Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-12

eh.ctins the object in view, whctherit should
be accomplished by employing the troops Of
the United States, Or by establishing turn
pike and fixing toll, or by other means, he
was not prepared To say that, perhaps it
would he deemed most eXpedient TO establish
4 turnpike, and To allow Il toll. That he
thought it u proper subject for the inquiry ola
committee.
After the reception and reference of sundry
petitions, the Senate went into the considera-
ton of Executive business, and then ad journ-
ed.
HogSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MIR. Rankin from the COMMITTEES ON Pub
lie Lands reported bill providing for the
disposal of the public lands in the State of
Mississippi, and for the better organization of
the land districts in the States of Alabama and
Mississippi; which was twice read and com
mitted
On motion of Mr.. Blair, the House agreed
to take into consideration a resolution hereto
fore offered by him, calling upon the President
of the United States for Information relative
to the operation ofthe Bankrupt Law of 1900,
in the States of Virginia, Maryland, Pcunsyl-
vania and New York.
Mr.. b. stated his object to be, to obtain
| such information relative to the operations of
the old bankrupt law as might be useful, if not
as guide, at least as a reference, TO those who
were about TO be called upon TO vote for
system which he conceived to be similar in all
It's essential TEXTURES and properties TO the law
OF 1890. He thought no guide was so safe
| as the footsteps OF experience. In anticipa-
ton fan objection that might possibly be urg-
ed, he would observe, that il was by no means
his intention to retard the progress of the
bill that had been reported on that subject
nor should he, at any time, solicit postpone
1 nnnf s,f .
time TO obtain the information which he now
sought He had confined the call for infor-
nation to the states Of Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, and New Yorll--not for the
purpose OF giving partial view of the subject,
but because those states were most deeply
interested in, and affected by, its operation
and also because the information from those
states could be obtained more expedtiously
than from others that were more remote =
They afforded, in his opinion, the fairest sam
pie OF lis operation, and with those views, aud
those only, he had proposed to limit the in
quiry.
| Mr. Cooke proposed To amend the resolu-
ton by including the District of Columbia
which suggestion was asscnted to by tue
mover.
| Mr.. WHITMAN thought the proposition was
OF novel character. Ii contemplated IA call
| upon the President of the United States for
lntol NATION On subject over which he had no
more controul than amy member of that House.
1t did not refer TO any subject that could he
supposed 10 be within the personal know
lcdS of the Executive. He therefore thought
the call upon that officer was incorrect aud
Improper. 1.-THE information was worth the
seeking, lie thought il should be obtained
through the medium OF a special committee,
who might be instructed To inquire into the
| subject. and ypSpd with Tho 70 call
persons and papers. At all events, the Presi-
dent OF the United States WAS not the proper
person ofwhom the inquiry should be made
1t would be more correct to call on the clerks
OF the courts, to which the proceedings were,
by that law, made returnable, than to ask it
! OF the Executive, who had no agency whate-
yer IN Its execution. Mr.. w. also adverted To
the limited operation OF the inquiry, and
thought, If any importance was attached to it,
1t should extend to other districts than those
| that had been named.
Mr. BLAIR replied, and remarked that the
reason for limiting the information had been,
that, If more eXtended, he feared he should
not be able to obtain the result in time for any
Denehc!al purpose, In reference To the purpos-
| ed discussion. With respect To the particular
| officer, of whom the information was sought
he would observe that he was not tenacious
OF the form, but he thought, if gentlemen were
| not satisfied with the plan which he had pro-
| posed, 1t was at least incumbent upon them TO
provide substitute that might attain the OBJ
ject.
Mr. GOLDEN was satisfied with the avowal
| OF the mover of the resolution, so far as it in
sured personal commitment, that his object
was not TO occasion postponement Of the bill
that had been made the order of the day for
yesterday. But he was not equally satisfied
that 1T would not, in its effects, work the very
effect OF delay, which the mover had antcipa-
ted and repealed. He feared it would have It's
influence and that other gentlemen might
feel themselves committed by the vote thew
should give on the resolution before the house.
The nature OF the information asked for would
shew that 1t did not naturally fall within the
province of the President off the United States.
lie was requested 10 furnish complete state
ment of the res geSto of the law-the persons
who availed themselves of its provisions the
debts that were proved against lhem-the dis
trbutlOn of their estates, sc. From the ma
ture of things the President of the United
States had no contrOul over the subject. The
clerks OF the district courts did not derive their
Authority from the President nor were they
responsible to him for their acts. Mr.. G.. oh
lected also TO the nature of the information
proposed by the resolution. He thought
1t was calculated rather To mslead than IN
struct-tO bewllder, but not to enIighten. The
law OF 1900 never had wholesome operation
1t was brought forward under the pressure Of
extraordinary circumstances, and il subserved
only temporary purpose. Hundreds, and
he might say thousands, were waiting to avail
themselves of if, at the very moment of its
cnactlon. They had been preparing them
selves for it and, the moment it passed. they
rushed to the frution of the benefits they sup
posed 1t to hold forth. II was not 10 be sup
posed that such persons would have property
to divide. The information, therefore, con