The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-07
Public Meeting.


Public Meeting.
Pursuant to notice, the citizens of
Newberry District met in the Court
House, on the I'd instant, to take into
consideration the condition of the
country. Upon motion of Maj. John
z. kinard, the meeting was organ
lied by calling the Hon. r. Moor
man to the chair, and requesting Y.
y. Pope to act as Secretary. It was
then agreed, upon motion of Mai.
Henry Summer, that the chair shout.
appoint a committee Of thirteen citi-
zens to prepare work for the meet
ing. The following gentlemen were
then appointed-Henry Summer, G.
u. Smith, Peter Hair, John f. Ki.
nard, DIR. John r. Gary, joseph
Caldwell, J. R. Spearman, J. B. Hell
Ter, Josiah Stewart, Isaac Herbert.
Dr I. P. Kennerly, Col. George
Chapman and John NJ. Calnes.
After consultation, this committee re-
ported the following preamble and
resolutions:
Whereas, the means and energies
OF our people were necessarily devoted
to the support of the war which has
just closed, and during its CONT
nuance, this fact, together with the
existence of deprecated currency.
which was the only circulating me-
dunn, rendered the payment of debts
l1npracticable; and, whereas, one of
the disastrous results of the war was
the entire destruction of more than
two-thirds of the property of the
people, and the depreciation of the
remainder to such an extent as to
render 1T almost valueless as means
OF paying debts; and, whereas. the
people, after having expended their
means and made every sacrifice that
duty required of them, to support a
cause which they believed involved
their dearest interests, had right to
expect that legislative provisions
would be made to protect them in
the possession OF their homes, until
they could, in some degree, recover
from the ruinous effects of the pro-
tracted struggle which had left them
Frustrated and exhausted; and, where
as, the Legislature did provide for
their protection against further ruin
Gus sacrifices of property, by re-en-
acting the law commonly known as
tho "Stay Law" which had its origin
Ill the exigencies of the times at IN
early period of the war, the wisdom
and expediency of which had been
approved by every succeeding Legis-
lature, and by the Convention of
September last, which, by an ordi
nance, continued of force said law.
and which, under the circumstances
that surrounded us at the close of the
war, was not only expedient and
proper, but absolutely necessary, to
save the country from irretrievablo
ruin; and, whereas, by late decision
of the Court of Errors, OF this State,
the Act referred to has been declared
unconstitutional, imperative and
void. Therefore,
Resolued, That while we would de-
precate n resort to violent measures
for the redress of the grievances com
planned of, as the result of said deci-
sion, and cannot sympath;ze with or
consent to any movement conten-
plating such an object; still, wc can
not dissent from the opinion that the
Court, In making decision by which
sovereign State is denied the right
to control the remedy which she 4f-
fords to suitors in her own Courts. so
contrary to the generally received
doctrine and opinion, not only of the
most eminent Judges of this State,
but also Of some of the most distin-
guished Judges of the Supreme Court
of the United States, acted, not only
most unwisely, but with unnecessary
haste; and that thereby the great in
terests of the people and prosperity
of the State will be most ruinouslv
affected, unless some measure of re-
lief shall be speedily afforded.
Resolced. That we, the people of
Newberry District, in the exercise Of
our inalienable rights and in the per
formance of what we conceive to be
q paramount duty to ourselves, our
families and our country, DO most
solemnly protest against a decision
without precedent in this State, SO Mt
variance with the doctrines heretofore
inculcated, not only by some of the
most eminent judges, but also by the
Conventions and Legislatures of this
State, and ut the same time so anita
gonistic to the general interests Of
our country, we do hereby invite the
cooperation of the people Of the
other Districts Of this State, in re-
questing his Excellency Governor
~. ~