The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-12
er cent at any time and take the papers

judgement for the tenth Only may be taken.
But the distress of the people comes from
the o. S. Court and the bankrupt law. Let
US not then 60 before Congress with cen
stitution with which the people have been
bought. and ask that body to sanction it,
Will this Convention take advantage of the
necessities OF the peoplel
! BY the operation of the bankrupt Law, the
debtor has $3.50 set apart to him, Doubt
less the Judges will sustain the Registers in
this decision. Then it appeared to him
clearly the best policy tn adopt his substitute,
petition Gen. Canhy to intorce it, and TO al
SO petition Congress To reduce the expenses
of filing petition in bankruptcy, fhe Vir-
ginia Convention has sent such petition to
Congress. Gle read it,
He took exceptions 10 the exception con
tanned in the original ordinance It left
guardians, administrators AID others acting
in fiduciary capacity open to persecution
This worthy class of people could he sued
while they were not permitted to sue, and
might he obliged to incur the casts OF de
fence, as every one knew that fraud could
only be proved on them in that way. For
these reasons, he moved the adoption Of his
substitute
Mr.. Mcdonald, of Chatham, held that the
Convention could do any thing for the PEG
pile, which they needed. In this matter. of
debt, he was not willing to trust TO their
leniency. The people demand permanent
relief. The Convention must regard, facts,
and fit failed to give relief it would Ne ex-
actly what the opposition wished. North
Carolina was not State but q territory.
Every thing here belonged 70 Congress, ac-
cording to the laws of war. But that was
not the point, the North Cayolina Cnngen-
ton could pass this stay-,aw, and it mus1do
:. SO. The people could not even pay taxes.
He desired to make 4 record in favor Of reljet.
Mr. Jones, of Washington, said the dele
gate from Orange was apparently infavor of
relief, yet said that this measure WAS the
price of the constitution. Where is the ne
cessity OF such language, if he is really in
favor of relief2 And he too offers price in
his ordinance. But he regretted to see this
cast given to the discussion. lie would ike
to see the relief proposition put il a practi
cal shape. The ordinance Of the committee
was ..mcre shadow. Us exception mcans
that any guardian may he sued hut cannot
sue. Is that right in law or common sense?
Suits are Instituted To discover fraa1, and
such persons mus! pay for their defence, bat
cannot sue or collect debts. Then is Ent the
protection of the stay-l.w now in force and
general orders sufficient When the people
see this ordinance in print. what will they
say? Not the poor man or the laborer Is
protected. They could get no credit prior to
the war; The Grcat.nlass Of the voters will
not be benefited And If the amendment
to stay all debts since the waI is passed, all
the money will leave TIE State.
Mr. Watts-do 1 understand the gentle
man as opposed TO any relief?
Mr.. Jones-no, sir, l am for practical
relief.
MT one man in twenty-five ROW has the
property exempted ''y law Il, ticn, the
vast majority Of the people are protected
why tins clamor for relief? fit was for the
man. who owned the bread acres and owed
honest debts. then put him down against
any such relief. He was done with the ques
ton.
Mr.. Tourgce said at the proper time lie
would offer the following amendment:
That no execution or Other final pEocess
for any suit commenced except in ease of ii.
borers wages or fraud, shall Issue until tHriy
days after the election; aud officers having
such process are hereby commanded TO stay
proceedings and return to Court.
This would relieve Inc people, he said.
and exercise no deletcrinus influence rs had
been alleged concerning his colleague
amendment.
Mr.. Abbott said that personally he would
like to have this whole matter sef aside, Tut
claims come in from al! quarters and in
Western N. C. suits were in progress which
are creating great distress. He was willing
to give the people temporary relief, and at
though he entered on this question reiuc-
family would vote for it. At any rate, ii the
matter could be settled. he would vote tor
the ordinance Of the committee and the
amendment of Mr. Torrgce. 1t may he that
many poor men. who are about to see their
earnings 90 under the auc;ionecgs hammer
and pass away forever, may he given time
and their property eventually saved by
money thus earned and paid.
Mr. Welker said as the amendment of his
colleague substantially covered the grounds
of his, he would withdraw it. He had not
introduced the amendment to enharrass the
Convention or endanger the commercial in
terests OF the State He called for final &C.
ton.
Mr.. Fullings had heard no proposition for
the relief of the honest creditor. And this
Convention proposes to pass laws 10 keep
one neigh',or from paying another for debt
due for corn or meat. Or here IS a man
owning thousands of acres of iand--hc will
not pay the poor mechanic or iab0rer the
few dollars honestly earned. Or the rich
mans son, with cigar and walking cane, up
held in his refusal to pay the merchant for
hiss clothes. He knew what lie said to he
true. Stay-laws and reputation laws wipe
away the mechanics earnings. He bad la
bored and acquired something. and owed
debts which he intended to pay, but t''cse
stay-laws prevented him FROM collecting
what was due him. The debtnr may con-
vey his property. and snap his finger in tie
creditors face Lat the Convention consid
er well before it tonk this leap.
Mr.. Newsom said he was not personally
interested in this matter. but if the delegate
who had Just spoken had represented his
constituents and not himself. le would lave
spoken otherwise.
Mr.. King, of Lincoln, said there was law
of the State invalidating sales of property,
which did not bring three fourths of its
value. There was no reason why this stay
law SnOuid pass. IL gave rellei u tue raS-
cal. but did not assist the honest man. He
had never heard of any letter calling for re-
lief since he came here There was the
homestead law, the bankrupt law. General
Canby's order, and what more protection
did the people wish9 He hoped the honest
men of the Convention would vote these stay
laws down.
Mr.. Galloway said he was in favor of re-
lief. Tie people of New Hanover were IN