Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-06


justice as fully as any people. The sub
ject seems 10 have been considered III the
same light by the trainers of our consiil;I-
ton; WHO have, therefore. among the e.
numerated powers of Congress, expressly
granted the power "to establish uniform
laws on Tie subject of bankruptcies -
| MIR. III. said lac considered this rs de-
claraiICu ofihe will ot the people that
Congress should act on this subject. al
| least, so far as 10 establish an uniform
rule. Ii binds us 10 no particular system,
! II is true, butt does enioin upou.us most
| inPressively, TO provide some one which
| shall be uniform III IFS operation on the
| different states, giving a certain known
| rule, and preventing those numerous and
! Obvious evils tlaimus, arise from various
and conflicting systems ia The different
states, by which the relation between
debtor and creditor, so interesting TO all
classes of our citizens, must forever be
| changing, he imperfcctly understood,
and be daily producing inequality and
injustice between the creditors and debt
ors residing in different states. MIR. h.
commended II was the duty of Congress TO
carry into effect the will of the people
thus solcmnly declared; not indeed by
an Imperative, absolute command, but IN
a way HAL cannot be misunderstood,
and ought not Ia be disregarded without
the most clear and cogeni reasons. Mr..
II. insisted that when the several states
parted with this power, ii WAS only 10 al
tain thai uniformity Of system, which
could b. established only by the general
government: and that The states having
surrendered the power for this purpose,
had fair claim on the general govern-
ment not 10 dis 'ppoiRi this expectation:
hut TO apply the power 10 the uses in
tended by fire grant at II. Mr.. IL. here
enlarged Upon the general duty of Con
gress 10 take up and organize all The ced-
ed powers in the constitution; and ex-
piained the difficulties that Rave arisen
with some of the states, only because
Congress have been relying upon state
couris for the execution OF many OF the
laws, instead of organizing and bringing
into action all the Judicial power of the
United States. Ir. II. therefore, in tie
first place, relied upon this constitutional
obligation in supper! Of the bill, or of
some law upon this subjeci which shall
produce uniformity IN relation 10 it.
In the next place, Mr.. FL. commended
that the example aud experience ole, cry
commercial ration known 10 us, was au~
thority not 20 be disrcgarded. He then
explained the reasons i0r such system
as applied 10 commercial men, rather
than Other citizens, arising from the ma
ture and extent of their business the
hazards TO which they were exposed from
| the enormous credits they were Obliged
10 give in The course of their business
from their distant connections and agents
10 whose fidelity and capacity they must
| trust so much; from the dangers of all
the elements; from the political changes
IN their own and foreign countries; and,
III siior', from every quarter and source
from winch danger and ruin can COME
Mr.. II. contended that IA business thus
peculiarly exposed, required peeuiarregu-
atiOns Il projections without which, men
would not embark init. He thO't this pro
lection peculiarly necessary TO this coun-
try; young, enterprIzlng, and compare
lively deficient in capital even for The bu-
sIness that, on commercial principles,
may fairly be done The country too,
wants all the lahoGr, and industry, ana
energy of all its citizens, and cannot at
ford TO have many thousands OF them
bound hand and foot, al the waHtonress
and will of their creditors, without the
possibility reproducing by this bondage
The least reduction Of iIe debt; while the
debtor is subjected 10 incalculable suf-
ferlng, and the community 10 a most Sc
rious loss. 1t is delightful, said Mr.. Ii.
10 anticipate what mass of talent and
industry will be set loose by the passage
ofthis bill aud which is now daily dini
nisliing and perIshing in hopeless want
aud useless inactivity.
Mr.. II. then contemded that ihe unusu-
al hazards and losses to which our COM
merciai men lave been exposed for many
years by the great and sudden changes
III the political relations of the world, a.
gainst which no prudence could guard,
entitled them to all the care and indni-
gCnce OF the government. He said that
tic country had grown rich and prospe-
roHs by commercial enterprises which
had been ruinous TO tie Individuals en-
gagged in them. That The public treasu-
~ had been filled with duties paid on
goods, for Which the merchant had never
seen the first cost; that there had been
instances of merchants failing, who had
within few years, paid millions into the
| general Golfers. Have such men, said
MIR. ii no claim upon tlie country Shalt
we turn coldIy from them in the hour Of
their misfortune, while We riot in the
wealth. produced bv their exertions, and
are made glad by the prosperity which
| has grOwH from theirrtlin? Shall we leave
- u" W. W 'tH'' "bN i'i'NHf VIM w WdU
| living receives thclpaSt benefit from their
| suflerings nor the least qualification eli.
ther, unless it be that Of demoul
The third ground on which Mr.. "
maintained the necessity Of passing the
bill, was the situation Of The nsolveui laws
now existing in tie different states, anC
the ruiuous and disgrsseiuI effects pro
duced by them. Mr. H. here explaince
at large the nature Of these iusolvent pro
visions Their inequality. uncertainty, ant
| ImImslIce ihrcaienlnr In dn.irnu Ill l.rn