The Arkansas advocate., 1831-05-11
An act for the relief of certain insolyent
 debtors of the United States.

Al aee M 'he fetei oi certain insolvcnt
 debtors of the United States.
 8e | estse.ss;s! 5Sy ilse .srfaie aud i5oifsp of Representatives. Qffhe United States ef .lne- rtea ID Coagress assembled, That any per son who was an insolyent debtor on or be- fore the first day of January last, and who is indebted to the United States for any sum of money then due, whiehhe is unable to pay, unless such person be indebted as the princip pal in an off cial bond, or for pub lie money received by him, and not paid over or accounted for according to law, CT for any fine, forfeiture, or penalty, incur red hy the violation of any law of the Uni- ted States, may make application in writ ing, under oath or affirmation, t. tie Sc cretary of the Treasury, for the purpose of obtaining a release or discharge of the said debt; which application shall state, as near as may be, the time when the appli- cant become insolYent, how soon thereaf- ter lie made known his insolvency to his creditors, tho cause or causes, and the amount Of such insolvency; and, also, all the estate, real and personal, which the saId applicant owned at the time of his in- solyency, and the manner in which such es- tate has been disposed of; and what estate, Ii any, ne has since owned. and still owns.
 Sec. <. aad Dc t further enacted. That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to transmit to the District Attor- ney of the United States for the District or Territory within which the said appli- cant shall reside, certificate copy of the said application, with such instructions as he may think propcr, and 1t shall be the du- ty of the said District Attorney to lay the said copy of such application before the 'ofn vency, to be appointed by virtue of this act, and to appear and act before them as counsel in behalf of the United States.
 Sec. ?. .4ad De Il further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to appoint any number of Commissioners of Insolvency he may think proper, not exceeding three in each judicial district or Territory of the United States, who, before they enter un- on the duties of their appointment, shall severaliy take an oath or affirmation be- tore one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, or before any Judge of District Court of the United States, that they will faithfully execute the trust committed to ti,e1ni and if shall be the duty of the said Cemntsstonei orCommissioners to proceed | publicly to examine the books, papers. and vouchers of each of the said applicants: and they, or either of them, shall be au- thefized to examine each of the said appfi- cants CT any other person or persons, upon oath or atfl tflrmation, touching the said ap- plieation: and 1t shall be the duty of the sad Commissioners or Commissioners to make report, in writing. to the said Ge- ! crefary, of the result of their examination in each case therein particularly stating, as near as may be, the time when the ap- plicanf became insolyent, how soon there alter he made known his insolvency 10 lis l creditors, the cause or causes, and the amount ot such insolvency; and, also, all tie estate, real and personal, which the said applicant owned al the time of his in- solyency, and the manner in which such estate las been disposed of; and what es- tate, If any, he has since owned, and still owns.
 Sec. 1. And de T .faafher eaacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury. after he shall have received the report of the said Commissioner or Commissioners, shall pro- ceed to examine the circumstances of each case; and, fit shall have been proved to his satisfaction that the said dehtor IS una ble to pay the said debt or debts which he owes to the United States;that he hath done no act fraudulentIy to deprive the United States Of their legal priority, that he has not been guilty of any fraud, nor mad any conveyance of his estate, real or personal. Tn trust for hims elf, or with any intent to dcfraiid the United States, or whereby to expect any benefit or advantage 10 himself or family; then and in that case, the said Secretary may compromise with the said debtor, upon such terms and conditions as he may think reasonable and proper un- der all the circumstances of the case, and may execute a release to him or her for the amount of the said deht or | debts which
 he or she may owe to the U. States; which sald release shall contain recital that the l foregoing particulars have heen saiisfacto- riiy proved to the said secretary Progfd- cd, hooerer, That the said releases hall be rendered null and void, if 1t shall at any time be ascertained that the said insolvent debtor hath obtained the same upon false suggestions.
 Sec. ,. find be a farther enncsca That If the said insovent dehtor or any other person, shall falsely take an oath or afIi rnl- 1 ation under this act he or she shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and shall suffer. the pains and penalties in that case pro- vided.
 Sec 6. And De n.flrther enacted, That each of the Commissioners of Insolvency shall receive five dollars per day for each day they shall be actually employed in the performance of their duty under this act; which sum togetherw with the actual expense incurred for office rent and all other con- tingencies, provided inc same shall not, in the whole, exce eed two dollars per day, shall be apportioned amongthe several applicants by the said Commissioner or Commission