Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-27

question In ORDER.
MI. Van Dyke briefly stated the
object of his amendment, and the pro
pllety and justice of extending the sys.
tenn to other classes, under certain cir.
cumstanccs, and with their own consent,
who are not now included in the bill.
which applies only to merchants or
traders.
A debate of considerable length and
earnestness followed Oh this amendment,
OF which it is not practicable to present
a satisfactory or just view in any
synopsis that could be prepared at tho
moment.
Mr.. King of New York, spoke to
shew that il bankrupt law, applying pc
culiarly and solely to persons in trade,
was the only kind in the contemplation
OF the constitution !; that therefore the
proposed amendment would be exerCi-
sing a power which, if not left to the
states, did not reside in Congress and
was unconstitutional. He argued at
some length also in support If the poll.
Cy, expectancy, justice, and necessity
of the enactment of a bankrupt system
such as pointed cut by the conslitu-
ton.
Mr.. Hunter had agreed with Mr..
King in his con ,titutional view Of the
subject ; but inasmuch as the Supreme
Court had pronounced an opinion that
the enactment Of a bankrupt system,
embracing the principle contained in
the amendment, did not exceed the cor.
stitutional powers of Congress, they
were bound to consider the power as
residing in the Legislature. lie ap.
proved the object of the amendment,
and as there was no constitutional bar
interposed, he advocated its adoption.
Mr.. Otis, Mr.. Mellen, and Mr.. Bur-
rill, opposed the amendment much at
length, on the grouud of its inexpeGien.
cy, and of the improperly of inCoFpo-
rating such a feature in the present
bill.
Mr.. Van Dyke argued, also at length,
in support of the constitutionality, the
expectancy, aud the equity of his a.
mendment, and in reply to MIR. King
and others.
MIR. Wilson, and MIR. Smith, also
advocated the amendment. Though
not friendly to the bill, the amendment
would make it much less exceptionable
to them.
Mr.. MelIen, for the purpose Of limit.
ing the operation of the amendment to
cases If Insolvency which had already
occurred, and TO prevent its prospective
operation altogether, moved SO TO modi-
fly it.
This motion was negatived without
q count.
The question being taken on agree
ing to MIR. Van Dykes amendment, il
was decided in the affirmative,
YEAS, 25,-NAYS, 10
Mr.. Lloyd then moved to add to the
36tb section of the bill the following
pro,iso:
That such discharge of any bank.
rupt shall not release, discharge, or in
any manner impair amy debt due or to
become due from such bankrupt to any
person or persons not liable to a COM
mission of Involuntary bankruptcy, uH-
der the provisions of this act, who may
not have become a bankrupt under this
act ; but every such. debt, or such part
thereof as remains unsatisfieG under
said commission. Of bankruptcy, may
be sued for and recovered in the same
manner as if no such certificate OF
bankruptcy had been granted.
But before any question WAS taken
on this amendment, the bill was post
poned until tomorrow.
MIR. Barbour laid on the table the
following motion:
ReSolved, That the committee on put
lie lands be instructed to enquire into
the expedieDcy Of making provision tor
satisfying the INDICATED land warrants
issued to the officers and soldiers OF the
Virginia line. on state establishment
during the Revolutionary war.
Mr.. Sanford, from the committee on
finance, to whom was referred the mill
tary appropriation bill from the hou''
of Representatives, reported the same
with sundry amendments, (the prlnI!,