Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-25
The amendment was agreed to.

no objection to two-tbirds of the credi,
tors, in number, being made necessary
for the discharge of the debtor, but he
doubted whether it was proper to Pc
quire two-thirds in value also; he there
fore moved to amend the 37th section
by striking out the words /" in value"
so as to entitle the bankrupt to his dis.
charge OH two-thirds 10 number of bic
creditors signing the certificate. II
this amendment should prevail. Mr.
Van Dyke said he intended to enlarge
the sam due to the asserting creditors
(now fif y dollars each, by the bill. 50
as to combine fairly the principle Of
number and value.
Mr.. Burrill thought the bill made if
easy enough already for debtor to
obtain certificate of discharge. and
he would rather make it more difficult
than less so. BY requiring the consent
OF two thirds in amount, as well as num-
Der, Mr.. B. thought it wouId operate
in a saIutary manner on men of bnsi
ness, as they would know that unless
they managed their affairs with fair.
ness and propriety, it would be difficult
to obtain release in case of bankrupt.
cy. A creditor, he thought, to the a.
mount OF 10000 dollars, ought t. have
greater weight in the question of re-
lease than one of SO dollars; which o.
pinion, Mr.. b. argued at some length
to support. BY requiring the consent
of two-thirds in number only, it would
enable few friends, small creditors,
to release debtor in opposition to the
will of those to whom he was chiefly in
debted. The bill guarded against
this. There would be frauds enough
under the bill even as it was, Mr.. B.
said, and he would not increase the ia !
cility of committing them, but would !
prefer giving the bill additional checks
against it, &c.
MIR. Van Dyke remarked that &C
cording to the view he took of this sys-
TEN, it was for the benefit Of the debtor
as we'll as the creditor; and he argued
to slow that when man had failed in
business and given up his all, there
ought not to be too many difficulties
thrown in the way of his restoration to
society, to activity, and to usefulness,
if it should appear that he had conduct
ed himself with fairness this effect, by
the bill, as it stood, might be prevent,
ed by single obstinate or inexOrable
creditor, and operate great hardship f
OH the debtor. Should bis views be
deemed correct, the minimum required
might be increased from $50 to 100 or
or even 200 dollars.
Mr.. BurriI rejoined, that another
reason opposed to this amendment was
that it would create an induCement in
debtor, foreseeing that he should fail, :
to contract many small debts among
his friends-and they might be bona
fide debts too-and enable them to oat
poll his large creditors. This certain.
ly ought not to be encouraged. Mr.
B. thought the bill, as reported was
framed with a just regard to the rights
Of both parties, and to guard both par.
ties against fraud and injustice. He
was afraid, moreover, that the amend
ment would endanger the bill itself
This, he commended was strictly a bill
for the benefit of creditors, although
h, nest debtors would be incidentally
benefited by its provisions.
Mr.. Vsn Dyke again spoke to sheW
that there were other provisions OF tNeS
bill which would prevent the bad effect
which it Was apprehended his amend
ment wouldproduce.
Mr.. Otis observed that this bill, like
all others of an important nature, EN-
bracing many provisions, would be o.
tied to, and supported. uion prIncI'
pies precisely opposite to each other
one said it was for the benefit OF deO''
ors another.E that it was for the Oen6.
fit Of creditors, &c. 1t could not Dc
Mr.. o. said, to make the
system perfect in the onset; he had bn-
self agreed to amendments which mo-
doubted the propriety Of; but he WISH
ed to make it acceptable to all; to PUI
it into operation, and improve IL AS
might point out; he "ou0
take advantage of the experience o. ~
Their nations, who, he was WIllIIS'
should he Dioneers in the system. MA'