Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-31
For the Standard.
RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE.

RELIEF TO THE PEOPLE
| Nothing claims the attention of the Legislature,
nits early deliberations more than the passage of
relief bill to protect the indebted portion Of the
people from the land sharks which infest every COM
munity in our patriotic old State.
The former stay law answered well to effect this
object and while in force saved thousands of dol
lars worth of property from sacrifice, which would
| otherwise have been sold-the owners stripped of
the very last vestige-turned over as bankrupts,
without credit or even emplC ynent to support them
selves or families in these critical times. :,
That law was the very best as an expedient to
check the runous results which would have follow
ed soon that could have been passed then, or that
be passed now, and exhibited that love of coun-
try and manifest interest for the people the great
sovereigns of Southern independence which should
characterize the Legislature as possessing wisdom
and magnanimity of purpose to maintain that inde-
pendence, by sustaining the credit of its citizens
and soldiers whose lives property and time are be-
ing offered upon its altar of liberty But it is re-
marked, that law was passed by Legislature which
was in part bankrupt; that the tendency of it was
to take from the rich and give to the poor man
that it Disseminated between the creditor and debt
or in favor Of the latter This conclusion looks to
be erroneous except when applied to the few soat-
ed cases of dishonesty in running property to pre-
vent the collection of honest debts which was the
case even before the passage of the stay law Hence
| but few can be found to condemn the law. And by
| whom is the complaint brought? Look into the
country, do you find the people as mass making
hue and cry against the act of their representa-
tives? No, this great alarm at the honesty of the
people, and complaint against the action of the Le
glslature, comes from those men who have been bu-
silly engaged, in view Of the present financial dis
tress dealing IN stocks, promissory notes. etc, and
having brought in the very beginning of the crisis
suits upon their claims, are now clamorous to real
ize their money-out of what? the debtors proper
| ty, at time when money cannot be raised to pay
with This is the source from whence all the COM
plant originates, regarding the injustice of the stay
law-the imparaton of obligation and contract
that it has shaken the very foundation of commerce.
by loss of confidence in the honesty of the people,
and even their ability to pay their debts DOUBTED
1t is to be hoped the Legislature will rebuke these
selfish complaints by another act to stop the run
that is now preparing to be made upon the debtor
class of our State population. That the people are
| honest there can be no doubt-that they will pay
| their debts when the time comes that will enable
them to do so, there can be no doubt. Will their
representatives, the guardians of great and patri-
otto constituency, neglect their vital interest and
no other than their legislative body to appeal to-
their own physica. strength to protect them? 1t is
believed that the Legislature will not.
1t is said pretext, that nobody wishes to press
the debtor or distress him. by the sale of his prop
erty now. This is but prelude to deceive. HUI
IL
Jacob and Esau. Every man who has it in his
power to gain much with little will do it Let
not such lullaby as this deceive. 1t will be too
late after the Legislature adjourns, leaving the peo-
pies interest unprovided for. Every comprehensive
mind knows the people went in debt before this
crisis upon the country, in most cases, for the
property they now have, at high prices. To sacri-
flee that now, would prove disastrous to future pros
poets. The banks have long since received protec-
ton, and their specie is held in their Golfers and
what little of their paper is issued falls into the
hands OF such men speculate in the kind of stock
before named. The present Indebtedness of the
country affords rich harvest for them, If check
is placed within the reach Of those that in debt
No law can be framed which will meet every indi
vdual case, or that would meet the approval of the
specializing classes. They are too numerous in
times like the present. Hence, the only effectua
remedy against this class, well as those who an
ticpate to realize fortunes in the great sacrifice Of
debtors property is. in the total repeal of the exc
cuon laws from the State statute leaving it blank
for future Legislatures to raise. Those isolated
cases could then go up to the constitutional court
for hearing upon blank statute. But is the Leg
islature, the awmaking power, the creature of the
Court? If so, let all the other converting bodies
of the peoples selection be abolished, and let the
government appropriations to their use be turned
over to the Southern Confcderacy. But reasonably
something should be done effectually to guard
against the sacrifice of property Thousands o.
writs are being served upon the poor debtor In
every county, and if no relief is extended the great
mass of the people will be reduced to state of total
bankruptcy, and a consequent dampness will be
thrown upon the material aid designed to defend
and maintain Southern independence. Who are the
men that are fighting the battles of the South
Are they the rich and trading classes-men that
are free from debt or are they of that class who
are mostly in debt? A brief review would exhibit
the fact that the latter class the men who are
enduring the hardships of camp life. And must
their little that of their sureties in thousands Of
cases be sold, and their families turned to the
cold charities of the world2 Let this be prevented
if in the power and wisdom of the Legislature
Another feature, too presents itself, and that is
this Before the passage of the late stayiaw, thou
sands Of dollars were sued for, upon which judg-
ment has been obtained since the notification OF
the law. Now, while the law was in force, no suit
could be entered. This leaves the debtor in that
case six months behind in the prosecution of his
claims to meet the judgments obtained against him.
This very hard under the existing state of things
and it would be unfair to hoist his property upon
the block, without an equal showing upon his
debtors. Suffice it to say, great issues are involved
in this question: and the result of consequences
enveloped only, in the sequel S. F.