Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-23
JAMES MONROE.
IN SENATE.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
WEDNESDAY,, March II

The unfinished business OF yesterday, being
the consideration of the bill ''to aboIi sl inpri-
sonmcnt for debt" was resumed, in committee
OF the whole, Mr.. Smith in the chair.
The fourth section of the original bill having
been stricken out, yesterday, the question was
upon inserting q new section, proposed i'll lieu of
It, by MIR. Van Buren,, which provides that, on
n return of no property found, upon 4 fieri FACT
as, the plaintiff may file an affidavit that he has
good cause to believe, that 4 fraudulent convey
ancc, or concealment of property, has been
made by the debtor; and then, after summons TO
the party so charged, q jury shall be impannell-
cd, to try the fact; and, upon the finding of The
fact, execution 10 issue against the body; the
party to be deprived of the benefit oftlc prison
bounds, until discharged by due course of law.
Upon the Summons aforesaid, Tie part 60 char
ged is to be required to give hail, TO respond TO
the ummons Mr.. Haync had moved to amend
the proposed section, SO as to permit the crcdi-
tor to file the affidavit OF his belief of Il fraudu-
lent intention to convey or conceal property
a,.>n u judgment or decree Of the Cont, widi-
out waiting for the fieri iacias. Mr.. Uayne with
drei9 bis amendment, to give place to others
proposed, in the details of the section, BY Mr..
Van 3urcn, which were adopted; and Mr.. H.
then renewed his motion, and made some re-
marks in favor of it. The dnlenement was then
agrcoi TO. An amendment proposed by Mr..
Eaton vas rejected. The question was then Ia
ken upon inserting the section, as thus amend
ed, and carried III the Affirmative.
Mr.. Branch moved to amend the bill, by in
sorting a new section, providing that no person.
who shall nave been convicted, by a Jury, ur-
der tue provisions of this act, of an intention to
iefraId persons holding just claims against him,
by the conveyance or concealrnent Of property,
Shalt he competent to give evidence, In any mat
tea, either civil or criminal, which NAV come
before the Courts of the United States. This
amendment was supported by the mover, and
opposed by Messrs. Johnson, of Kentucky Y:
Holmes, of Maine; Talbot, Lanman, and Van
Buren,. The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Kelly suggested soInc points in which he
considered the bill as being yet deficient, in re-
Iation to the means of the creditor to compel the
debtor to surrender his property; TO which sug-
gestions, Mr.. Van Buren, replied.
The bill was then reported to the Senate, and
with the several amendments made in Commit
Tee of the whole, was postponed till Friday next,
and made the order Of that dav.
The bill, reported BY the Committee on
Cilins, for the relief of Samuel White, was Ia
ken up, ia committee of the Whole. This bill
provides for the repayment of the excise du-
fy paid on two stills. The bill was reportcJ to
the Senate, aud passed to be engrossed, and
read 1 third time.
The bill. reported by the Committee of FL
1eonce, "for the relief of Napier, RapcIye, and
Ber1ott, ard Pctray aud Well" was taken M in
Cofmnittee Of the whole. Mr.. Hayne cxoIain-
I'll the grounds upon which tbs bill was founded.
IprdgideS for the repayment TO these petitions
CT, merchants Of Charleston, s.. G. of duties
PAL to the United States, on certain goods i'm
Pord into st. Augustine, previous to fie COS
sion Florida to the United States. Tho bill
was rtsrtei to the Senate without amend. neot
and Pdsei to be eDgrosscd, and read the third
iimc.