Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-24
Extract to the Editor, dated

| WASHINGTON, DEC. &c, 1925.
~ avail myself OF the leisure of Christmas
holiday to give you sketch of the most i,nportant
subjects OF legislation which will engage the atten-
ton OF Congress at the present session, with nv
conjectures to the disposition which will be made
of them.
g law establishing general system Of bank
ruptcy is contemplated. A considerable diversity
OF opinion exists amongst the most jealous advo-
cafes vi the law, and two projects, materially diff
ierent from each other, are proposed. The one
includes within its provisions only such insolvents
as have been engaged in trade or commerce the
other includes all persons whatever may have been
Their profession or employment, who will honest
ly surrender up their whole property for the bene-
fit OF their creditors The advocates of the former
are generally from the cities those of the latter
from the interior. 1t is doubtful whether majority
will unite in favor of either system; if they do unite
1t will be in favor Of the latter.
y An amendment, or new organization of the
Judiciary system is ndispensaby necessary to due
administration of justice in the western states On
this subject, too, there is diversity Of opinion
Many members prefer extension of the present
system, 10y forming the western states into three
additional circuits. and adding three more Judges
to the Supreme Court; whilst others give prefer
ence to new organization of these Courts making
The Supreme Court stationary at Washington, and
appointing distinct set of new Judges 10 perform
uuiico. lie lOIIncT system VIII probably
be adopted.
An attempt will be made to amend the constitu-
ton in relation TO the election of President and
vice President in snrh manner as shall preclude lis
coming into the House of Representatives in anv
event. Should the amendment, when produced be
so amended as TO secure to the small states the same
influence in those elections which they now have,
they VIII accede 10 II, in which event it may be
adopted; but should its tendency be to ritter away
the influence of the small .tates and a.
oil the large states, already too preponderant in re-
lstion to the Executive Department. it ought 10 be,
and will be rejected. Another amendment is pro-
posed, the object of which is to invest Congress
with the power of appropriating the nations, funds
10 the construction at roads, canals and other in
terDal improvements, under such regulations as
shall secure TO every state share of such expend-
ture in proportion TO its population. This will not
meet the intentions or wishes of the most jealous
advocates OF the system of internal improvements.
and will be rejected. There is however hopefu
prospect that successful stand will be made in the
Senate OF the present session against that consruc
ton Of the constitution which gives to Congress
power over thfs subject.
An effort will be made 10 make some remu-
neration in the form OF pension annuity to the
officers aud soldiers of the revolutionary army, as
compensation for losses sustained by depreciation
OF the currency in which their services were paid
! &c. The government have certainly not fulfilled
their engagements to this meritorous class of cit
zens. But the extent Of their losses is so various
from The manner in which they were enlisted, and
in part compensated by bounties in many of the
states, that it must be extremely difficult to fix upon
any general rule that would do equal justice to
them all. Add to this the consideration that the
expenses of the revolutionary war were in great
degree paid by this depreciation of the currency
and that heavy proportion Of these losses fell up
on citizens who were not OF the army, and il will
be readily that this is subject Of great diff
Guilty.
I" The subjectof the national university suggested
in the Message, finds few friends. II il generally
thought, that inaead Of attempting TO build up new
literary institutions il would be more wise and use
lul to sustain by suitable ecdownenis, those which
are already established and that this baJ ho.o. L