Year: 1866

Speech of MIR. j. W.. Carlisle.


The following is the speech of NIT. Car.
Isle, OF Spartanburg, in the House of Rep
resentatives, on the Bill to postpone the
session of the Fall Courts:


MIR. Carlisle, of Spartanburg, said ac
cept the issue presented by the gallant
member from Edgeield 1 agree that
this is question Of policy, and that this
body has nothing to do with the constitu
tional question which may be involved. If
it is expedient, polite, wise, let the Le-
gislaturc pass the measure and the
Court of Errors will take charge of its
constitutionality. Our aim should be
to secure the greatest good to the greatest
number, not merely temporarily, not for
the hour, the day or the year, but the per
manent lasting good Of the people. And
for one. without impugning the motives
OF this body, am not prepared to coope
rate with that policy which obstructs the
ordinary collection Of debts. The history
of the last Stay Law, the history of all
Stay Laws show that they act as n preven.
tatlve to the debtor in the settlement of
claims. The people have been convinced
on this point, and if the matter is left to
them they will regulate the matter them
selves in spirit of compromise, torbear.
ance and generosity. In my opinion,
creditors are satisfied that it will be a ru.
inous policy to enforce collection of debts
at this time, and that, sir, is a strong ar
gument against the legislative interference
with the remedies of law. Again, MIR.
Speaker, do not think that this measure
will satisfy the people, anG the very next
Legislature will witness a camor in this
hall demanding that if this bill is adopted
another shall follow upon his heels. say,
therefore, that l would rather vote for
straight forward reputation than for any
thing that obstructs the process of law
Let the question be fairly met. 1t is re
pudiation or no repudiation. We cannot
prevent it. A great deal has been said
about the ciamor of different districts, but
l have the pleasure of saying that in my
own, we have passed no resolutions, and
appointed no committee to wait upon his
Excelency the Governor. We have been
spared the infliction. and If the same e,o-
quence had been used in allaying the pas,
sions of the people and advising them to
come together as brethren who have suf.
fered in common cause, the whole matter
could have been settled without leg sla-
tive interference.


deny the right of any Legislature on
this earth to interfere with my private
contract 1t is a departure from the rec
ord, and it is better by far that our State
should be insolvent and bankrupt than that
We should undertake to disturb the sacred
ness of private contracts. 1t is To be borne
in mind that these debtors and creditors
are our own people; thar they have suffer
ed, fought and bled together, and it is not
to be expected that they will prove so ra
pacious as to sell out the last dollar OF
property of an honest debtor for the pur
pose of satisfying their immediate demand


MIR. Speaker, | apologize for trespassing
upon the House, but intend to record my
vote against all legislation on this subject.
| shall 20 home to Spartanburg District,
and tell the people that they must not rely
upon the Legislature to help them They
must work out their own salvation, aud il
they arc let alone by Federal and State
legislation, tell you sir, that people who
could hold Fort Sumter in ruins, who
have girded old Virginia with breastworks
and who charged ut Gettysburg, will solve
this problem much better than it can be
done by any interference OF this General
Assembly.