The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1866-10-05
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY
BLAIR & PEGUES.
MISCELLANEOUS.
From tie -An9erson htellyencsr.
TO DEBTORS AND CREDITORS.

! We have been so highly pleased
with the annexed address of Judge
Reese to the grand jury of Baldwin
county, Georgia, that VIC transfer it to
our columns, since the advice is equal
ly applicable to this section. The re-
lations that exist in law between the
two classes Of the community are clear
ly set forth, while the relations that
should exist in these peculiar and try
ing times are most forcihly presented
in the address, which We copy from
the Atlanta EnteNigencer:
"Havihg gone through with my in
struction in reference to your statute
ry duties I beg leave to cali your at
tention to a subject which, though not
among your prescribed duties, in my
Judgment deeply concerns the morals
and prosperity Of our people. I al
lude to the, relation Of debtor and
creditor as it now exists in this State.
And that may not be misunderstood,
nor misrepresented, I give YOU what
Ihaye to saXupon this subject:in wri-
ting.
Hrcquires no prophetic eye to see
tLatthe feeling now being cngendered
between the debtor and creditor class
(unless.a course of conduct different
from that now being pursued by both
parties be adopted) will culminntc in
deadly hostility, in lawlessness, and in
serious injury to the agricultural in
terests Of the country.
On one hand, the debtor, vhose
property consisted principally in saves
and who by reason of emancipation, is
not now possessed of property yuffi
cient to discharge his pccuniary liza
bilities, feels that the action of goprn-
ment has relieved him from all mral
obligation, and is, therefore, indfer-
ent as to the payment ofhis debts:
On the other hand, the creditor co
ing this indifference, is, in.most caes,
proceeding to obtain Judgment, seas
to be ready to enforce the collecbn
of his debt to the extent of the det-
or's assets whenever the law shall /
low him TO do so.
This course Of conduct by the re
spective parties brings about mutua
charges of dishonesty and unfair deal
'ings, and must, if persisted in, event
ually lead to state of things, easily
imagined, hard to be depicted, ant
greatly to be deplored.
1 propose, briefly, to establish thu
proposition, that in all cases of debts
contracted prior to the first day o
June, 1865, where the debtor has moi
a suficiency Of property to discharg'
all his liabilities, without leaving hi
family comparatively destitute, it vii
be to the interest of the dcJtor, to thu
interest of tn. creditor, and fos. ~ II:
good of'the country, that there shon13
be compoiaplaing between the pr sles
st asssa ashsy rshsy taking for their guide
>ruIe Of conduct prescribed by Hem
spake as never man spake, viz;
4 AS ye would that men should d'
unto you, do you also unto them like
wise.
First, then: Will it be to the inter
est of the debtor? tits clear to m,
mind that the planter who finds him
self without suHiciency Of property
at a fair valuation, to pay off his. in
debtedness now, cannot reasonabl,
expect, under the present lator sys
tenn, and with heavy pecmiary liabi]
tiles. hanging over him, to better hi
condition in the pursuit Of his orme
vocation, and without capital he can
not embark in any other business
It's not human nature for man to b
industrious and energetic with iude
ment liens against him beyond tn
value of his property. He is constant
ly expecting the officer Of The law t
ake:the last luxury, if not the las
comfort, from his family. He become
unnamed, useless to'his family an
to society. Itrequires no lagtheae
argument to prove that a debtor thu
circumstanced will have mole left b
Compromising with his creditor no
thanhe will have by waiting for the en-
of the law; for I am fully persuade
that there are but few creditrs VIII
when properly, ly,approached BY the hol
sest debtor, will not be willing to cor
pound upon liberal terms taking in
consideration, ifyou please, the loss
sof himself and the debtor by the a
ton Of government in abolishing 81
very, ndtheratio which the debtbea
to such losses compared with the pro
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