Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-25
RICHMOND VIRGINIA THURSDAY JANUARY a5 1877

u
had aGaia investigated it; i, had been twice print
ell, and had lain upon the tables OF the Senators
more man month, and now came up for final de.
cision. So that he could hardly suppose thai
there was any portion CT the bill tina, was mo-
thoroughly understood by the Senate. The Com
mi,tee did not Think after the reiterated discussions
ana explanations made during the last session oil
Congress-, repetition of that atgum ent was called
lor lie had, therefore, con,enteI hmse Elf with
furnishing each member with a printed copy of
the argument which he had the honor to urge ,,!r
ing 'be last session, so as to put them in possession
OIL The grounds upon which IL had been aud was
SUI 10 be supported. He thought that il could not
be sail hat great had not been bes owed son
The blll aud that sufficient had been do;e to ena-
bis every Senator 10 have formed his opinion ur-
On the SUBJECT: he certainly felt grateful to the
Senate Tor the attention which had been given TO
measure in which he felt such lively intefes,
ana he was Sratiiied at being called upon 10 re-
move objections which still remaiGed in IL e m..ds
OF any gentleman, AMI he thanked the gentleman
IRON North Carolina for having laid his finger up.
on what appeared 20 him Objectionable putt
MI IL dd not think that this bill could be cor
rertiy called, as 1t had been by that gentleman,
otter pill the epiihet seemed TO him peculiarly
happlic 1hIe but, whatever its taste might be, lie
was convinced that it would prove VIII ie- ONE
medicine 10 the whole body poli,c. The gentle
man was entirely mistaken in The oil isci If this
section. Us Object was simply to give TO ayticul-
turs's aud others, not included in the den minaion
OF traders, the benefit OF this bill! when the bill
was proposed in Congress seven years ago, those
WHO were looked upon as the friends of agriculture
and manufactures opposed it, upon the ground .ha,
1t conferred exclusive privileges upon a particular
class, that they bad framed law for privileged
order that The merchants alone TO be rrc-
Vided Tor, while Others, to whom the provisions
OF he bill ought equally be applied were totally
neglected In vain did lie frieuds Of be bl! ar
que, that, if hose provided for were privileged
order, II must be The Z" order of mi esy''--ih.
"n endnent was pressed, and The frs bill fai.,d Oh
this ground.
The next bill, wh;c!. eassed the Senate in 1921,
contained clause which extended the act 10 o her
ciases mat merchants, IN mpiiance with the
Wish oi the ilirnt!s OF agriculture and manufac-
lures. Born ard educated in a mercantile com
mu"ily, Mr. II. had seen the evils Suffered by The
merchants oil he country for tie want of a bank
rupt iav. and he willing 10 believe that other
classes also had suffered from the same cau~e.-
fecula'ly called upon himself. 10 sdyocste the in
;ercsis OF commersi.l men, be was -t!l willin. 10
afford h!s support to the agricultural interest. And
Jet II not &c sail that this section DISCUSSES evil
and oppression! What doe. it say? WHY, tina,
persons other than merchants, nay berome bank
rupt- By their consent. That they may, if b.
The eNoenry CT their CIRCUMSTANCES d!i. ca to sucL
resort, tsl.e measures foE htiT ov.D safely such
"a This bill Is calculated to extend 20 unfortunate
neT' hants. 1t as Impossible TO nreiye an ia
jury clohkei - provision of this description.
bui ills class c. persons were actually TO
ENJOY preference; a profession was ex ended
TO them which not extended 10 the merchant
Towards The latter, the system was compulsory;
the creditor csOe in and took bis property and
compelled him to adopt the line prescribed by this
act; while the agriculiuEist and the manufacturer
were n" compelled to the measure but " ere mere
iy permitted TO take advantage Of n declaIa ion OF
"a . Il Dtfy HHg.t l,ay 81 4
there be an, objection 10 ,hIs portion of tie bill?
lie was sill more at d loss to conjecture since
Tue gentleman had not +. ~ ext llinei his ohicc-
tons TO the section moved 10 be stricken out For
himself, Mr.. Hayne OF those who believed
that the bill would assist the agsicUliuTist. What
Is The situation OF the farmer now, wih rcvpec, 10
debts due 10 hin ~ the commercial Cities and
what IS i'll be bis situation should this bill passi
As the matter now stands, the law allowing pre-
ierences, an inso!ven merchant invariably prefers
his commercial cre!itor-. And so il must ever be
under the present system. Creditors al hand-nen
with whom we are in the habit OF daily and friendly
intei course-ihose wbO lend us money in our oe.s-
ing exigencies, viii! always be preferred, 10 those
who live al distance, whom y e seldom see, and
for whom therefore we cannot be supposed To feel
equal regard. Besides, there is constant temp
taIion TO secure those whom the in= Of, ent iDer
chant will chiefly depend for future assistance in
his trade.
system
Of preferences (Which it is the especial object Of
this bill TO des,foy,) farmer or planter stands no
chance whatever OF getting any thing from hi-
mercantile debtor, IN case OF his total failure
The agricultural classes. therefore, have an I'M
mediate and direct interest, even in those sections
OF The bill which to be confined exclusively
10 traders. BY destroying preferences and pro
yidns for the equal distribution OF the estate OF in
solvent traders among all their creditors. the agri-
cufurist will be secured in uarticiDaiiou In the
estates OF their debtors, of which, under existing
Laws, they are deprived. BIT, with respect TO the
section which tie gentleman from North Ca olina
has moFed to strike OUT it is certainly intended TO
confer nothing but benefits on the agricu!turi-t
and whatever objections may exist in consiilu-
tional point OF view, there can lie none on the
score Of its being oppressive to them, unless in
deed, it be feared that they will y,luntanly Co.'S
sent TO their own injury.
After Mr.. III. had finished bis rcmsrks; tie
Senate, on motion OF Mr. Goth,
Adjourned.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,
DIR. lsackr presented a petition OF the General
Assembly Of The State Of Tennessee, approving
The course pursued By the Senators and Rcp.esen-
ioiives of that State IN the Congress Of the Uni
ied States, at the last session. IL relation o the
Judicial System, AMI requesting con,ioualce Of
their exeruOns TO procure to tie Western States OF
the Union an cqp participation in lie BENEFITS end
advantages Of the Federal judiciary. Referred To
the Committee OF the Whole on tie bill TO amend
The Judiciary System.
Mr.. Weems sid be wished to otter resolution,
and desired o know Of the Speaksf whether il
woald be ia oder for him 10 read it in l.is place
before sending IL to The Clerks ,aJlei
The Chair replied in the affirmative.
When Mr.. w. resd the following resolution
which be was dcsrous should lie upoa the table:
Resoiced, thit Special COMMITTEES be appoint