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

The question was then taken and the
motion nesatived, without a division.
Dir. Clay rose, aud observed that he
had on FRIDAY last voted against strikm.
out the first section OF the bill, and ii he
now supposed that by one or two weeks
discussion the House could agree on "a
bill useful to the country, he should be
willing 10 proceed, and devote that time
TO the measure. But, after the expert
ence of Friday last, Mr.. e. confessed
thar he feared all the labor which could
be bestowed on the bill would be thrown
awav, particularly since the decisions
which had just taken place on the mo,li-
fications proposed by Mr.. Spencer. This
opinion he offered as an apology for tae
motlon he rose to make, which was, TO
reconsider the vote on striking out the
first section, fliat the sense of the com
mi,tee might be asceriained on the prin-
ciple of the bill, after IL had decided TO
retain The feature just moved to be ex-
p nigel.
The motion 10 RECONSIDER the vote of
Friday was agreed to ayes 90, noes IS
when
Mr.. Gag, for The reasons before stated,
renewed the motion 10 strike out the first
section of the bill.
This motion was decided, without dc
bate, i'll the uegative-ayes %, noes Go
by second count, the ayes were GS,
noes ~.
Mr.. Williams, of North Carolina, be-
lieving, Notwithstanding the vote just Ia
ken on the hrs, section, that there would
ultimately be q majority of the House al
gaiAst the bill, and for the purpose of as
certaining by the yeas and nays the true
sense of the House at once he moved
fl,t IL, fl,ut ~ l,a
refus al leave to sit again, and the Qucsti-
on then decided i'll the House.
MIR. Mercer opposed this motion; and
took occasion TO express his disapproba-
ton of the course pursued on this sub
ject, in aiming 10 destroy the bill in the
OUTSET by moving 10 Strike out the first
section Ii was always allowed by parli-
anlentary Justice and pariameniar6SS,nr
esy to the friends of measure to Ey,Mie 1t
as perfect as they could, before, tue h.SSfSe
of the House should be taken on Ii, Jim
ciple Of the proposition. On this Scasi-
OH he had believed that there was a ma
Jority ofthe House against the bill, and he
was therefore surprised TO learn the re-
suit of the vote OH Friday GU striking out
the first section. For his own part, he
was not ashamed TO confess that his OPT
MON had been changed on this subject by
The able and conclusive arguments which
had been urged by his friend (Mr. Hop
klnson) IN ITS favor. The friends of the
bill ought not TO despair, therefore, and
he hoped they would be permitted 10 pro-
seed III maturing The measure.
Mr.. City remarked, that his object in
The course which he bad taken was The
economy OF the time OF the lionse. II
was tru' that all the Indications disclosed
o. The sense OF the house were in favor of
tie bill, but 1t any course could be adoD-
ted to save materially he time of the
house, / vas fair to Try il on this mea-
sue b cause if ii we're taken up regu-
ltriN, AID the whole 81 sections discussed
winch would consume one or two weeks.
II was very probable that the bill woald
be lost by tlicvarlance of opinion OH some
Of It's important details. Mr.. c. enumer-
ated somc of the provisions OH which pro-
baby an invincible difference of opinion
would exist; and pariicularized the fea-
tire WHICH requires the consent of two
tlrds of the creditors, which lie tIo't in
compatible with the only principle that
justified the passage OF bankrupt law al
all, which was TO relieve man from his
creditors, OH his surrenileTing all his pro-
perty, and restoring him 10 society. /.
This, and other provisions would, he was
confident, consume much time, which, al-
Ter all, he expected, wOnld be TO no p,r-
pose; and tor this reason he had endea-
vored at once 10 anticipate the final deci
sion.
MIR. Hophinson said, the bill had stood
the shock OF the vote 10 strike out the
firsf section, and the committee had de-
ciied 10 go on, and see if they could not
agree on some system for this important
object. He was as unwilling as any one
10 consume uselessly tie time of the
h1nse, but he wasopposed TO premature
reject oil OF the measure, particularly at
ter the ,cpeated refusal of the committee
oflhe whole to strike out the first section.
As 20 the provisions which had been re-
feried 10, it would be time enough when
those features were acted on, to see whe-
Their the committee could agree on them
10 any practicable purpose, and then act
accordingly. lie suggested, therefore,
tie propriety, il il could be done, of first
bringing up the provisions alluded to.
that The sense OF the committee might be
obtained, and see whether ii would be
worth While 10 proceed with the other de-
taiIs.
Mr.. Williams having previously with
drawn his motion for that purpose
Mr.. I'ncher, of Va. in accordance with
the suggestion Of Mr. H0pkinson, moved
that the committee, by general consent,
agree to take up first for consideration
The 36th section of the bill, (Which pro-
vides for the permanent discharge of a
bankrupt from all debts contracted pre-
viously 10 his bankruptcy, having surren-
drred all his property 10 his creditors,
&c.)
Mr.. BGrbo.ir having intended when this
feature Of the bill should come up for dis
clssion, TO offer some. remarks on it, but