Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-11-24
The stauLaw.


Act regulating tho collection of debts" as
il passed the Legislature and was submit
ted lorhs action. From the great interest
manifested by many members, and the
alacrity with which il was ''put through
we felt satisfied, Notwithstanding its defeat
that it would again come up, md, in somr
shape or other finally become law. We
had never supposed for moment however,
hat our law makers contemplated prac'is.
ing upon innocent creditors such n mon
strous wrong as that which has been pnt
upon them, yet the bin, as il finally passed
IS but modification Of the still greater
monstrosity that preceded 1t. In reviving
this matter, charity compelsu 10 set aside,
IS unworthy Of consideration, the suspic-
ON that crosses our mind, that the officials
who framed and supported this bill were
actuated by unworthy personal motives
We will suppose that hey had the interestsof
of the people at large. and the honor OF the
State constantly in view, yet we ARE great
~ nj loss 10 know upon what other grounds
or conclusions their actions were hased.-
As far ns we have been able TO learn, in
nearly every State in the South, however
gpcatly orerrun and wasted by the enemy,
where such laws exisied-forced through
Turing he late war under the "p'ea of ne
cesstty.' they have heen declared unconsti
in,ional, and MS being unworthy Of n place
in the statute hooks OF nm honest people.-
The unconslilutionaiity OF the law can not
be denied, it is a fact that vii clearly man.
fest itself to all who will take lie trouble
TO read for themselves. No matter whai
the consequences tina, might have resulted
to those who have overtiaded themselves
by making TOO free use of their credit in
The purchase Of their neighb9r's property,
the unconstitutionality Of the law alone
should have been sutlicio Ito have guiled
our legislators in considering n bill for its
continuance in any shape whatever From
constitutional encroachments oil our trou.
blcs fow.-wlen once rules and regulations
are laid down for onr guidance, they should
be reigiously observed in every particular,
and never under the ''plea OF necessity or
in any other manner, except in a constiiu
tional way, be encronched upon, otherwise
they are soon overiidcn and Il rown aside
altogether whenever the slightest "plea Of
necessity is brought TO bear. Under such
circumstances men coon lose all respect for
the law Of their country, the deoris thrown
open 10 every species of corrupt and tyr
ranical legislation, finally ending in dis
gust and disregard for all law and in com
motion and civil war. These are not idle
speculaiions MS will be abundanily proven
10 any one who will reflect for momeut
upon our past history. Such We believe TO
be the tendency Of the legislation which We
now have under consideration. IAN Act
re gulating the collection of debts" which
virtually leaves all obligations and con-
tracts entered into prior to the 18th day OF
May 1855, 10 the the rnofnl status of the
suhiecr-io do or not to do--just as he
plcases. at least SO far as the creditor is
this is the result. We have too
high an estimate Of the honor and inisgri-
~ of our people TO suppose that there are
many who will take advantage Of the relief
Dffered them by this act; we believe that
hey W II in general 60 on in tie discharge
n their duties as honest citizens, as though
no such relief had ever been 50 kindly and
90 eraruitously extended TO theni- While TO
he dishonest il will be received as"ndinKs
II great joy carrying apcaee and good
riil7 10 all dishonest debtors, they viii
nus rce<ise be lesson HAT The ''Plen Of
leeessity- isgfeai ard that apoIl lie slight
It reeoliec,ion Of iold d, bis II esll hast
n 10 heir reiief. and shus they can eoniin-
ls on I'd irf1liu'p 70 laugh Al ihsir innocent
hanek terribly sallsn ereliioit- Bot his
. usi al, what viii lie 5nlside rorld nov
hink Of us-from ilsir fiand point, can
hey rbink otherwise Than hat We, legisla-
ors AMI people. az miserable SCI Of
lass Tor ihe bsnefi o. err
N wrongs. and stiridine 0urseisesundsr
However erroneous their
isprsssions in lbis regard nag Be, 81 ely
o one can biaus then. II re SOW The
rind- We u.n pss szrsstto % cher ila1
rap he rhiririud.
And yei Iris y nci "a tlink for NO
Irai Of The eject strssi - such issisa
On upon ear nsrsssiiis md u-npiseinr-
4 istsr.s,z. fiirk yr1 r.,ons tf -stlist
'I.s7 fur ID. bsrszi % 1tb'rrs tlst fhs
.si's ed f.i- Iia1a'n- 81 ils sr,srrEis-
q nrs rls 1.t rr-rrrl - 'l-ss great
r1sri's .rs-s - rIi b. rrtan-ri . n
J. ..s..tf s.-nsl r11-si-l c.tlai,n q
80. .....- ~. .....'.---..-- --r- r-.