The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-15
..,,ss. For the Standard.
RALEIGH, Dec. II, 1866.

| 1hessrs. Editors: .ss
The refusal of the House Of Commons, on yes
tesday, to take up House Bill No: 11S, is eonclu-
siye evidence, that the people OF North Carolina
need not expect much from the hands of the
present General Assembly as to a general relief
bill For the Information of the people as to the
merits of this BILL give it below:
A Bill to Prevent Litigation and the
Ruinous Sacrifice of the Property of
Honest Debtors.
! INTRODUCED BY MR.. BLACK, OF MOORE.
WHEREAS, On account of the total failure of the
Banks of the State and the reputation of the
Treasury notes issued and designed by the State
as u circulating medium, our people are wholly
unable, after paying the onerous taxes cXacted
from them to meet even in installmentS, their i'll
dcbtedndss existing prior to the LIST day of May,
A. D., lS65-an Indebtedness based upon the pos
session ofproperty which, in the course OF events,
has been entirely swept away; and whereas,
forced sales of property at this time, would nevi
tably reduce to penury and want, a large portion
of the families of the State for remedy whereof,
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the General assembly
Of the State Of North Carolina, and 1t is hereby
acted By the authority Of the same, That from and
not be lawful for any of the courts of record of
Law or Equity in this State, to give Judgment in
any action of debt, assumpsit, account or coven-
ant, for the payment of money either in the suits
already instituted and pending, or in any suit or
auitS which may be hereafter brought for any
scause of action originating before the LIST day OF
May, 1863 And all Judgments, orders and DEGREES
for the payment of money in any of said actions
by such courts of record shall be null and void,
and the officer or officers proceeding TO execute
any teri facidS, other process for the recovery
of such void judgment, shall be guilty of trespass,
| and liable to the defendant defendants in said
execution in damages
Sec. :. Be it t4rther enacted, That no Justice
of the Peace in this State shall, after the first
said day of January, 1867, give Judgment on any
warrant, for any of said causes of action enumer-
ated in the foregoing section, which may have
originated before the first day of May, 1865,
aforesaid. And all such judgments given by
Justices of the Peace contrary to the true intent
and meaning OF this act, shall be null and void,
and any constable, other officer, attempting
to collect said void Judgment by execution or
otherwise, shall be guilty of trespass, and liable
to the defendant defendants in damages.
SEC. B. BE it further eractcted, That from and
after said first day of January, 1867, no execution
| either against the property or person Of any one
against whom Judgment may have been before
entered in any of said courts, or before any us
tice of the Peace, in the courses of action men
| sued, and every officer Icvying, attempting to
collect an execution, issued, shall be liable to
damages aforesaid.
SEC. + Be it further emacted, That the provi
sions of this act shall not, in any manner, re-
strain or modify any existing process for collect
ing State and County revenue, and the revenue
and taxes of Incorporated towns, nor for the col
lection of fines and costs i'll criminal proceedings,
and for all penalties annexed by statute to the
commission or omission of any particular act or
duty.
SEC. s. Be it further enacted That all other
causes of action, except those set out in the first
section of this act, shall be tried and determined,
and such mcsne and final process issue thereon,
as has heretofore been allowed by law, and in the
usual course of the courts.
Dec. Ii, 1866. 115-3t.