Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-06-06

usliCe wiil trace tins farther, but will content
"yse" WIN stating few facts, which speak volumes
on the SUBJECT and render argument supeTuous When
the BANKRUPT Bill was before the other House. a few
years ago. an old and highly respectable member of
Bar, OF neghborng City certainly of the most
moral and industrious in the Union explained the ope
raoo OF their nsoivent laws by stating, in his place
that at was the practice of the that City 10
appoint only one or two DAYS for or two hundred
lnsolyent debtorsthat he had known one hundred of
them sworn Oft in a morning-hat he had them
off by SIX or eight of them taking the book
time; and added, that OF the many thousands, dis
charged lac had never known one who afterwards paid
his debts" Sir what must be the character q. a system
which produces such fruits,
And now, what's the remedy for all ihse | answer
confidently that the only remedy is TO be found in the
exercise of our constitutional power of establishing
Uniform System OF Bankruptcy. 1t was FOR this pur>
pose that the power conferred and the great end
otherwise attaiuabe. If we lous into the proceed
ings OF the Convention, or examine the commentaries
on the Constitution by the great who framed il,
we will find abundant 20 believe that the article
winch gives TO Congress power this subject,
designed 10 prevent frauds The Journals of the Con-
ven,ton shcw, that, on the 29th of August 1887 it
moved TO commit the following proposition TO witt
"lo establish uniform laws the subject of Banlr,pt-
cy and respecting the DAMAGES arising from the protest
OF foreign bills ofexclange," which was passed in the
affirmative, by vote OF eight States against two: Con
nccucut, New jersey Pennsy lrania, Delaware Mary
la.ld Virginia, North Carolina South Corolins and
Georgia, voting in the affirmative; and New Hampshire
and Massachusetts in the negative. On the fst of Sent
following, MIR. Rutedge OF South Carolina (from the
Comrnittee) reported and recommended the insertion OF
the following words, VIZ ITO establish. uniform law
on the subject of Banlrupcies;n which, on the ,rd OF
September, was agreed 10 by Yeas and NAYS every
State voting IN the affirmative except Connecticut
The gentleman who made this report was the celebra
ted John Rutledge, the Carolina Dictatorship man
who exercised authority, civil and military turinr
the most trying scenes OF the Revolution never confer
red IN that State, on any other man, and with wisdom
prudence magnanmity, aud fotitude that would have
done honor to the proudest days Greece and Rome
his was the gentleman of whom Patrick Henry de
ciared, when he asked 'wo was the greatest man
IN the Convention?n That "Washiugton was entitled
TO the first rank and Rutedge to the secondn and that
IN eionence, be was without a competitor. His eIo-
queuce sir, was as his virtues. 1t was that
OF wise and good man, speaking the plain and una
doned language of soberness and truth He spoke IN
his audience as father speaking 10 his childrcn-in
tne language OF tile soitest persuasion but with an a
thorlty f1la could nit be resisted The Senate will
trust: excuse this DEPRESSION confess felt NV conf
dence IN the wisdom of this provision of the Consu
ton strengthened and confirmed when discovered that
1t had been Introduced bv John Rutledre and had
celVed Tie unequiy ocal sanction of James Madison
In number of the Fedcralist. written bv that disn
gushed Statesman speaking this particular provision
OF the constitutions he says Uniform laws on the sub
Ject bankruptcy will prevent many frauds that the
eXpedency OF ii seems not likely TO be called in cues
ton" SIR, wiser than ancestors: that which
they designed to Prevent frauds" pronounce them
TO DE the most fruitful of fraud. nroposition
winch seemed to them clear that it mot likely
TO be called in question:" have for twenty years re-
Jected as unworthy even of a trial Ii NAV be Nh
President that | am bigotted in nv reverence far tho
authors of this Constitutions but am free TO confess
that disrust my judgment when find il leadinr
me 70 discard their preceps, 10 reject their in;rnc
tons.
To BE CoNTGNUED7