Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-04-07
NJ ILc ed,fo1. of the Alexandria Gazette:

The Richmond Enquirer and others, are at-
v~oc,tiue SO called measures OF relief to the
debtor class Of the people, viz:-The empoW.
eripg iuries and courts to scale old ieLts-the
declaring OF judgment liens for Old debts void
and of DO force. aud sunGry other wild
schemes. The Legislature is called 90 to
second these efforts, and come at once to the
relief of debtors, as the people-ror popNl-
demand with great unanlmity, the impalIlng
of the "ante bslIum' obligations whether IN
the shape of bonds, judgments, DEGREES or
trusts: the people demand this and The Legls
| lature must make haste to obey! Is the Enqul'
rcr r~erlectIy informed and assured that the
neoule demand such measures Of Legislative
relief as these? [ believe that the mass ct
people present at the sorcalled relief meetings
have little or nothing to do with them. This,
indeed, | am positively assured is so (0f some
az the ncetjngs) by gentlemen who We're pres.
ont. The people believe with our excellent
Governor, )tha. in many-yea most Cases LcglS
lafion has gone quito lar cnoughin its meas
ures OF rolief: that the Stay Law, the Bankrup t
Law and the Homestead, are sufficient to
satisfy all reasonable men, and that M further
LEGISLATION, sa9c, perhaps, a JudiclouS VaIla'
tion law in the forced sale OF property, ought to
or can, safely, be required; ,
But it is said the deGfOr has been robbed ut
his slaves and other property through me
agency Ct the government and tho friction
al war. But has not the crnhtor equally sui
fcrcI, and does this justify government IRAN
ed to protect and defend his rights OF property,
through the forms Of Legislation to take prop,
crty belonging to the creditor Tins hondl and
give it to the debtor, who has the tirmcStGau
| or the horse. the consideration OF the bond d!
IN. s,.yJ,,, h,, i,,,, rho pJnf .ntf.Ti.r fV
the war. Added to his slaves and other proper
t., il is estimated that 5000, 900 600 (mil
lionsj Of his debts have been settled or cancel.
led by q retroactive Homestead, and Iow much
he has lost by Stay Laws and Bankruptcy can
only be guessed at. The creditor as 4 class Is
now as Do0y as the debtor anl in macy CASTS
mich Do0ycr. A gaillnt and m4irici soldier,
with a HELPLESS family, 20! great rHciey nnu III
tcnrity) informs ms that al! he has to!t Is his
obliratinns 10 pay. | know many helpless H.
males. infants, and o!d men similarly situated.
In many cases the Homestead OF the soldier
was sold 10 the Shylock ut home, irr Confedc
rate money or his unpaid obligation trr the
purchase money. viii these advocates ior
thes, Relief measures alloy his hrtp'ess vile
and orphan children TO collect THIS!
Uihe,c chemes were ever wise (which is
utterly drulcd,j Immediately alter the war was
the most IaVpTiUlC tiilltI III ~ L'N VI
thereafter, when the energetic, honest MAN has
paid his debts, or settled them by compromise,
or the sale of his property ut good pricas. and
when Shvlock has already tattened Oh BIS pound
of flesh; for rest assured he has not been Idle.
The comparatively few s0!rcnt Old debts 10"
owing, are cue in the main to, or by hduc'arle:
for widows anil orphans, and the i%I"ipi4ss aho
intirm, lis it the plan to put those III inc four
House p or TO those who have every dlSpo=l
ton TO exercise forbearanc- to the honest o.bt
or, and these debts are due chiefly By men 6l
large real estates fully able 10 meet thtl7 ooil'
cations ia the sac Of property III a lalr pric''
II it is to lnalgurat3 strife ami l!lWN' among
ucighbors auI tattun attorneys on Il people al
ready impoverished, and produce demora ia
ton :.ni dishonesty, then, 60 ahead III these
Loneess schemes OF relief. Bu. let me warn al
that the masses OF Virginia will never sustain
these proposed schemes Ct Legislative Interior,
cDce. an! that constitutional barriers and break
ers will be sure to Overtakc and the
would be- pIunderers OF the rights OF the
creditor.
Ii all the old land marks arc to be trampIed
under foot-then we must have 2 general adj
iustment. The Shylock who has collected his
old debts must d~isgorge. He must restore the
Homestead TO the MANNED soldier and his
heInlcss family. The sales OF real anl personal
estates by the honest debtor to pay his old
debts must Sc cancelled. II, indeed, ali settle
ments and adjustments since and during the
war are not cancelled and annullcd, then lndo'
lcuce and thrifIessncss vii command a premium
and energy and honesty will nave no award OF
merit. But iftfc Legislature of Fireiuil would
| avoid a sea Of troubles TO the people. and
a check to all material progress, and more
odiun1 to themselves than ever fell 10 the lot
OF Legislators, they will confiGG their legislation
to common sense aud what is warranted only by
| the fundamental law.