Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-10
Relief of the People.

The Virginia papers are urging upon the
attention of the Legislature of that State,
which re-assembled this week, after enjoy
ing the Christmas holidays and attending
to the business necessary upon the advent
of the New Year, various subjects for the
relief of the people of the Old Dominion.
In some of the means proposed, the Legis-
Iature of North Carolina has anticipated, in
part, at least, their neighbors of Virginia );
in Others the questions exciting interest
there and occupying the attention of their
General Assembly, are also subjects of earn
est legislation here, and will be the en-
crossing questions for the consideration of
the General Assembly at its adjourned SEES
sion.
It is urged, in Virginia, that the usury
laws be repealed, not modified, as was done
in this State, by the Legislature of 1866.
The very great scarcity of money in that
State is explained on account of the
usury laws of the State and the heavy pen
atty for infringing them. Every business
interest is languishing on account of the
want of capital, and especially is this true
of the agricultural interest Certainly, if
any property could command money, the
security which farmers can give ought to
do so. In North Carolina, the rate of in
terest has been changed from six to eight
per cent. 10y agreement between the parties,
with forfeiture only of the excess above six
per cent when larger interest is taken. In
South Carolina, by recent act of their LIE
gislature, the usury laws have been repealed
and interest left to be regulated by the
contract Of parties, its price to be determin-
ed bv the equitable laws of trade. This. it is
expected, will bring money into the State,
and consequently stimulate every branch
of industry. So far, the usury law has
formed no part of the legislation of the pre-
sent General Assembly, and so far as we
know there has been no bill offered intend
ing any modification or repeal of the law as
it now stands.
A Homestead law is urged upon the con-
sideration of the Legislature of Virginia
as necessary for the relief of the people,
All the new and many of the old States
stead exemption law, and if people ever re-
quired this protection in order to encour
age them in building and improving homes,
most certainly do the people of the South
ern States need them. In the Legislature
of North Carolina various bills have been
proposed and some acted on adversely
Mr. Richardson, of Bladen, introduced a
billin the House ofCommons exempting GER
tain personal property, named therein,
from execution and providing homestead
| cussion, and is at present before the Senate
Judiciary committee. This bill we have
given in full. Mr.. Berry, the Senator from
Orange county, has homestead bill before
the Senate, having passed through two
readings, and received a consideration of
several days session on its third reading,
and comes up first on the re-assem bling of
the Legislature, being the special order for
the 22d of January, the day of meet
ing. We shall i'll day or two give the
leading features of this bill, in connection
with that of Mr.. Richardson's.
The ''Stay Law" is also matter of
interest to be considered, in connection
with the subject of the relief of the peo-
pie, and we propose to give our readers,
in future nun Der, q concise statement of
the status of this question before the Legis-
lature, as a bill has passed the House of
Commons changing somewhat the ordi-
nance of the Convention, and is now in the
hands of the Judiciary committee of the
Senate.
These subjects, with that of establishing
schools for the benefit of poor children,
embrace the great questions of legislation
which will occupy the time of our General
Assembly when it re-assembles, relating di-
rectly to the relief of the people. and with
a desire to acquaint our readers with the
various propositions, and in order that the
positions taken by their Immediate repre-
sentatives upon their return to Raleigh may
| be understood, we shall, before that time
refer to all these matters in detail
| Attempt to Assassinate q Brigadier OF the