The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-09-06
uNTIMELY TALK,


given a wide circulation, we take the
following extract from one Of our esteem
ed exchanges:
There has been great deal of talk
lately about the calling of an extra ses-
sion of the State Legislature to make GER
tain changes in the dispensary law and
for the purpose of reading the new Code
of the State, which will shortly be COM
pleted. Governor Tillman was asked
yesterday about the prospect OF such q
session. This question caused him to at
once afford some interesting information
and give his views on the financial sltua-
ton. He said he saw no reason why any
of the things referred to should cause the
calling of an extra session OF the General
Assembly, "But," said he, "should this
financial panic assume any greater pro-
portions, and the price of cotton falls
lower than at present, it will likely
necessitate my calling an extra session
of the Legislature. This will be the only
emergency that I think will warrant
calling of an extra session. AS to those
other matters the Legislature, If it can
not get through with them at the regular
session, can take recess and come back
after Christmas. On account of the lack
of currency to handle the crop, and the
low price Of cotton, there are already
mutterings on the part Of the people of
the State to have stay law passed.
There will doubtless be some means soon
found for removing the crop, but the
wholesale robbery and jobbery of Wall
street should be stopped. Such q law as
this will stop the payment Of debts and
let things stand in statu quo just as they
are now. It will stop tho machinery of
the law in the courts as far as debts are
concerned and would relieve any strin-
gency. 1t has been done several times in
history but is only to be resorted TO in
the direst extremity.
Our erratio Governor could not have
spoken more untimely words than these.
A ssStay Law" would do more to throw
business into confusion and frighten
away money and cause people to hold
tighter to what they have than any other
law short of reputation of debts. Even
the suggestion from the Governor that
he may call an extra session of the Leg
islature for that purpose may do incalcu-
liable harm.
We can hardly think the Governor
serious in this matter; and if he is not,
he is guilty of a mischievous folly unbe-
coming any one Of any importance or
Influence in moulding public opinion.
For two reasons he seems not to have
been serious in his conversation. LIST. He
proposes Stay Law because of the pos
sible low price Of cotton, but says it ''is
only to be resorted to in the direst ex-
tremity." A few moments before saying
this he had made the prediction that
"there will doubtless be some means
soon found for moving the CROP" Why
anticipate the evil time of "the direst
extremity" if he thinks "there will
doubtless be some means soon found tor
moving the CROP? End. Section 81 Of
Article I of our State Constitution pro-
vides that "no law impairing the obliga-
ton Of contracts shall ever be enacted" !"
Section 10 of Article I of the Constitution
of the United States declares that enc
State shall pass any law impairing the
obligation Of contracts" Several Stay
Laws were enacted from 1861 to 1865, but
on appeal from the decision OF the Cir
cult Judge, the Appellate Court, consist
ing of eleven members, declared that
such laws were contrary to the section o1
the Constitution of the United States
quoted above, and were therefore void,
Only one Of the Judges dissented. We
presume the Governor knew these facts.
How could he, then, seriously contem.
plate calling the Legislature together to
enact law so clearly contrary to the
Constitutions that he has sworn to "sup-
port, protect md defend ?"
No less than Gov. Tillman. do we hope
that cotton will command high prices,
and that should great stringency occur
to prevent the ready sale Of cotton that
some remedy may be found to give
relief. Our income is more dependent on
prosperity among our friends than is the
Governors. We have every reason to
favor and fight for any measure helpful
to the people. But on the broadcast prin-
ciples we oppose the enactment of stay
law, and believe its passage would have
the contrary effect to that desired-caus-
ing universal distrust, withdrawal oi
money from business and the State, liti-
CATION, failures. make it hard for any one
to get credit and give the State bad
reputation that would take years to re-
move.
You havs made ON unfortunate mis-
take, Governor. But reparation can be
made by admitting it and declaring
against stay law, in view Of the remot-
est probability that "the ,direst extrem-
ity' will ever come.