The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-03-04


mere shadow of relief. Delegates had been
told more than once Of this thing, and in
the face of the declaration they had been
betrayed. He did not say that thing idly.
but on the authority of letter before the
Convention now That letter disclosed the
fact that Judge ofthe Superior Court bench
had declined enforcing the ordinance of the
Convention. That should satisfy the gen.
tleman of the more shadow of relief. Al
ready Q large portion Of the people had ben.
e6tcd themselves OF the Bankrupt law.
They had been taught to look to the Con-
ventiOn as the means of relief to them, from
their debts. Now they had come to the
platform ON which they could stand. He
would declare himself as being in favor of
n substantial homestead. The language of
the United States laws were explicit on this
fact He wanted the women and children
to feel themselves secure in their homes
He will stand by tho action of the Conven-
ton in regard to that. lie thought they had
considered the thing well. And yet he would
say to gentlemen not to lett be too small, or
yet too liberal. What would be too small to
one, would be too liberal to another. Let
it he uniform, extending to the rich and the
poor alike. Let it not be too excessive In
regard to the remark of the gentleman from
Guiliord, he would beg him not to regard
that proposition as safe any longer All he
wanted in regard to homestead was libc-
eral one. Let us understand each other.
There seems to lie some difference of opinion
in regard to the law passed upon that sub
ject. Ii they once pass law here. it would
repeal all previous laws. That did not,
however, affect the question of dorer-
According to English common law woman
is entitled to doaeer to all the lands of which
her husband was the pOssessor during their
marriage.
Mr. Morton said
MIR. PRESIDENT Il am in constant re-
ceipt of letters from my constituents urging
me to do all I can to kill old debts. am
not in favor of repudiation, but must say
word here in, favor of honest men, who are
not able to pay their debts and support their
families.
The war through which we have Just
passed does not have parallel in the annals
of history. Personal property was swept
away and when the poor conscript returned
he found his farm grown up in shurubbery.
And the tithing and impressing masters did
much to strip the people OF their means to
| pay their debts.
| hear it said that retrospective homestead
laws are null and void. Why then are they
afraid of it2
To restore prosperity to the country. this
Convention should give every laboring man
| in North Carolina a good homestead. New
energy will be infused into the enterprising
men of the State. The ravages of the war
will be repaired to a great extent, and the
! condition of the masses be greatly i'm
| proved.
Otherwise the few men who ran every
conscript into the army they could, and
specialized upon the necessities of women
and children, will buy all the lands in the
State at their own prices.
viii this Convention, with the lights be-
fore it, permit this calamity to fail on the
Woodworking people of North-Carolira
! When take into consideration our i'm
poverished condition, l am i'll favor of a
retrospective homestead. An unforeseen
war, like mighty hurricane, swept over the
State destroying every means of paying
debts, and leaving barely lands to support
the people. What will the people care
for constitution depriving them of their last
hope? Are delegates disposed to ignore the
cries of suffering humanity Shall the
masses of the people become tenants upon
the lands of an aristocracy, reared upon
! their own ruins9
The laboring men of the South bore the
brunt of the battle, not from choice but of
necessity. Now they are poor and in debt.
1t is said that they do not need any relief
that if we pass relief laws they will tend to
enrich those only who began the rebellion.
Sir we should make q homestead law re-
gardess of politics. and our situation de-
mands a retrospective homestead.
What would have been the condition of
the people of this State had it not been for
! Sickles' Order, No. 10? The laboring men
would have been in a famlshing condition
to-day. While no man is more Jealous iOr
the prosperity of North Carolina, and the
equal rights of all men, yet say, to-day
that the people appeal tor protection from
the merciess creditor, who would sell them
from house and home, were it not for mill
tary protection. And l tell you, sir, that
property would not bring more than one
! fourth its value in 1861
There are great many men in North
Carolina, who care nothing about politics,
but are laboring day by day to earn an hon
est living for their families These men will
vote for their individual interests. Ii dele
gates wish to see the Constitution ratified,
they must provide tor retrospective home.
stead, and the Convention should unite upon
such homestead, regardless of politics
find some who are in favor of scaling
| r1I fa,fo ofharo cne foy IL IL
ers for paying tenth annually. Such law
would undoubtedly be to the interest of the
creditor, paralyzing the arm of the debtor
for We have but few in this State who car
support their families and pay one-tenth q
their debts annually. If the Convention, or
the other hand, will give liberal home
stead, and stay the old debts one or two
years, it would be the very best plan, in my
opinion.
favor a homestead of one hundred acre
of land, and an exemption of personal prop
erty of $1,000. Less than that will not dt
for family of eight or ten persons. Som
may say this is too liberal. But let us see
A farmer must have the necessary household
furniture, say $780, two head of horses. o
mules, in round figures, say 5000; one wag
on, $75; farming utensils, $75 one year
provisions, $500; two mich cows, $25 ant
this low estimate will amount to 81 ,075, 90
hold also, Mr.. President, that retro
spective homestead does not impair the oh
legation OF contracts
Mr.. Mcdonald. of Chatham, said that h
favored homestead laws of retrospectiv
nature. 1t was useless to argue its uncensti
nationality. Frame an equal rights Constitu
ton, give the people relicf, and he feared NJ
court of the land. Tie whitepeople will no
submit to be placed in slavery. Lands may
sold under such laws, but the buyer woul'