 Due to the Panic of 1819 , many citizens in Kentucky fell deep into debt and began petitioning the legislature for help . The state 's politicians split into two factions . Those who advocated for measures that were more favorable to debtors were dubbed the Relief faction while those who insisted on sound money principles and the strict adherence to the obligation of contracts were called the Anti @-@ Relief faction . In 1820 , a pro @-@ relief measure passed the General Assembly providing debtors a one @-@ year stay on the collection of their debts if the creditor would accept payment in devalued notes issued by the Bank of the Commonwealth or a two @-@ year stay if the creditor demanded payment in sound money . Two separate circuit courts found the law unconstitutional in the cases of Williams v. Blair and Lapsley v. Brashear . 
