Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-01-07
Eenm Re ,Snrhern Guardian.
A Word or l~v ON an Important Subject

DIX. I1DI iOh' " iit ou 3ii"" q pi"tn hNt'
room to suggest a few reflections upon a
measure now before the Legislature o. South
Carolina? promise to be brief.
The House of Representatives has under
favorable consideration an enactment proyi-
ding fer the collection OF interest upon debts
due by those Of our people not III The amy,
and also tor the collection OF lawyers and
other costs incurred in suits brought about
for that purpose.
do not think the question las been ma
turely considered in that body; and ! beg
most respectfully to make a few points;
Ist. Have the members considered that this
measure will,,in allprobability: bring aboat
series Of suits at law, with all their consequent
distress and irritation. in every district in the
State? If A. is compelled to pay B., B.
must, Of course, compe! c., D.. l., T., and
g., to pay him, AMI they in their turn must
compel the whole alphabet. 1t is a grave
mistake to assume that there is money enough
among he people to pay interest upon debts,
and, at the saline time, to properly subsist our
women and children, to SAY nothing Of the
slaves Of the country. In the great majority
Of the families of the State, there are no sur
plus funds; hut there is generally enough
and Just enough, to enable each head oi
family to support and sustain his own III
moderate comfort. The excessive prices, In
every class of articles consumed in the usual
course of subsistence, require al! the ready
money that ruit be rulsed to meet the actna!
wants of the country. Still, these wants are
thur far met, scantily Iad!nit, yet they are
met. Institute the enactment here prcpcseti.
huwe,er, aud you al once utterly derange the
nicely adjusted order Of things which the
pressing necessities Of the day have brcusI t
about in slmus; every comnu:iity and neigh
bOrhUud.
I'd. Have members considered ;hat those
who held The notes and accounts uron which
this interest is to be collected are.' as gen
eral rule, the very men who are lest able 10
live without cat collection Of Interest? These
persons may cesrc to gather i'll this Fart OF
tI.eir gains i,,r re.inyesl,ncnt, or for purposes
of .pcculation but is it righteous 20 ASST
them bv Il Leg: alive act in these operations
at q time like .his. when tie people st large
may he made, in th. SPECIAL view Of the mat
ter, to groan beneath lis un;imcly severity!
May not this law, too, if asscd, place MARY
a worthy hut indebted pocr citizen ii tue
mercy Of That most heartlcss and least pa
trot:c of all classes i'll tire cnmmuniiy-tEH
luopcy-rlralcrs and note. s!iav,rs of the land?
81. Have members reflected that they arc
hereby egslatiug directly for the dlmnu'lon
of the next subsistence. crop? With th's en-.
actment in existence, you cannot with any
fairness propose 10 limit the prodac'ion OF
cotton. But you do create L net essiiy iof It's
growth on the part Of all deb.ors These,
rely upon it,. are numerous. Add item TO
those who Lave enough corn il. their cribs ior
two years, and who intend, unless you limit
them, to plant more largely than ever in cot
ton, ard you will have pretty condition OF
things for people approaching the last c1-
tremity If var, aud ivr whorr corn and
meat, IS we'll as peace and gootl feeling az
h me, are among tie great i;disie"sables ui
success.
4th. Have members considered that they
are, by this act, fostering the business OF the
Courts, and, by consequence. giving TO law
ycrs, not in the war. the opportunity OF sup
planning and o,'tstrippil'g their brethren o'
the bnr who are at this moment eacuunt, ring
all manner Of rcrils i'll the field to save the
country and It's institutions? feel ASSURED
that this view has never occurred to the legal
profession as represented in the Legislature,
bu, submit that it is one worthy Of a thought,
especially in view of the facs that tie iaw
proposed is uo. ono of imperou, necessity.
but the Tery reverse.
9TH. Have members considerrc tic ih
bearing Of this proposed cnactment upon the
soldiers themselves, IT. spirit anu pulpes'
are 10 relieve any and every one in actua
service irun lie distressing und veSatous in
cidents of suits at law. But Go you thus re
lieye him, when you lea ave bis father at home
! his brother his dearcs friend, exposed to til
cruel Consequences of this.new law? In III
name of reason and patriotism, let member
reflect before they pcrpetrate this selt-co1
victed scheme.
Lastly. Was tb ere ever time when til
old adage :" let 'o:N e,souyh alone" was MOI
worthy of obser vance and Of adoption? "
are doing well as a people i'll The n:atter
home comtoyts despite the war that RACES