The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1866-10-09
U. W. DALE. W. II. BsLLAMr,. o. o. RoBISsc
R, w. GALE & co.,
As and IS WENTWORTH STREET
CHARLESTON, S. c.,
DEALERS IN

,GarTianAS .Mp@ejaS. Mprnnss.- J
=. The State ana Federal constitutions were
thoroughly ventilated, our Legislature gave
us, as relief to debtors. an act suspendng
the session Of the Court Of Common Pleas
for one term. We are not in faver of credi-
tors pressing debtors at this time, and we
are in favor of every measure OF relief for
inc debtor, consistent with equity and good
conscience. But we maintain that the meas.
IRE adopted is no relief at all in our judg
tnent, it is we'll calculated to aggravate tile
feeling Of the creditor, as IL will excite his
suspicion that his debts are to be ultimately
rspudiatod, by destroying or indefinitely
postpoping his legal remedies for their col
lection, and inpel him next spring 10 sue
his debtors indiscrminatcly. Every law
passed by the Legislature tampering with
contracts between mnn and man, destroys
confidence between them, which is worth ali
the stay laws that can be passed., and when
confidence Is destroyed, legal remedies are
Of course sought. We symqathize with hon
est debtors, and it is evident that most of
the creditors do, or why is it that nine hun
drcd old executions are now lying in the
sheriff's effice Of this District, uuenforoed
Tho stay law, from its inception, was an
unwise one. aad but for its passage one
half Of the Indebtedness which now hangs,
during the war. x class of men who kept
out Of the war took advantage of that law,
accumulated wealth by speculation, ard lot
their debts run on. Those same men, to.
day, instead Of paying off their debts, arc
using their money in spt culatlon, attending
sales and buying property. Such men
should be made to pay, Ifthc debtors can
be forced to pay next spring, in what re-
spect is he bettered by q delay of six
months? Can he raise tho money more
readily than now? We think not. for mon
ey is always scarper in the spring than it is
ia the fall. But our Legislators either dc
not comprehend the true condition OF the
country. or else they resolntely shut their
eyes to il. Now, the truth is, the country
is hopelessiy bankrupt, and legislators
should accept .he fact, and act accordingly.
The man who expects the indebtedness Of
this country 10 be discharged in fulh is
doomed to disappointment. 1t cannot now,
and will not he able for fifty years to come,
to pay more than so per cent. The debts
WHICH have been inherited by this genera
zion were contracted upon tho security Of
negro property. That property has been
swept away, aud the debts remain with no
property loft adequate to their payment
and what hope is there, that our people can
ever replace the 450, ,O00. 200 Of negro prop.
erty that hey have lost - Absolutely none.
III, then, men cannot pay, what good will
stay laws do them ~ These will ooafo safe
basis for business Ttraasaotions until there
is q general settemept. No man knows
what he is worth--no man knows who TO
trust., The sooner, therefore, that the inc
debtedncss of the country con be adjusted,
tho sooner will confidence and property be-
restored Mea cannot pay their debts in
full, and they should at once pay what they
hest measures of relief to debtors, as we'll rs
10 give any value to their action autbe late