Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-10
Congress OF the Y. States,

Congress of the ". States.
....-.......
tatrosrEp foR THE y. ISrELLIGuNoEs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, FEB. Is.
DEBATE ON THE BANKRUPT BILL.
CONTINUED.
Having made melton TO strike out The
first SECTION Of the Bankrupt Bill
Mr.. TYLER, of Virginia, said, that he
was governed, in submitting this motion,
solely by desire 10 economic time. -
Should the committee be opposed to The
principle of the BILL there could be no
necessity TO delay MS rejection, or impose
on ITS friends the task of amending its va
rious sections. II is always with embar-
rassment, said Mr.. r. that present nv
self to the view of the House, in the de-
bate on any subject, and nothing could
be better calculated TO increase that en-
barrassment, than the circumstance of
finding myself in opposition to the homo
rable member from Pennsylvania (Nr.
Hopklnson) who so ably and claborately
addressed you on yesterday. ] am no
VICE In argument-he, an old and eype-
rienced veteran. My thoughts, which are
our forces in debate, are Undigested and
undisciplned- tllose of the honorable
gentleman are well trained and regularly
arranged in order of battle. have ven
tured my little skiff upon the water, and
when 1t shall sink and be forgotten, his
more noble bark will have ouilived the
storm, AID fieaied in triumph on the
waves. SO be il, sir. have obeyed the
influence OF duty in having presentedthis
motion, and shall submit composedIy TO
any result.
The honorable gentleman (said Mr.. T.)
on yesterday demanded of this House, TO
carry into execution all The powers of The
government, and represented it as our
bounden duty, in every instance i'm which
the constitution gave the power, TO exer-
else II. The gentleman's position leaves
us no alternative. Our discretion is ia
ken from us-Ourvoliton is gone. If The
gentleman be correct, we are stopped at
lie tireshhold of tins enquiry (; for mas
much as The constitution coDfeTs OH Con-
gress The power to adopt uniform sys-
TEN OF bankruptcy, according to his doc
trlne, we are not TO enquire into the ex-
pedIency OF adopting such system, but
!n"st yield our support. Here, ST: i join
issue with that gentleman. What, sir.
asked MIR. T.) is the end of all legisla-
ton Is il not the public good Do we
come here 10 legislate away the rights and
happiness OF our constituents, or 10 adj
vance and secure them ? Suppose then,
by carrying into effect Il specified power
IN The constitution we infiict serious inju-
ry upon the political body: will gentle
men contend that we are bound by a blind
fatality and compelled TO act = Sir, such
doctrine cannot be supported even by
the distinguished talents of that gentle
maj H,a Nf H.
are all addressed 10 the sound discretion
of Congress. You are not impcrativelv
commanded, but authorised to act. if by
so acting the good of the country will be
promoted.
Having. as trust, said Mr.. 7. over
thrown this position of the honorable
gentleman, will now, by the indulgence
OF the committee, proceed TO investigate
HE proprlety of adopting this bill. If
there was no other objection 10 its adop-
ton, the circumstance of lis comforting
exclusive privileges on particular class
OF society, would secure 10 il nv opposi-
ton. Sir, am in principle opposed to
the grant ofexclusive privileges. The We
~ natnre and genius of our government is
opposed 10 any such grant. But even if
was disposed TO yield this principle i'm
any case, could not do so i'm this. Are
not the farmer, the manufacturer, The me-
chanic, equally entitled with the mer-
chant, TO your protection-to the benefits
of your laws This bill is confined to the
merchant. What has the agriculfurist
and mechanic done 10 forfeit their claims
TO your justice, Your liberalitv ? Look 10
the events of the late war. Who fought
your battles Who conquered at n. Or
leans Who, in fact, caused the star
spangied flag TO wave in triumph over The
proud cross of St. George Sir, (said Mr..
ID let me not be understood as detract-
ing from the merit of the merchant: mapy
OF them also deserved well of the coun-
try. Their money was literally contribn-
ted to relieve our necessities. They fur
nlslled the sinew and the other classes
10 which ] have alluded, the bone and
muscle. They are all then entitled TO
yo1r patronage. Why then, LET me ask, is
this bill limited to only one class of the
community You are told that bv reIiev-
ing the merchant of his debts, YOU offer
him new stinulants 10 Industry and exer-
ton: That when load of debt is pressing
on him, ms energies are crampea and OPP
pressed that by relieving him from such
pressure, they are again awakened into
new existence. With the honorable man
should hope, sir, said Mr. r. that when
involved, desire 10 meet his engage
mems, TO comply with the principles Of
integrity, would be found a sufficient sti-
mulus 10 exerfion. But admit that il is
not so, ask, sir, iftbe farmer, the mecha-
mic, The manufacturer, would not be oee-
rated on IN the same way with the mer-
Chant Would not the same inducements
produce on each the same results Are
they composed Of different materials, or
made up of tie same flesh and blood
esteem the conclusion inevitable. But it