Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-28
For the Standard.
A STAY LAW.


your columns, for the purpose of suggesting to the
Legislature, now in session. the great Importance Of
passing Immediately an effective stay-law, or law
for the protection of property in the State Why
is it important that such law should be passed?
Because government will soon call on the State
for an additional number of men for the war-and
those who have already gone, should be protected
also. 1t must be admitted that the middle class of
men in our country are the men mostly in debt,
with some few exceptions and We must also admit
that the same class of men bear the burden of the
government to very great extent. And we fur
ther state, that they compose very large majority
OF the present army of the Confederate States and
will also have to respond chiefly to the next call of
the government. Therefore, it is said, generally,
that our best men in the field. Now, sir, l wish
to ask our lawmakers one simple question: (to-wit:)
If after these men have voluntarily offered them
selves for the protection of the vast interest of the
State, and to secure to US and hand down to our
posterty the blessings of civil and religious liberty
if they can deny to them protection at honeg If
you can, you leave them to the mercy of the money
mongers of the Sate-for it must be admitted, that
there is class of men in our country, whose only
desire is to make money, and it matters not with
them the circumstances of the country, or the means
employed, so they can keep the law between them
and the ohipping,oost. 1t is fact not to be de-
MED that ALL or most Of the States of the Confed-
crty, and against hostile and neutral States which
have not been disturbed. But N. G. has not been
permitted to sit undisturbed under such law
Her Governor recommended such law, and her
Legislature passed ito their honor be it said but
there were moneymongers in the State, who saw all
their prospects cut short, who went to work to
break down the law. They made test before the
Supreme Court which declared the law uncohstitu-
tional, and the money worshippcrs have been turn
loHc k1,,C koko n.
his minions are at work on our brave armies who
have gone in defence of the State. This is double
foe upon us-we cannot stand it. Yet sir, these
men who now in the field, left home with full
assurance that what they left behind was secure to
their families and that it could not be taken from
them during their absence, and while fighting for
their country. But, alas all that gtters, is not
gold. Their expectations are cut short-their fam
lilies liable be thrown upon the cold charities
of the country. How, let me ask, they fight
with courage. the enemy in the field, when they
know that their families are contendng with an en-
envy at home under the cloak of the law? Or, how
can you expect others to volunteer promptly while
they are in possession of these facts? My own
opinion is that it will drive the government to draft
the State-but hope the Legislature will make
some provision for the protection of property, so
that can volunteer without the dread of having
their property sacrificed and their families beg
Sareu. DuC, ii IL comes 10 q OTdIt, tDeTe Is one
good thing about ia draft is respector of per-
sons, and perhaps it may, in mercy to the rest of
mankind, take the money-worshippers with it. Our
people generally are posed Of fine feelings and we
can not expect them to bear up under heavy
weights that the citizens of other States have been
eased of for. the time being. case which took
place in New York will show pretty clearly what
our people will do. A man volunteered, and while
in the army, he heard that his children had been
sent to the ams-house, and his wife turned into the
street to beg for her living He deserted and went
asked why he deserted? He told them that he had
heard that his children had been sent to the aims
house. and his wife into the street to beg, and that
| he had come home to share their fate. "Now,
SAID he, "take me, and do your worst with me."-
| | am glad that Lncon's army was not composed of
men of such courage and feeling at Manassas; If it
had, we would have been badly whipped. hope
that the lawmakers of n c. will not so act as to
bring about such state Of things here. But, 1t
there arc in New York. That may be so, but we
do know that we had law for the protection of
property, and that it has been broken up by the
ruthless hands of the ey-hunters and that the
families of volunteers now liable to be treated in
the same way. hope it may never be the case in
North Carolina, but that the authorities will dc
something to put it out Of the power of evil and de-
signing men, to take advantage of the times, and
turn them to their own aggrandizement in the way
of property, at oneourtA its value The protection
claimed for volunteers, will also apply to those who
are left at home-for they have a very important
part to perform in supplying both money and pro
visions for the army; and if they are crippled ii
their efforts to help the government much will b.
lost and disaecton will take the place Of loyalty
The people do not object to paying their debts i
their property was made to bring its full value-bu
to have it exposed to sale at one-fourth its value
they do object to, and every good man ought to Oh
ject to it. And if the debts Of the people have L
be paid under present circumstances, can see bu
one resultant that is, that the people will 81
down and wait for their certain doom of insolvency
without energy to defend themselves and families
much less their country. In view Of these circum
stances, think the Legislature will do something
for the people; they have as much right to protee
ton as any other people, and they expect it.
NOT BRUTUS.
We learn that VIM. B. Astor did, after all, Civ
that fifteen millions he promised in furtherance