, 1840-07-11

L PSoSuiO ~ hhO" Via 1Oui dusiCcs NOul
counsel and your influence, will all be given
in favor of what is intended for their relief
in the bill before US.
Mr.. President, let US atone for the omis.
sions of the past by a prompt and efficient
discharge of present duty. The demand
for this measure is not partial or local. Ii
comes to us. earnest and loud, from all classes
and all quarters. The time is come when
we must answer 1t 10 our own breasts if we
suffer longer delay or postponement. High
hopes, high duties and high responsibilities
concentrate themselves on this measure and
this moment. With a power to piss a bank
rupt law-that power which no other legis-
lature in the country possesses with a pow
er OF giving relief to many, doing injustice
10 none, | again ask every man who hears
me, if he can content himself without an
honest attempt to exercise that power? We
may think 1t would be better TO have left the
power with the states, butt was not left with
the states; they have it not. and we canine
give it to them. II is in our hands, TO be ex-
erclSed bv us. or TO be forever useless and
~llieless. Under these circumstances does not
every mans heart tell him that he has a duty
to discharge? If the final vote shall be given
this day, and if that vote shall still leave thou
sands Of our fellow citizens and their fami-
lies in hopeless and helpless distress, to ever
lasting subsection 10 irredeemable debt, can
we 90 TO our beds with satisfied consciences?
Can we lay our heads upon our pillows. and.
without seIfreproach, supplicate The Almighty
mercy to forgive Us our debts EVEN as we
also forgive our debtors? Sir. let us meet
tho tpap,o,. u,.ba, 4F IL 81
proclaim ~reliefto the unfortunate throughout
all the land. What should hinder? What
should stay our hands from this good work?
do not oppose it; they apply for it;
debtors solicit it with importantly, earnest
ness and anxiety not to be described; the
constitution %enjoins it, and all the conSidera-
of justice, policy and propriety, which
are wrapped up in the phrase public duty. de-
it, as ! think, and demand it loudly and
ImperatIvelv from our hands. Sir, let US
the whole country, for once, with
The joyous clang Of chains, joyous because
heard falling from the limbs Of men. The
wisest anon Ih,se who ! address can de-
nothing more universally desired; and he
who is youngest may not expect to live long
enough to see a better opportunity of caus-
ing new pleasures and happiness long uniast-
ed to spring up in the hearts Of the poor and
the humble. How many husbands and IA
are looking with hopes which they can
not suppress. and yet hardly dare to cherish,
the result of this debate! How many
and mothers will pass sleepless and
nights, until they know whether
they and their families shall be raised from
dependency and despair. and re-
stored again TO the circles Of Industrious, in
dependent and happy life!
Sir, let il be to the honor Of congress that.
n these days of political strife and %contro-
rersy, we have laid aside for once the sin
most easily beset us. and. with unanimi-
" OF counsel and with singIeness of heart
md of purpose, have accomplished for our
one measure of unquestionable good.