The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-11-24

condition of the educational interests confded
to them. Both these Boards are fully organi-
zed, and have transacted some important business.
Projections to Labor. S.
The Constitution provides that "the General
Assembly shall provide, by proper legislation,
for givingto mechanics and laborers an adequate
lien Oh the subject matter of their labor
In the conflict always going on between capt.
tai and labor, the latter is more likely to suffer
than the former; first, because money or capital
is power; and secondly, because capital is gener-
ally controlled by greater degree of Intelligence
than that which eharacterizes labor. Labor can
not afford to combine against capital to enforce
its rights, for the reason that it can not. like
capital, retire within itself aud await results.
Both shoald be protected in such manner as to
prevent either from encroaching on the rights of
the other Contracts in writing should be
couraged, and should be strictly enforced. The
mechanic or laborer should be required to per-
form his contract with scrupulous fidelity; and
on the other hand, no opportunity should be at
forded to the contractor or employer to evade
payment when the contract has thus been per-
formed The life of labor is steady employment
at compensatng wages, with the certainty of
payment. The life of capital is steady enter
prise and investment, unembarrassedby idleness,
inattention, nom performance, or slack perform
ance of contracts by those employed. l can per-
ceive no difference, in a legal or moral point of
view, between a contract broken by a mechanic
or laborer, and an obligation disreSarded by "a
capitalist or employer. The mechanic and the
laborer, should be protected but not to the detri
ment of the employer. when the latter has fully
complied with his obligation. The former should
be assured, while laboring, that the reward of his
labor will be realized and, to effect this there
should be lien in every case until he is paid.
The remedy should be plain, speedy and cheap.
AS general rule the mechanic and laborcr can
not afford to engage in suits at law and pay fees
| This is subject which excites no small in
terest among the people. Those especially who
live by their labor will continue to press the sub
| ject upon the attention of the General Assembly
until suitable laws for their protection are enac-
ted. A workingman myself [ feel deep in
terest in whatever concerns the workngmcn of
| the State. Our present and future prosperity
must be based on labor Labor should not only
be honored, but it should be protected and
promoted by every practical means.
But while labor should be protected and hon
ored, idlcness should receive countenance or
favor Every one should be required to pursue
some honest calling for living; and the presump-
tion should be, it fairly and justly is, that
habitual ider with no known or visible means
of support, is in condition to be tempted to the
commission of crime. It is idlers and loungers
who, for the most part, fill our jas and work
houses, as they will fill the penitentiary. There
is work of some kind for all to do and all should
be employed.
Stay Lars.
The law Of creditor and debtor is of the first
Importance The relations of these two classes
should be plainly and carefully defined, and con-
tracts should be promptly enforced. Our State
government will not be in complete operation
until every impeachment to the collection of debts
is removed. Stay laws which give indul gence
beyond the usual dilatory plea, Or beyond the
ordinary stay of execution on sufficient security,
are, under any circumstances, of doubtful utility
The ''cvil day of payment, as it is termed, is
postponed in most cases to be felt with added
force by the debtor. A sound and judicous
credit system should not be discouraged, but
should rather be fostered and maintained; but
such system is impaired, if not destroyed, by
general laws which may be said to place the
creditor for years in the hands of the debtor,
with the certainty in many of the loss of
the debt. The debtor may plead for indulgence
and enity as long as it is reasonable to do so, or
as long there is we'll grounded assurance that
he will be able to pay; but complaint may just
ly proceed from the creditor, who has certainly
property or goods, and by subsequent indulgence
and forbearance. Stay laws OF various kinds
have been in operation in this State for years.
l say nothing as to their constitutonality; but
even when the unfortunate condition in which
we have been placed during this period is con-
sidcrcd, it cannot be assumed that the debtor
will be harshly treated if now required to meet
his obligations The losses incurred by the re-
bellion not confined to particular cases.
They were general affecting the whole people of
cannot pay in the last resort after reasonable in
diligence has been extended to him, he is bank
rupt. What rendered him a Observation-Disclosures
the rebellion, OR his own improvidence, or want
of economy foresight-is not material to the
argument. We may lament his misfortunes and
sympathize with him, but still the fact remains
that he is still in possession of property which
justly belongs to his creditors, some of whom
may have been reduced to his condition by his
failure to meet his obligations. The only refuge
of such person is to compromise with his credi-
tors Or to enter court ofbankruptcy, Or to make
such exhibit and disposition of his property
and effects VII satisfy his creditors that he is
fixed III an honest purpose to do them justice. |
do not by any means concur in the opinion that
an honest bankrupt has incurred any serious loss
of character as business man. or that he should
be dstrusted or avoided. Such a man on the
contrary, has displayed honesty. moral courage
and candor which entite him to the respect and
confidence of his ueighbors; especially when we
remember that We have just emerged from a con-
ditien in which nothing was solid and in which
nearly every one was involved in pecunary dis
aster and distress. Failure in business or loss
of property should but stimulate to renewed ex-