The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1868-04-15
The Relief Iniquity Exposed

zATTER FROM HON. B. H. HILL.
$. ATHENss GA, March 26, 1858.
My Dear Sri will endeavour
30 give you, in a brief space, the
arguments against the srelief feat
ures Of the proposed negro con-
stitution. =. .~
+ In the first place, all the
5proyisions OF this negro eonsti-
tation ON: this subject are con-
trary to the Constitution of
the United States, and there
hre, cannot afford the relief prom
,sed. Now, lawyers and judges
sometimes have differed as to the
vaHdity Of what are called Stay
laws but the relief proposed by
this negro constitution is to de-
stroy private. contracts, either by
fefasing the courts Jurisdiction
over them, or by exempting prop
erty already liable from continuing
liable for their payment. Now, l
affirm that no court, no judge and
no respectable lawyer has been
found who will pretend that a
Stateser territory can destroy pri-
sate contracts in either of these
ways. or in any other. way. The
moment the questionsis examined,
that raonaent it ceases to be de-
kht e The constitution says
no State shall pass'a siaw; impair
ing the obligation Of contracts"
Now, why was this clause insert
ed in the constitution :? Mr.. Mad
ison says itswas inserted because
Gour experience taught US it was
necessary" What experience .:
This: after the revolutionary war
tho people were in debt and hard
pressed. Therefore, says Mr..
Aadsson En- the internal admin
istration of the States a violation
ofscontracts had Beeome familiar,
in the form of deprecated paper
made legal l=tender, of property
ssbstitated for money Of install.
naent laws, and Of the ocelusions Of
thsseeurts Of Justice" Now, read
q, what is meant by oeelusioas Of
tie courts Of justice Why, clos
ing them up, or denying them jn-
sacdiction OF certain debts! -,
$50 this clause was put in the
constitution for the express pur-
pose Of preventing the States from
doing exactly what this negro
constitution proposes to do! And
90 show that the authority covers
all the modes of repudiation men
tiened N this constitution. ] will
quote: one more sentence "the
great object of the trainers of the
constitution undoubtedly was to
secure =the sinviolability of con-
tracts. The principle was to be
protected in whatever form it
might be assailed. No enumera-
tiou was attempted TO be made Of
the odese by which contracts
might be simpaircd. The intention
was to prohibit every mode or de-
vice for such purpose -. r..
II. But in truth if. it is well
known that the men who were
chiefly instrumental in putting
these relief provisions in this ne
gro constitution, did not intend
they should have effect They
were deliberately devised as a
cheat. This is now we'll estab-
lished: Ihave heard men engaged
in this cheat admit it. I have the
highest authority for saying that
assurances were sent from the
Radical leaders in Washington
that relief might be put in the con-
stitution to get votes, but would
be stricken out after the votes
were obtained -
Think of it, reader! Our peo
ple to be cheated into submitting
to negro domination by 8 false pro
vision of relief, and the negroes tc
be used to make success certains!-