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

RALEIGH,ssss.N.sF N.F C.s,,' !. WEDNESDAY, Y !.
OLD DEBTS.

~ ~ ttia'p For the Standard
MEssRs. ED1rTto,RBs} Il, ~: LIN III your .Weekly''
ueIof Feb, 18th appears an article headed
"Old Debts --- ~ Mass Meeting in Lexington''
in, which a series of resolutions is set forth
the direct tendency Of which leads to repu-
diations In fact, We think the article ought
to have been headed aRepudation!s !sa The
whereas of, said proceedings is all true and
well enough, but the first restitution proposes
to pay one dollar With twenty 1--we cents. "A.
poor ? laboripg- man may, shaye spit. rails,
chopped, plowed, or done any sort Of hard
work in 1860 for his rich heighbor for one
dollar per day, and snow according ito tile
wiseIacres who manipulated the sMass Meet
ing" he E.ust phb up with twenty-five cents
per day. or enough to buy peck of cornori
little over pound Of bacon. AT tile same
time q, man may have bought valuable mill
property for $4,000 which is now not paid
for, and which can be sold for the same or
more, but his creditor must take $4,000 and
be satisfied. g :. 'Now,as we protest that this
is 'iiotlfing short 81 downright dishonesty,
call it by what name you will, it is nothing
else y 'i i'h f9q1 9di "a iiag.si- GHqD
The idea of The Legislature adopting and
endeavoring to carry out any sucl schemes,
is preposterous. Art i, sec 10, Of the Con-
stitution of the United States says that no
State shall pass any law ''impairing the OH
legations of contracts" and every member
of the General Assembly is obliged by his
oath or affirmation to support that instru-
ment. They cannot, without committing
perjury, abate one jot or little of anyehonest
debt, owing by one man to another. ~ si'aI
! True, many men have been rendered in
solvent 10y the result of the ar,rbut they are
allowed liberal exemptions by the laws of
the land. 1t is also true that many men,
acar men too, staid at hone and speculatcd,
bought ION a credit) cotton, whisky and to-
bacco, which they stored away, and since
the wal. closed have made fortunes by the
sale of these articles. Are these men to be
screened from paying the poor producer
what they now owe him? We guess not,
Many orphan children are now needing the
money due them by inheritance, which has
been laid out by their guardians for land
and other property which they now hold.
| Are these children to have no more than
twenty-five cents on the dollar, whileitheir
guardians are made riclf2 Common honesty
saws not! slA3aiDG7mE 94yojt ri s3r iil3
In many cases guardians have laid out
| tue money OF tneif wards IOf slaves anu
Confederate securities Are Innocent orphans
to lose all, or nearly all, on account of such
short -sightedness Justice says no.! 4R
The poor men Of North Carolina, no mat
ter who they may be, whether white or col
ored, should frown down this movement in
its incipiency. They have nothing to gain by
it, utlinuch to lose, should it succeed. Men
should not, if it we're possible, be aliowedto
hold thousands of acres of land, and pay
only 25 per cent of their debts. Let them
pay up honestly. Those who are dishonest
as individuals We abhor,t but State is made
Iupi Of individuals The old poet says,
"Meni who their duties know, but
know their rights, and knowia55, dare main
tain" "these constitute Staten hno1ss
Let true men everywhere rise up for the
right, and let interested parties and politi-
cal deniagogues, who would ride any Lobby,
provited it would carry them into place
Pand power, know that they believe that
" honesty is the best policy" oh a'H. syad
tits to be hoped that the General Assem-
bly, will refer all such documents to some
fcommittee who will consign them tothe
: tomb OF the Capulets" for all time to come
Esf 9iJ ai 1u1hu3 ~ l9ge.a ICALAMUS.