Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-10-04

incumbrance, before they would lend their
money to any one; and if the negroes were
not there, the money could not be bad,
but to very uncomfortable amount.
Hence the fact, that all creditors did look
to the negro's value as the basis upon which
he was induced to extend credit to any
one before be would let bis money 60. This
being the case, and now as the negroes
have been taken away from the people by
the government, I consider that this act
was as much against the creditor as that of
the debtor, and that to this extent, the
debtor by the act of the government, has
been absolved from bis liabilities to his
creditor in the same proportion as has been
taken from him, and that strictly, iu logi-
cal and equitable point of view, relieved
from the payment of any amount above
what might be coming ont of the remaining
portion of his estate, computed at its pres.
ent value.
Taking this view of the subject, am
sure that nothing could be more fair and
honest, than for all creditors to be compelled
to abide these issues and bear their proper.
ton of the misfortunes of their debtors
This cannot be called an act of reputation
by any one acquainted with the facts as
they do exist, simply from the fact that the
taking of our slaves by the government
away from US, is virtually as much taking
it from our creditors as from us, and if
there be any reputation in the premises, it
rests with the United States and States to
repair our misfortunes. Hence then, the
feasibility, practicability, and absolute me-
cessity for the people to equalize all these
matters, 90 that creditors and debtors may
all have something to start upon-live and
let live. Otherwise, those who may have
been fortunate enough to be free from such
casualties, in misfortunes as existing, will
be the men who will ultimately be the grand
monarchs of the country, and nearly all
real estate will fall into their hands with
the great macs of our people as tenants upon
the land at will What an awful and
solemn spectacle would this be to the pres
ent and future generations to see and con.
template in what is called free country
Now is there no remedy in the premises ?
1 think there is. Indeed, know there is,
and all We have to do is to apply the rule and
carry it out with precision and unAinching
purpose to relieve the country as soon as
possible, so that she may be recuperated,
encouraged, and oheered to an onward
course in the arts and sciences as in former
times otherwise, We may expect nothing
else but perfect state of Indifference, dis:
pondence, and anarchy to prevail. Some
think that stay-law will subserve the pur.
pose, and that by giving time, the people
will be able to relieve themselves. Others
think that the best plan is to wipe out all
liabilities and take new start; whilst 9th
ers say no, we must have no stay.laws, no
reputation, or time to pay debts, and plead
the constitution as an excuse for their be.
lief. These views may suit creditors and
some debtors very we'll, but there is high.
er and more honorable view to be entertain,
ed, and such as I am sure will meet the
exigencies of the times much better than
either of these I mean just what [ have
said before, that nothing short of law reg
ulating the liabilities of debtors so as to
compel them to pay their debts in reason
able time 10 proportion to the property they
may have received a credit on, a0iU even
relieve the country and if this is not done,
a general state of bankruptcy must and ao't'
be the result, the effect of which will be to
relieve our State of its present population,
and be occupied by foreigners who have
been in part the means of all our woes
with here and there an exception. Now, If
We can be reconciled to this state of affairs,
then let things move on, and We will see
what no people on earth have ever seen be-
fore-a perfect state of anarchy and re-
bellion.
Those who think stsy.law will be the
means of the people being able to pay their
debts, will be as badly deceived as those
who preached peace, when there was no
peace. 1t may be the means of enabling
those who owe but small amounts, COM
pared with their present estates, to weather
the storm, but none wiU be benyftted but
those but by no means of any advantage to
enterprising men who have been, from ne
cesslty, compelled to do business on bor-
rowed capital, which will embrace nearly
all classes of men, whether engaged in
planting, manufacturing, mining, mechanic
arts, or 10 any other branch of business,
that is of productive character; whilst
there are other classes of men who have
ever engaged their capital in dealing in ex-
changes and lending their money, who have
held themselves aloof from holding any spe.
cies of property of which they could be re-
lieved by the casualties of war or in the
form of heavy taxes This class is, in thcus-
ands of instances, the recipients of nearly
all the benefits arising from the war, as
we'll as of being the general creditors OF
the people, either directly or indirectly. So
that if they are to be allowed to receive the
whole amount due them, they will, in a
manner, be the proprietors of the whole
country, and the balance of the citizens be
reduced to absolute banhrupty and poverty.
Surely then, it is necessary to have some
remedy adopted.
1t is true, that it seems unjust that any