing in the Greensboro Patriot:
Stan La,r unconstit,r5OndI-The Superior Court for
the county of Davidson is in session TINS week, MS
Honor Judge Bailey presiding. On TUESDAY morning
the Judge announced that he should take up the civil
docket as usual without any regard to the stay law
and that unless defendants had some good cause OF
continuance they would be required to try their
the stay-aw Notwithstanding Defendants on tnis CIR
cult will therefore do we'll to take notice of this and
be ready for trial We learn that Judge howard also
holds the views in regard tc the stay-laW'
1t is the general opinion that the Supreme Court VIII
pronounce the law unconstitutional So it will be bet
everybody pay their debts as far as possible
Public opinion stay law enough and no one VIII De
oppressed who shows disposition to deal honestly ana
pay what he can.
The Fayetteville Observer says awe have not heard
voice raised in approval of this most unfortunate
measure whilst most Of the papers in the State COM
plain of it as Of evil tendency