The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-08-22
For tie Lancaster Ledger.

MEssRs EDIroRs: The public mird
Tor some time pas, appears to have been
chiefly directed toward dsvising . way Of
escape from the great dis.s,sn that the
late war and its consequences have
brought upon the people Of the Sou,her.
States. Aud the already insurmount. .bls
difficulties, which attend this suffice, have
been still more Increased. by the drought
and the conseaueo, failure Of crops there
on. that 10 almos: every whore prevalent.
It isa lamsn,abls fact which require.
no proof. that two thirds Of the people in
this sectioe are now insolveat from th.
effects Of the war; and that there is a
great failure Of crops on accoun, Of the
p'o.ractsd drought is equally clsa, TO
every observer. Ono fourth OF an avsrsee
crop in Lancaster DISTRICT can now. 10 no
event be nadei and probably not moro
than bali enough Of grain TO supply ii.
wants Of her inhabitants, and ws have
reason to believe that the other District.
OF the State are not much moro hivbIy
favored. Now With insolvency and bank
ruPtcy slmos, At every door with our
farms in such condition a. to be inca
pabls Of affording more than on. half
enough OF suppliss for tie psopls, and
with the same scarcity common to otbe,
Psrts Of the eouatry. the future may truly
Be said to bs full Of dread appr.h.nsi.ns.
1t 10 state Of affairs veil calculated to
excite forsbodings Of the mos, alarming
character. asd to fill the hearts Of philan,
throPis.s with anxious cares. Il may be
said to be grsat erisis OF the cou.try.
that ealls for the grscious aid q sv.,y
patriot
Undsr this stats Of things. c,,n,.mpls.
ing the heavy Indebtedness, th., is press.
ing upon the ,i.als Of The comm unity,
and weighing dow. the Energies Of the
bo.e and sinsw Of the eoua,ry. I. 10 bu,
reasonable to expect that the gssa, quss.
ton in the mouth Of every one would BE-,
what ought to be dens to afford roiisG
and prevent the sacrifice Of property q,
public salssa This truly is . serious auss.
ton we'll worthy the most careful csasids,s
ton and mature dsliberatiou OF q Lseis
tive body. I, sugsxsd the attention Of
our Legislature at its last session, bot the
scheme. which wss tbsn advised Nv the
Legislature. hss failed to prove etE-c,uai,
for the reason that Il was II confiic, With
the Constitution Of The United States
The great fundamsotsI ia~ Of the land.-
The defects Of this scheme vera made 10
appear by the judgment Of the Court Of
Esrsrs pronounced at its last session.
1t is exceedingly doubtful that any
scheme for the relief Of debtors can Be
devised which will stand the Constitution.
al testI but the very bes, We can do, ia
to defer the matter to our wise and pa
triotic Legislators. Who. in oil likelihood,
will b called together n . short time,
and whatever may be the deliberations
and conclusions Of tbis body on the sub
|ect, lot the same be received - assi and
conclusive. There n no ioubs thss the
legislature will Try 70 do ell that II eau
tyaily and enthusiastically 10 afford pre-
'sv relief, asd there the matter may Be
assly allowed 70 rest. The people. 10
mixed ssssmbliss ~ homs. ess devise. 10
my aspect Of the case. no pIss that will
vail oything ~ ~. and .hsir in,smpss.
to conssntion aud d.soussion OF toe nst.
or may be productive ofmucb hsvm. hy !