The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-14
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, July IA, 1866.
Is there no Mode Of Relief:

that the recent decision of the Court
of Errors of this State, on the uncon-
stitutionality of the ''Stay Law" was
correct. It's opinion was formed after
mature deliberation, and reviewing
the arguments pro and con. ia the
premises. We adhere to the opinion
then expressed, and for the reasons
then given, which we need not reca-
pitnlate further than to say that they
were based upon the broad ground
that the Constitution of the United
States prohibited any State from
passing a law impairing the obliga-
ton of contracts; and for the further
reason, t,a under this clause and the
laws en-: CITE under it, a foreign Gre
ditor could recover his claims in the
United States Courts, while the home
creditor was debarred under the late
law from recovering his just dues.
These are our views; but in enter
tanning and expressing them, we
must not be considered rs having no
sympathy for the unfortunate debt
ors. Too many of US are enjoying"
that condition, as the old woman re-
piled to nm inquiry after her health,
which was very feeble. We are all
more or less in the same category, so
that it is simply impossible not to
sympathize. Nevertheless, neither
expediency nor individual suffering
justifies moral wrong, or violation
of the rights of justice or the princi-
pies of probity.
But if the law which protects from
the rapacious creditor, who holds
possibly in his own hand the pecu-
MARY fate of an hundred honest and
struggling debtors, be pronounced
null and void. where will the unfortu-
nate class find any relief, for it is now,
rs it ever has been, that
MANS inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn"
The danger is imminent, and the
question asked under the stern pres
sure of the most urgent necessities of
the people. We are not competent
to answer this urgent question. If
the couplet which Burns wrote be as
apphcable-and we fear it is-in our
day rs in his, then it will take ripper
judgment than ours to suggest n
remedy for this ''inhumanity.
We do not believe that all men are
heartless, or that all will stand by and
see the pound of flesh exacted, with
out an attempt at interference. The
people of South Carolina, we believe,
are rs generous as those of any sec
ton or land, and it is in this trait
alone, we are convinced, will be found
the temporary relief now so much
needed in every section of the State,
especially among the planters and
farmers. The rich creditor must for
bear proceedings against the poor
but honest debtor, who could pay
but for the devastation of war; and
those who have wealth, or even COM
petent means, ought to stretch forth
the hand of humane assistance to
prevent the latter from being utterly
and irretlievably ruined.
The people of several Districts have
held public meetings on this subject;
various remedies have been proposed,
but all seem to agree that in the wis
dom of the Legislature convened
may be found some remedy for the
evils which threaten every communi-
ty and neighborhood in the State,
and all these meetings, we believe,
have unanimously expressed their
urgent desire that the Governor
should convene an extra session Of
that body, to take this matter special
ly under consideration. Gov. Orr,
we arc sure, will not disregard this
urgent call from the people, as he is
we'll acquainted with the present i'm
poverished condition of the citizens
That body may devise some remedy
or mode of relief that will not come