Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-21
WARS RAvAGEs.
Suffering in Mississippi.
a GRAPHIC PICTURE RY THE GOV.
ERSOR.

'SSn fSOetftu LOT Immediate relief frOs
the burdens that oppreess all classes Of on
eltizens. The desolation and ruin Of on
iortunes-the heavy Indebtedness. both fol
eign ana domestic, Of our people-the scar
city OF the necessaries Of life-the want !
means 70 procure them-and the uncertainf
OF our future treatment BY the Federal Gov
ernment-has sunk the public mind /,
gloom and dependency, and renders IN,
task Of meeting the necessities and demand
of the people difficult one indeed. Painfu
aPprehensions exist that the Federal tax or
The only production Of our labor. and IA,
suits now on the appearance and issue dock.
ets OF our courts, viii turn thousands from
ther bones ia want and destitntion. From
Federal taxation there is no relief Hate
and malignity only laugh at our calamity
and revenge mocks when our fear cometb
lhe Constitution rendered inoperative the
stay Law" passed at your last session. II
declares that the courts fthe country "sball
always be open," and fright and justice ad-
lnlnistered without sale, denial or deIay. -
What, then, is fright and Justice ?7
When a vessel at sea Is overtaken bv a
storm, and IL becomes necessary TO throw
overheard portion Of the cargo to enable
her 10 ride the waves and reach the shore.
sound morality and equity declares II is
right and justice" that the loss should be
averaged and shared alike by all the owners
OF the cargo. The people Of Mississippi
launched their little bark upon the broad
sea Of Independence. The storm of war en-
gulphed il IN the whirlpool Of abolition. and
we are wrecked yoyagers On the beach Of
desolation and dependence. Our fair fields
have been laid waste, our cities sacked and
destroyed the STAKEHOLDER has lost his
cIauaus fka f.r Lt- Il.
chant his goods; our Libraries enlighten the
bench and the pulpits Of the wreckers our
jewelry, silver spoons, and even the tovs
and trinkets Of our children ornament the
mantles, adorn the tables, and enliven the
parlors Of the spoilers. The creditor alone
has saved his ''notes and accounts from spo-
liation and destruction. Morality and equity
claim an average and distribution Of what
IS saved from the wreck. But who is author
lied 70 strike the average When how
and where did he receive the authority Z?
And by what rule would the division be
made? Is fright and justice" for the cred.
itor alone2 Is fright and justice" for the
debtor alone?
Il was fondly hoped and believed that the
creditor would be "stay law" unto himself
in this hour Of his country's calamity, and
that he would keep aloof from the dockets
Of the courts until the debtor could catch
breath" and have time 10 "put his house in
order" While many creditors have shown
magnanimOus forbearance many debtors
have exhibited an unworthy disposition TO
avoid a fair settlement Yet many, too
many creditors have shown heartless desire
TO eKtort "the pound Of flesh" from honest.
needy, and fair dealing debtors. And yet
again, many creditors seek net 20 destroy but
-. Il. - L
though they may push them 20 the Sheriif7s
block and 20 insolvency, yon will find these
same injured de5torso clothed in purple and
fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day
at the bountiful tables of rich, happy and
loving wives or trusted friends. Instead Of
forbearance and compromise, a wild rush Of
'who shall be first and the devil take the
hindmost" is made into the courts Brave
soldiers who perilled life and lost all, are
pursued by some Shiny skulker from honor
and duty who has saved his "notes and ac-
counts by hiding them with himself in a
deserter's cave. Another brave soldiers
widow ispursued by one whose heart, against
shame and dishonor is "bomb prooied," by
his frauds and specuIations upon the wants
and miseries of the war for which he voted,
but from whose fury hi, prudent action Gin
snuffing the battle from afar of" has saved
his carcass.
Yet there is another class Of creditors
brave soldier who had lost all but his ''notes
and accounts pursues one whose back has |
grown gray with the moss Of dishonor, and |
who pleads his vote against secession as his |
badge Of wisdom and patriotism, and his alb |
solution from all obligations TO share the /
losses the war Occasioned. Another brave /
soldiers widow pursues an athletic exempt |
= 4 IL. IL.
complains Of the cruel, cruel hardships of /
the war. The aged and the decrepid, the /
widows and the orphans who have spent and /
lost all in the support of the 'lost cause"
pursue the slxulker and the exempt who /
swear that the Yankees, Jayhawkers, or
Secessionists have robbed them Of their last /
dollar Who is the worthy creditor and who |
is the unworthy creditor? Who can devise |
the rule Of right and justice that will guide |
TO the fair and eq liable average and DISPOSE
ton of the f'noies and accounts saved from /
the common wreck? And who is authorized /
TO do il? Is the Executive? Is the Legis.a-
ure? What authority has either TO do any /
act? They are both the creatores of the Con
stifution. They live, move, and have their |
beinq in the Constitution. Without the Con- /
stitution they would have no legal exist
enee. What the Constitution authorizes them /
20 do thew may do, and what the Constitu-
tntion forbids them TO do they have no more |
authority to do than any man or set Of men
who usurp power and abuse privileges.
The people Of Mississippi claim the pos
session of certain rights, too sacred to be en- !
trusted TO any Government and IN their |
Constitution established for the guidance of |
their servants have excepted certain powers |
out Of the general powers OF Government:
One of these powers Is that the courts shall
alwavs be open-anOther is that no law shall
be passed impairing the obligations Of con-
tracts The Judge that would close the
doors Of a constitutional court in obedience
10 the order Of the Executive and Legisla-
tnre. in violation Of the Constitution, would
ne unworthy his ermine, and a tit tool of
despotism. As the Executive, l claim no
authority 10 decide who Is the worthy, and
who Is the unworthy creditor-and do not
know how 10 average and divide the losses
All have sustained. ] feel no ordinary per
sonal interest in the posiponement OF the
dnv of psvment. Ny sympathies have ever
been enlisted in behalf Of the helpless and
The needy. Nv hearts love Is entwined
around The brave Confederate soldier by
chords that cannot be severed; and would
divide with him the last crumb that belonged
\, ,o,,sel}-but / must confess my want OF
wisdom 10 devise the scheme that wiil alb
solve him or relieve his property from the
obligations Of his contract with otheS, ruth
onf flcir consent so long as there IS virtue
mower and majesty in the Constitution un-
der which he lives.
ANY scheme however, that may be de-
v;sed for the permanent or temporary relief
of The people from the pressing embarrsss-
nents of our great disasters, that Is clearly
within the restrictions Of my obligation 10
the Constitution, viii receive my cordial CO.
operation. -, IT,
r,rv reIief from debt often tends only 10 adj
ditionRl embarrassments. Patient industry,
strict economy and 'long suffering are now
onr destiny and our duty, and the only
means Of restoring cur lost fortunes and re-
establishing our prosperity and happiness.
Nav Almighty God, whose Christening
hand maniiests his lsve, inspire us all with
wisdom and guide Us through the black
nigbt that shouds our country IN gloom,
dependency and uncertainty,
Rl.N5. q. HUMPHEYS
Tar FtoKrpA CoSNEcTIoS COMPLETE
w learn from an advertisement IN the Sa-