Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-19
0OWWMWaaIOWAH
Nv /, 1881.

V2& AAa
IN SEM TE-MARcH /, 1881.
ReliQ TO Insoirent Debtors Of the United States.
Mr.. Webster. having called up the bill pursuant 4
notice, said, the object Of this important and long de
sired measure, was TO enable the Government, in pro
per cases, and by a Just and safe proceeding, 10 com.
premise with certain of its insolvent debtors. He look.
ed on this object az equally polite and humane. Thu
reiahon oil debtor and creditor was a delicate one; ma
ny practical consequences ordinarily sprang from IL
and II was not e~xpedient that large numbers of person,
shoald bear this relation to Government, without the
nope oil ever changing IT,. 1t naturally cherished feel
ihgs, not the most friendly to tho discharge of social
anu political duties. Hopeless debt, too, terminates
the active agency, and effective efforts, of mos, of those
VINO nave become subject to IT,. Their oxertions, their
enterprise, their usefulness, are in a great measure LOST
TO society. Few will struggle under a weight. which
,hey know, struggle as they may, can never be moved.
Few VIII exert themselves under the consciousness.
unat me utmost excrtion will never enable them 10
throw OIL, or TO break tho chain which binds them. and
10 place themselves again, in a condition to enter the
e~mployments, the business, and the engagements of
socie'y. TX was wise, therefore, in his opin on. that
every hopelessly insolvent debtor to Government.
should be able to ask inquiry into his case, and tbe
causes oil his inability; and to show his honesty and his
MISFORTUNE, and then have the power of making his
peace with his creditor; to have his quiefu,. i'm the Ian
guage oil the old law: and be encouraged once more
TO such efforts, and such services, as his social and d.
mssuc duties may require of him.
ms being the general object Of the bill, said Mr.
webster 1t proceeds, in the first place, to distinguish
NNean,y ana oroad'y setween mere dc5,, snd onieisl do.
iinquency. This distinction is founded. not only in truo
polcy' out IN correct morals also. Unpaid debit, one
ming; violated trust very much another thing. DeIin.
quency, or failure In the discharge Of official duty, finds
heiuner favor nor indulgence in any Of the provisions OF
ms Dill Principals in official bonds, and all persons
VINO nave received money to be paid into the Treasury,
or VINO have received. it from 1.-The Treasury, for
Pubic disbursement, are cut off from all It's benefits
lhis Is Just. IL is not unworthy of remark, however.
mat in the history Of our Government, inc pubic has
fost INFINITELY less by public debtors. than by public off
GERS ana servants. Six or seven hundred millions OF
dollars have been received into the Treasury. almost all
oy being first secured by bond, with only a loss of thu
nan OIL one per cent. This fact speaks much, not only
10 ,e credit OF the system, but also for the integrity
ana punctuality of the American mercantile character
NO government in the world, l believe, collects its re.
venues WIN more certainty, or more economy than
ours. Sut II must be confessed, that when we proceed
10 the next stage, and look into the disbursements mad,
out oil the Treasury, for the objects of Government and
70 We degree oil hdelity and correctness which Ina.
mere prevailed, our experience has been far less graft.
Tying. The selected servants of the Government bavs
iost US thousands, where those whom the laws and the
course ii business have compelled to become our debt
OTIS az the custom House, have hardly lost us a dollar
Inc mercantile character has richly earned this dis,inc
uon. In all times it has shown itself worthy 10 be re-
hea on; IN all times in prosperity and adversely, IL
peace and IN war, amidst all the events that usuaIiv af
Iect national income, or shock systems of finance. IN,
Government has always felt that what w dus 10
Tom me commercial community, was to be counted on
a SO much already in its Golfers. Debtors of this class
becoming insoivent without imputation of fraud or dis
honesty, have fair claims 10 a discharge. On the o,he
hand let the severity of the law continue tow ards pub
lie delinquency. Let those who solicit public trusts I'm
derstand, once for all, that a rigorous rule will be a,
pheu; that a perfect accounting will be exacted: an
mat deots' created by disregarded duty, and a violate
Uust, Is a letter never to be broken.
The bill, Sir, proposes a public and open proceeding
10 ascertain the facts in each particular case. The in
soIvens debtor Is to apply by petition, setting forth III
facts OF his case. The petition is TO be REARED n con-
missioners. who are to inquire into il, with power IN ex
anime the petitioner and any other persons. on oa,, 70
tpecung the whole matter before them; and they are
De attended by an agent, on the part Of the Government
10 interpose objections, and demand explana,,ons =
mha'eyer may appear to require explanation. Tn
iacts mus ascer'ained, are to be referred to the Secreta
~ OF the lreasury; and thereupon no Is authorized /,
compound and compromise the debt, according 10 m
circumstances, and discharge the debtor. "
II might be expected, perhaps, that the bill woul
nave provided mat, In every case, il no fraud or unfair
ness appeared, and clear insolvency and inability 10 ma
were made manifest, a discharge should be granted
course But from what was known. in regard TO som
existing cases, II was thought better sill 10 leave IN
secretary some discretion. II is known that there A.
casesih which, by the contributions of friends and cor
ne1lons, or other means, considerable sums would bay
peen PAID, III discharges could have been ob,aine,
which cases, without such prospect Of DISCHARGE Won
De cases OF great and total loss. So that ona eaec,
!his very measure will doubtless be, to cause recsip
INTO The Treasury OF considerable sums. on ,cco,nt
debts, no part OF which, without H., wsulI ever har
been collected. 'e' nav
The next important Characteristic OF the bill is. III,
ia isoPersuon II Is altogether retrospective. II r. not
standing provision. IL applies only TO mas, case. 7
object Is to settle up and close cases of iosoIyono" -
snSe happening, end sill existing; to make q sort
tunate once more free from the demands of Coysrnm.
debts. "''e'hihel
We see that, in the Individual concern, nj .omu.
cia' men, IL is found Indispensable tbat ,ono sman,
having the actual effect Of a system Of bankrupe
snouId De adopted. Congress does no, seem disposed
exercise its u~ndisputed power Of es,abTsb;oa "..L
system, Tor the whole country, by law; no Sta
can establish such a system excen, ~ -,
extent; end most OF the States baysr" a par.
=, wo PrOyIde any a. all. But voluntary assignments al
voluntary discharges have come into very seneraI %, !"
from the absolute necessity Of the case sinSi.HIns
nus establish rules Of distribution Of effects. and for n
discharge from debts, Tor themselves. NJ, c" w y
men, mas not ie power which belongs thus to = nr;,s
steu. n me treasury cannot compromise nor n
un55se ue ceD', IN any case, without full payment.
Onder tbis act, as TO past obligations. II will noSses. ~
poTsry sna when It's operation shall have been CO.
Geo 80 uy experience, II will be competent to Go
sre's 20 repeat the provision, AT q proper limo baro.
~ = no' uo fePsst II, as its wisdom shall see a.
rs , 90 not anticipate any objection 70 .ls nsi..,.
otthe bill, ! shall not longer pres, = c,.t PInelP
snd mat attention Of the Senate. which are Ssms ND
Dy SO many ether urgent subjects. vIsb ha~nn
not 70 resume my seat before I express r1 noweV,
eohgsnon which the public Is under 10 he d,.soo.,u
"g'nus@sn IN the other Hesss, on rbov, II a.y.Iys