The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-05

Otutt-dt lcdSti - Lt ilati--WM opctOiiy
change hands, The people have just gone
through terrible revolutions: but hesincere-
ly believed that such change would be
most unparalleled revolution, more disas-
trous than the one from which we have just
emerged. Itwould be greater revolution
indeed than ever occurred in any country
When the Normans conquered England or
England conquered Ireland. no such change
in the soil occurred as was now threatened
in this country. Yet the people of Ireland to-
day are hostile to those, who they believe un-
Justly deprived them of their lands. They
look with the same iminutable hostility upon
the government of England now as then. This
feeling has given birth to Fenianism, and an
hundred years afterwards the old quarrel be-
gins afresll. This would he the case here;
and those who,were impoverished. when relief
might be administered, would learn to be-
leve that they were unjustly deprived Of
their land, their children would take up the
faith of their fathers and posterity be taught
hatred to the government. If the necessi-
ty of the passage OF this ordinance he then
admitted, necessity knows no law, for the
safety of the State is the highest law. !,
In the first place this ordinance stays all
debts prior to May, 1861, and then to May,
1865. There are the strongest arguments
adduced why debtors up to that time should
be entitled to indulgence. Prior to the war
the people transacted business on the faith
of property, which has since been swept
away. They entered the war and misfor
tunes overlook them which no mortal could
foresee Their barren lands are now left to
them. They do not ask reputation, though
Reputation after such revolutions is no new
thing Indeed every revolution, anyway
similar in extent, had always been followed
bv reputation more or less. In Grote's his
tory of Greece. one of the most interesting
chapters details the manner IN which Scion
repudiated more than half the private debts
of that people. In Rome, this was common
When England was engaged in war with
France, her Bank suspended specie pay
ments, and paper was made legal tender
The currency deprecated and years elapsed
before specie payment was resumed. In
France assignats were issued based on land.
The paper Immediately deprecated, and after
the revolution was swept away. Then came
a period of comparative quiet and tranquil
ty. The government of the United States
has issued grecnbacks and made them le
Gal tender She found it was necessary to
do So They have deprecated, and that too
is kind of reputation. The doctrine that
the obligations of contracts should not be
interfered with, is perfectly sound and true,
and yet there are times when it is found ne
cessary to legislate otherwise.
This ordinance stays all process on debts
except against public officials, who have
been guilty of fraud, or persons acting in a
fiduciary capacity, who are guilty of breach
of trust. The ordinance does not make an
executor or administrator pay money on un-
collectable notes-but only in case of fraud,
on money collected and spent, &c. In these
cases such persons do not deserve relief.
The ordinance expires on the list day of
July or when the constitution is adopted
1t is meant for temporary relief only, Tor it
is proposed by the COMMITTEES to incorporate
in the constitution some clause cnbodying
the principle OF relief, and interposing de-
lay on debts contracted prior to May, 1865,
requiring the debtor annually to make some
payment, say a tenth. The time will come
when he must pay and look for no further
relief. Those who are overwhelmed. must
90 into bankruptcy-they are beyond RELIEF.
Butthere are the untortunates, who, when their
property will bring a fair valuation, can dis
cucumber themselves AS soon as the State
is restored to the Union, property will rise
in value, but if sold now it will be purchas-
ed at the lowest prices and owned by non
residents. Poor white and colured men will
not be benefited. They can get it now as
cheap as they wish to, but they have not the
means to purchase with The State will be
nearly owned by a few great absentee lords,
the same as In Ireland, drawing I'D of the
wealth out of the State. He did not wish
to behold such condition of affairs. The
people who live and labor here should own
the land He did not care where they were
born, but the owners of the land should live
here and spend here the proceeds OF what
the soil produces.
Sir, hope the Convention will do some
thing of the kind. If so. in less than five
years, in my opinion, the old debts of the
people will be paid, and North Carolina viii.
be free once more to take up her walk in the
path of enterprise, wealth and greatness.
Mr. Jones. of Washington, said he had
great confidence in the legal acumen of the
delegate who had just spoken. He would
hesitate long before he attempted to dissect
anything which bore the impress of his
genius or ingenuity. But the mountain had
been in labor, and behold Il mouse This
ordinance was calculated to mislead. Ian
guage was often susceptible of another
construction legally, from what was popular.
ly supposed to be the meaning. This ordi-
nance did not give substantial relief to the
people. The Convention had heard the
words OF the DELEGATE as he drew the picture
of the Norman Invasion. There was no
analogy between the two cases. At that
period the conqueror had the right to the
lands of his captives or subdued people,
and such was the case, too, with Ireland
From Puffendorff down, we learn that this
was the case. And now, the victor at least
has the right to dictate terms. This right
and power is realized in the reconstruction
acts. Aralogies between Republics and
Monarchies will not do, nor between barba.
rian hordes and civilized warriors.
The law of North Carolina recognizes
the rights of creditor and debtor. AS soon
as an execution bears the test, it creates a
lien upon the property. This proposition
will command universal consent. But ir
this ordinance, so soon as judgment comes
into the hands of an officer, he is not ordered
to make levy to perpetuate the debt, but is
directed to return it to the next court. Thus
it is not provided that the lien shall be kept
up, but the unworthy debtor is left free to
cheat the creditor. Honesty is the best
policy. Why is it, that there is not line
here, providing that when final process is OBJ
tanned the lien shall be kept up, and the
debt perpetuated2
but it is said that the land will pass into
the hands of non residents. What is that
said for9 Is it to conceal the legal disclep.
ances of the ordnance Prosperity does