Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-05-03
For the Spectator.
HIGHLAND COUNTY, VA,
A .. L q Z :

VA.
iaie April 18th, 1870
Mr. EDIToR Il noticed in the Rockngham
Register of the l7th Of March, letter over
the signature Justice, appealing to the Leg
islature for greater remedy to prevent honest
men from collecting their just dues. He,
("Justice, thinks that the Beast is not a
sufficient remedy. read, and pondered, and
! read again, and sure enough, it was from
Virginia; but cannot believe that it was from
one of Virginia Sons-it must have been from
a scallawag, Or one Of her renegade sons No
true-hearted Virginian could set up such pitt
full howl without giving better reason to show
the honest people Of Virginia that he cannot
steal enough under this homestead without the
Legislature making further provisions for
fraud. am sorry that Mr. Justice did not
submit plan for the liquidation of all just
debts He has no plan but right down repu-
diation AT least his letter suggested no other
plan From Justice" letter one might well
draw the inference that he owes some honest
man twenty-five or fifty dollars that he does not
wish to pay; therefore, he calls hi, creditor a
Shylock. Now, | say, if his debt is an honest
one he should pay it. No honest man will re-
fuse to pay just debt, and no honest man
ought to pay an unjust debt. Honest men
want no homesteads, no staylaws and no repu-
diation All honest men will pay all their hon
est debts whether there is a law to compel them
to pay or no.; they want no other law than that
laid down in the Bible-"Owe no man any
thing, but, do unto others as you would have
them do unto YOU If all men would obey
this law. the lawyers would s'arve to death,
and all other officers would have to take hold
of the plow instead of the law to earn livei-
hood Justice! oh what jewel thou vert
when thy Father created thee, and how true
to thy name thou vert when God called thee
in council together with Truth and Mercy
When God said, 'sJustice, shall make man ?''
Justice says no. make him not, for he will
violate thy laws then He said to Truth,
"shall make mau?'' ''Truh says, mo, make
him not, for he will perjure himself before thy
face then He said to Mercy, ''shall l make
man p Mercy said, ''yes, make him and [
will plead for him. Now, Truth and Mercy
are still the same, but oh ''Jusicel' where
art thou? | think that can tell you, when
Justice was called this man heard it and before
true Justice could answer he answered At
least there is great contrast between his an
swer to the query by his Father whether He
should make man and his letter in the Regis
ter. | am sorry to say that there was not the
right kind of wisdom in the Legislature that
passed the first stay law, and likewise not the
right kind In the military commander who ex-
tended that stay law. A little practical, and
common sense would have taught either of
these unctiouaries that it was necessary to force
the payment of a certain per cent of all debts
each year, say 25 per cent on all claims under
three hundred dollars and 20 per cent on all
claims under six hundred dollars, and 10 per
cent under one thousand dollars, or ten per
cent on the last named amount, and by thistime
the debts would nearly all have been paid
without anybody suffering much loss. At least
this rule would have worked admirably in this
section, and believe it would have answered
every purpose in all other parts OF the State
By this time. If. this would have been the law,
Mr.. Justice pittance, as he says in his letter,
would have been paid, and he saved the trou-
BILE Of making such disgraceful bowling and
whining about paying just debt: | do con-
tend that it is a disgrace for Virginia to recog-
nize anything like this homestead, begotten,
fostered. nourished, encouraged and forced up
on the good people of Virginia by scallawags,
interlopers and negroes and liveted down upon
them by the very Arch-Fiends of He'll All
honest people ought to frown down everything
that has the least tendency toward dishonesty,
rascality and fraud. In the eyes of the law
and the law ma kers, honesty has ceased to be
virtue TIE doors of rascaty are thrown
open wide, and all contracts. bonds ahd pledges
are broker, by law, and yet shall We submit
I, for one, say, "No."
Very truly, you.s,
CTVTTEN