The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-16

The Relief for the People.
Is It was with no little interest that the
writer read ian Gnaumbia papor, OF Friday
last, the puhEshsd report Of the debate
had in the Hoase upon the bill to alter and
Ak thefimessof holding courts, &C. Every
one acquainted with Con. Garlington's an
tecedeats nshst give hin credit for ability
sna an earnest pgrp0se to act in a public
capacity FOR tile pubalc good. But. with all
due Difference for his reputation. I am
obliged to think it unfortunate that his
talents are arrayed not only against the
decision of the Court Of Errors, but what
appears to be the true and vital interests
of tho whole State. Maj. Leitner and Mr..
Fair certainly represent the majority Of
the people in thoir remarks upon the same
bill
Those of Gen. CPS way of thinking as
sumo moro than can be granted. It is not
true that the greater part of the people
are raising their voices, as debtors, for re-
lief Let the census Of that class be taken
| exhaustivcly and impartiaHy, and there is
no doubt their number would be found to
be small, compared with these who ask no
relief.
This latter class, while they asi no, g, Of
course would not decline any that lIight be
extended by legislative action, but they
will not be disappointed if mono be granted
But these same are weakened as to tn cir
/ energies by the continual hammcrine. on
the part of the General Assembly, at
schemes and plans for the relief OF debt
o's. Apply the principle to any other class
Of people, in any adverse circumstance.
and see how it works. Let any class of
persons bound morally and legally to do
anything that may lie very unpleasant, and
even impossible, iat least so, in a given
timc,) and continually hatter them with
the hope that it will be done for them to-
morrow Or the next day, or next week, and
see if you do not demoralize their energy
and their will. This is the inevitable re-
suit OF parlcying with inlpossihilitics.
Let the General Assembly come ont bold
ly and explicitly and tell the people OF
South Carolina that nothing can be done
by that body touching their ii.,li> idual and
private contracts, except to leave the
remedy for enforcing them j-. as it is
but, at tie same time, appeal to the peo-
pie to exercise lenicncy ana focbcarancc
towards each other. Action of this kind
will tell. 1t will bring the debtor and Gre
ditor to realize the stern fact that all adj.
jEstmcnt of their pccrniary matters must
be Effected. and Effected without the inter
ference of the Statc-as they were entered
into voluntarily, on their part, and without
the states being any party to the agree
nlent. In my humble Judgment, it is ruin
ous, no. only to tho future credit Of the
State, but indefinitely. to the energy and
recrperat:on- of hcr wrecked citizens. to
adopt any other course.
Ii such decisive action were proclaimed
ct once, compromises between creditors
and debtors would become innumcrablc.
How many Shyloc!ss would be found in the
whole State, think YOU? Very few, surely,
Public opinion would create an outside
pressure that those disposed to act the
part of such would be unable to withstand.
venture the assertion that all this cry
about families being sold ont Of house and
home, would have no local habitation O,
name, except in the imagination Of those
who now anticipate il.
The indebtedness of the citizens Of the
State il, without doubt, very great: but
| relief must come from n compromise be.
tween creditors and debtors Tho State
may just as well, and with equal Justice
pass laws increasing the debt of the dchtol
as pass those diminishing the claim of the
creditor. Not u single plan has been pro.
posed to relieve the burden of the dcbto,
that does not increase that of the creditor
Call it stay law, denomnate it suspension
II the courts, CT what not, the effect i;
always and everywhere the same. Is tina,
fair legislation? Upon what assumption
are all these efforts for relief based? WHY
upon that which represents, we will say
onc-third OF the people as creditors rush.
ing upon the twothirds who are debtors
and trying. or arc just about, or intend, tC
grasp them with the rude clutches of tho
law, and compel them to deliver up Mt once
all their remaining mcaSre assets. But il
IS no such thing. The whole three-thirds are
both creditors and debtors: and when such
n dash as the above is made, it will be no.
thing moro nor less than Kilkenny cat.
fight, with only one cat to do all the fight
ing: The people will be that cat But nc
such bloody work viii be rcsorted to. if the
Legislature will como ont boldly and un.
equivocally, planting itself upon the almost
unanimous decision of the Court Of Errors
and impress the people with the fact thai
the remedy they seek is in their own hands
As private individuals, AMI not as formiuc
any part of the body polite
d. u. MCCREIGIIT.
BRIGHAM YoIN" AS A PROPHET. =