Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-09-15
From the Madisonian.
Bankrupt Bill.
Piens Of Mr.. Van Buren, and Gen. Harrison
on Mis subject confrasked

HSankftpt ktl1i.
V'er, Of Mr.. Van Buren, and Gen. Harriso,
on his subject ooniresfed.
Nothing more clearly shows the reck.
lcssness of this administration than the
course Of its friends in relation TO the
Bankrupt Bill. Having by its destruc.
tive measures brought down the coun-
try from its towering prosperity to the
most abject poverty-having ruined
thousands and thousands of the most
entcrprizing citizens by the reduction
of the value of property, and thereby
depriving them of the means of fulfill
ing their engagements, it now refuses
to exercise constitutional power in
relieving them from the embarrass.
ncnts which il has brought upon them.
The action Of the friends Of the Ad-
mlnistration in Congress, on this SUBJ
ject, has been controlled by Mr.. Van
Buren,. 1t is the effect ofth most alb
ject submission to Executive dictation.
When the subject of a Bankrupt Law
was first broached in the Senate, ma
ny a man declared himself in its favor,
who afterwards went against it. His
first impulses were the unbiased die
tates ofhis heart. His final action was
at the forced dictation of the Executive
will.
Mr.. Wright was the supple tool
through whom Mr.. Van Buren, wrought
this wonderous change in the action of
members. lie spoke against III. bill
TO clog il with provisions, which would
render it useless to those for whose ben
eft il was intended and after he could
put no more riders upon it, he got otl
ers to vote against it, while he, ,hypo,
critically, cast his vote in its favor.
Those Of our citizens who are look
ing TO this great measure of relief may
not understand the reason Of the hos
tility Of Mr.. Van Buren, to il.
In the first place he has no sympa-
thes in common with the grea, mass
Of the community. He is purely sell
fish in all his actions, both personal and
political. He cares nothing for the
business Of the country, if he can but
promote his own interest. In the midst
of this reduction of wages and value ol
property, which has been produced by
his financial policy, and which has ru
ined both the employer and employed
he is content To receive his salary oi
fscenfy fire thousand dollars, which is
appreciated IN value, as every thing
else is deprecated. In the manner in
which he lives, he is enabled 10 lay uI
from his salary more than fifteen thou
sand dollars year; and one principal
and leading motive with him for reel.
ection is, that he may pocket the mon
ey for four years longer.
But there is another motive for his
hostility TO this great measure of relief
When this subject was before the sen.
ate in 1927, Mr.. Van Buren, and Gen
eral Harrison were both members oil
that body. Mr.. Van Buren, opposed
as unconstitutional the provision of the
bill relating to voluntary bankruptcy, and
commended that a bankrupt law must be
confined TO merchants and traders
by his construction OF the power Of
Congress under the Constitution, he
excluded from the benefit of a Bank,
rupt law, oil who were not TECHNICAL,
merchants and traders" and all oftha'
numerous class known both in the Eng.
lish law, as well as in this country, as
voluntary bankrupts; a class, for whose
special relief, every Bankrupt law il
intended to operate, on the surrender
Of all their property for the benefit o
their creditors.
On the other hand, General Ilarri.
son ably contended for the clause IN re
lation to voluntary bankrupts as bolt
constitutional and expedient. Nothing
more clearly illustrates the character
Of those individuals, than their respec
tive opinions on the subject of rolun
fary bankrupts. Mr.. Van Buen's arr
narrow, contracted, aud inhumon; Gen
eral Hauison's are expanded, ibcra
and kind.
Mr.. Van Buren, having taken th'
ground that bill for roiHHiary bank
rupts was urconsfifufioaal, and still en-