Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-22
unIrSE nF DELEGATES.
The House met at the usual hour the Speaker in
the Chair


The House met at the usual hour, the Speaker in
the Chair
THE STAY LAW.
The Committee on Courts of Justice, to whom the
stay law and the substitute for the were refer
red reported back the same, through Mr.. JOyneS IFS
chairmun with the rec commentator that they be
laid on the table and reported in lieu Of both bill
which they asked TO be printed.
The following is u copy of the committees report
WHEREAS, The war which was recently waged for
several years in the State of Virginia. in its progress
and results swept out Of existence the property in
slaves which constituted very large proportion of
the wealth Of the people, rs well rs very large
amount Of other personal property and at the same
time annihillted the only currency which had circu
lated for three years together with the stocks ami
securities growing out of the war, in which the pco-
pie had made large investments and either destroyed
or greatly impaired the value of all other stocks and
securities so that but little now left To the people,
except their lands which, for want of efficient labor
and, in many large districts for want of stock, i'm
Elements, fences and buildings, cannot be Success
fully cultivated, and Is consequence OF this cOndi-
ton of things there exists an unprecedented scarcity
of money among the people Of the State and,
Whereas II cannot be questioned that this STATE Oi
general embarrassment and Distress presents the
strongest appeal for legislative interference, to pre-
vent the unjust aud ruInOus sacrifice Of property that
would inevitably result from forced sales under such
circumstances; and while this General Assembly re-
the constitutional provisions which prohibit the en-
actment Of any law imparing the obligation of con-
tracts they believe that when construed with refer
ence to the objects OF those provisions and in the
light Of principles recognized and acted upon
by the courts OF Justice at the time of the adoption
OF the Constitution of the United States as
well as before and since that time, those prOvl-
siOnS do not forbid them from granting temporary
suspension OF remedies in such state of things a-
the present, in order 10 prevent the cruel anu rum
ou> results which would enSue without such inter
position, and especially it only requires that crcd
tors while their right to ultimate payment is held
myiolabe, shall only submit to a course to which
they might well be constrained by the instincts Of
natural justice and humanity; therefore,
l. BE Il cHcCted by The General assembly IF Iir-
giaid, Fhat while this act remains in force no exc
cutiOn reE6flpVi cfP0HGE, attachment upon de-
cree or order for The payment Of money or other
process To compel the payment Of money W the sale
Of property for that purpose, shall be issued Ol u
heretofore issued, shall be proceeded with nor shall
| there be any sale under a deed Ot trust mortgage
pledge or other security, nor under any Judgment o
order for the payment OF money, except in the cases
heretofore provided for until the first day Of Janu
4, airy, 1865.
, The foregoing section shall not apply to any
case in yEich the debt or liability sought To be en-
forced was c6ntsacrd since the second day OF April
1863, or in which the Commonwealth is the creditor
or party benefcially entitled or To taxes !evies O
II
] which an officer of county or corporation y
I liable for taxes, leyes or other moneys collected
! or which .hculd have been collected by hin
| for such equity or corporation or ~ when IN,
parties interested shah consent, " N Ehcl
| the parties any Of them be incompetent 10 cLn
| sent circuit court or Judge in vacation, having
jurisdiction of the subject shall determine that tn
interest of such parties would be promoted by II sale
or IN any case of almOny or OF dover or any inter
| c,ts in lieu of dover 10 any allowance or Prov
NfNHa ~. fuTNnQ IaI a
infants or to any payment of rent or OF an annult
falling due after April ,, 1867 or TO any proceeding
/ 10 compel an officer of the State or OF county o
1 corporation, or a commissioner or receiver, o
| other Cheer of court or any hduclary
| 10 account tot, pas VI lsburSe money received b.
| him since April %, 1868, or 10 a4y t,rGcEetE.
against fraudulent pure hascr or dOhec, or agalns
property IN his hands for a debt or liability ni Tn
| vendor or donor, OF TO any proceeding against
debtor or party bound who has removed. : renov
iuC or intends TO remove his effects out of this Stat
with intent t. DELAY hinder or defraud his creditor
/ or those u sL1m he is liable, or To any proceeding
under sections s. " OF chapter Isl of the Code u
I6 nor Ia any case hereafter prov iuea tGT la this eel
| But nothing in this section shall deprive the sureio
/ of anv officer of the State, or of county or cor
paration OF the benefit OF the rSt section OF TINS &C
IN respect to any liability accrued prior to April
4 1865
3. No sec,li,y or undertaking of any sort the con
siIerltion OK wiicL is 4ltt contracted or llaOht
incurred prior to the aud day ct april lSt2, shat
Though executed or assumed after that day be cp'
sdered as a debt contracted or lla6lil'y INQUIRE
after that day within the meaning oil th's arl. Au
When a mart of the consideration of any security o
undertaking of any sort is debt contracted or !
ability incurred prior to the 2nd day OF April 1865
such ssGLiity or undertaking, though eAecuteu
assumed on OF alta that day, shall, As 70 50 mnI
Of the money due thereof, &c considered as de,
contracted or liability incurred 6GIGTr hG,' dav Win
! in the meaning of this act
l 4. Upon all debts contracted prior to the said IN
Say Ct April 1863, and payable or on which intere'
IS payaLIs before the lst day ofJanuary 1866, Their
shall be paid Gu the lst day of January, 1867, an
on the lstday of January Of each succeeding yea
while this act shall remain in force, sum equal
the interest for one year the principal debt an
also on the amount of interest due and in arrear
the LIST day of January, 1856 or on much of eac