Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-01-27
19pI
SECOND SESSION.
MONDAY, JANUARY II.
sLNPRESON:uEN'T FOR DEBT.
IN SENATE.

'LNPRESON:uEyNT FOR DEBT. +.
The engrossed bill ''to abolish impri-
sonment for debit was again read; and,
on the question "Shall this bill passf"
a debate arose, a sketch of which is
reluctantly deferred. In the end, the bill
was rejected by yeas aud nays Yeas
30, Nays %.
COLU.BBLLN' COLLEGE
The Senate then proceeded to con-
slider. as in committee Of the whole, the
bill "for the relief of the Columbian
College in the District Of Columbia"
Mr.. Lloyd, Of Maryland, in a few re.
marks, stated his objections to this bill.
A statement of the facts by which the
college had become debtor to the 60
vernment for the amount (S95,900)
proposed to be RENTED by this bill had
been made. BY this it appeared, that
the managers of the institution, for the
purposes not connected with the adj
vancement Of literature, entered into a
speculation in which they were disap-
pointed, and BY which they incurred this
debt. He, for one, would not make
the government underwriters for any
speculation; and he therefore could not
consent to release the institution, how
ever friendly he vas to it, and to the
cause of education generally: nor did
he think the government could reasona-
bly, be asked for this donation in favor
Of an institution over which it had no
control whatever, except the power Of
abrogatiug the charter, should the insti-
tuition fail to he managed for the objects
of its incorporation, sc.
Mr.. johnson, of Kentucky, defended
at considerable length, and with much
earnestness, the reasonableness and ex-
pediency of the remission proposed by
the bill; to shew that the purchase of
the property was for the early opera
tons of the institution, before its incor-
poration, SC. He, however, to satisfy
the objections of others, moved so to
modify The bill that the Government
should retain TIE property for which the
College incurred $4,000 OF the debt,
remit that amount, and leave the re-
mainder of the $4,000 to be recovered
from Thos. l.. McKenney, whose debt
the College had assumed.
Mr.. Holmes Of Haine, intimated some
amendments which he wished to propose
to the bill, and moved its postponement
until tomorrow.
MIR. Lloyd of Maryland, indicated
the course he had pursued in relation to
this bill, in answer to Mr.. Johnson's re-
marks.
Mr.. Lowrie said, the session had now
half expired, and the Senate went on
every day postponing unimportant sub
jects until they would come to those
which must be acted on. lie hoped,
therefore, as every members mind was
no doubt made up on this bill, which
had been before the Senate now about
ten times, that it would be finally acted
on without further delay. AS to the bill
he had been in favor of it: but, after
the exposition OF the facts which had
been reported by the committee, hs
opinion had changed, and he must vote
against it. At the same ime, however,
he avowed that, if the institution were
to come forward with a simple request
for assistance, he would grant it, as he
thought it deserved aid, and could look
for it no where but to Congress.
The question being put, the bill was
postponed until tomorrow; and
The Senate adjourned.