The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-01-11
discharged.

that persons about tn apply for the benefit
of insoivent act shall give personal notice
To creditors. 1'hp question was taken on
its passage, and the bill rejected.
Mr.. Dorr said the Bank Commissioners
would make written report on Friday
morning. relative to City Bank. But he
would take the opportunity To say, that the
subject did not affect the public, but the Dir
sctors and Stockiolders only.
The act relative to assignments was ia
ken NJ, providing that no assignment, mort
gngr, orpledge ofproperty shall he valid un-
less the property be distributed among the
creditors of the insolvent debtor generally
in proportion to their demands.
The passage Of this act was not recommended bv
the Committee. because they considered that could
not be enforced without coming in collision with law
and right. Ii was generally taough that some far
ther provisions were wanted this subject, but this
bill did moi appear to suit any one. So it did not
pass the Honse.
Afer this bill had been laid aside. that providing
for the abeshBsnt off mprisonmcnt for debt in
tain cases. was called mp.
This bill provides. 1st. that in Of contract
where siit are instituted and where the amount is
On Ter $50 the body shall be exempted from arrest,
and estate real and personal liable to attachment,
OF the gnal wit.
This section underwent lengthy and nniIna ted
discussion. Messn. Dorr, Curtis, Randolph, Sim
mons and Spencer. were in favor ofit
NJ ,ssrs Brayton, Allen, Il. T. Hazard and Titus,
were opposed to IL.
The provision to attach property the original
writ. was stricken ont, motion OF Mr.. Simmons
ahl afterwards. restored on motion Of tho same gen
dem1n by way Of fcompromise.
Amer ~ ich argn 1sni. pro and con- and before the
ile'tiol hai bean taken, the House adj ourned to
O'Clock, p NJ.
Afternoon.
The House met at o'clock p. NJ
Mr.. Curtis appointed Committee TO obtain an ab-
s'r7ct of the numb Of Deaf and Dumb persons in
the several towns in the State and relative TO pub
lic schools reported that fourteen towns only had
M IL returns Of the number Of Deaf and Dumb
AMI thirteen on the snbcct of public schools.
In these fourteen towns, the number Of Deaf and
D1 NIB persons is 80. No.hing further read from
the report.
Petitions were received from Mutu,l Fire In
s1r'n.. Co for an sndneni o Charter from Ezra
French agains. his creditor'-from William Perry
for b,ration from Jail. Severllly committed.
concurrence was received from the Sen tc, on
~, 1c' granting lottery TO the r. |. Historical
Sorie'v.
The ac, TO abolish imprisonment for Deb in
cert1iD cases. was again called up, the question BE-
ing N he anenimen' nropo 'ed to the first section,
b. I. /. II ,zlrd. Some further discussion was
md npon it, At nothing new was elected. The
am,n1mcnt was withdrawn, and the question on
III, first section WIS taken bv ayes and noes and
decided in III, neg tive. Ayes 20, Noes 80.
The second section then called up. This
section provides that, in no C So, shall person
b. KEEP in Jail b. The p1vtncnt of b,ard BY the cred
ibr, after the debor shall have tkcn the poor deb,
or'S oath.
The Speaker recommended that the section
should b, recommitted with instructions 10 frame
b similar 10 this, with the proviso that the deb
or shall first have made an assignment Of all his
prooertv for the b b,nef OF his creditors. u
Mr. Hizard of w. G.. thought no gen lcman !
w)lld keep m honest man in Jail, and scoundrcl
olylt 'ob kept there.
Mr. Haniolpt had known ten persous to unite and ]
p1v ten cents each per week, TO keep man in Jail
AMI on one OCCASION when he applied to person
TO persuade him TO release deb or, he was told
that il was necess'rv to his (the creditor's) buS-
ness 10 keep the deb o, in jail as on example TO
ohers. Mr. ndolph and Mr., Simmens were
b,'h n fvor Of the section as it stood, and opposed
10 recommitmcn'
Mr.. TIN lid ifa creditor kept deb OF in Jail,
NE General A. 'embly would let him out
tn, Speaker prayed that the PERSONAL liberty of
the citizens of r. lsllnd, should not be holden on
spch tenure. Heb lieved the provision in force
in this State, was different from the laws OF all
countries in the word. lie wis in favor of taking
the poor bor ont of the hants of the creditor, af
T,r \, has given np his property, and been admit
ted TO the poor boris oath.
Mr. Dorr said the privileges of the poor hed
ben spoken of with much feeling b. certain gen.
'ilcn,n, in the morning, and the high privileges !
Ind I'd for great mlny years 10 b, kept in Jail,
Be- II. did no. know how TO account for il, that
III, gen lem N who exclusively claimed TO b. de-
mo:rltic, are found arr yed against the poor on
this sub ,ct, while those called FederaSts and
ArisocrltS are | boring 10 relieve them &c.
Mr.. Brly,,s didn't want to keep an honest man
in ilil-blt wanted to punish the fraudulent deb
or. Randolph, and Simmons, and Dorr were will
ling the dishonest man should be punished but they
ddnt want the creditor to be the sole Judge on the
oues,i on, whether debtor was guilty, especially
ai:er competent court had decided that he was
not.
Mcssrs r. r. Hazard, Allen and Titus ex
pressed similar views but,
Messrs. Curtis, Randolph, Dorr, and Simmons,
thought it not consistent with right or justice, that
creditor should b. sole Judge in such cases and
have the power to keep his debtor in Jail. aNer
competent court had decided that he ought 10 be
discharged, and that with the oath Of God upon
hin.
Finally, after much debate, the question was Ia
ken and ii was voted TO recommit the I'd section,
with instructions.
Ur Brayon's bill providing that legacies left BY
viii, and not called for, should be lodged with
Town Treasurers for the benefit of Legatees, was
passed. 4
Anoher b. the same gentleman, for the appoint
m mt % Guardians in certain cases, came down
from the Senate amended, aud was laid on the Ia
ble.
a bill to regulate fees for taking deposilions
from the Committee on the Judiciary was laid on I
The table.
The Speaker presented an invitation from the , !.
Historical Society, to attend Lecture this evening
to b, delivered bg Elisha r. Potter, Esq d
Petitions were received fro Ezra Thurbcr, ,
Alex lnier Calder and Rob,r, Burns, for Liberation
--:)mmtted.
Petition of Joseph Rea-continued with order Of 4
noce. i,
Adjourned to 10 o'clock Thursday morning. :,
Thurs lay Morn. Jan. 5. 10 o'clock A. ".
Petitions ware received nd referred from Thorn.
as MelIen Henry Douneiy. ITael Potter, James
Daley. Thomas Fagan. George q. Graham. Samuel
Clifford Joseph Wood aud Champln Dany. all for
Liberation from Jail ~