The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-17
IN SENATE,

I'm 0ENh \ III Ha'eF #.t#.t
MONDAY. July 70, i64l.
Mr.. TALLMADGE presented petition Ut cit
zens of New York, for Bankrupt Law.
MI. TALLMADGE presented memorial from
citizens of Missouri, in favor of General Bankrupt
law.
Mr. T. said he had heretofore presented numerous
petitions this subject not only from his own State
but from several other States in the Union. have
said he purposely orborne to occupy the time OF the
Senate with any remarks upon them. came here to
work and not to talk. We all anticipated working,
not a talking session. am prepared to vote on all
questions which will be submitted for our considera-
ton. And would not now break through the rule
prescribed to myself but for the attempt In certain
quarter to make improper impressions on the pubic
mind in relation to what deem one OF the very great
est measures of relief which be adopted by Con-
gress at this extra session, namely GENERAL BANK
RUPT LAW. ... D.. ~
friend has called my attention to a recent article
in the Globe this subject. intended to call the
attention OF the Senate il at earlier day, but did
ing the morning hour with another matter. The ar
tice is as follows: .. A.
The BANKRUPT LAw.-We perceive great deal
of anxiety in different parts of the Union about the
fate of the bankrupt law reported by Mr. Henderson,
in the Senate and can tell them something about
it. II II is not in Mr.. Clays programme, and that
omission is q death warrant to it. Mr.. Clay will not
let it pass 1t is good political capital and
supposed at the last election, to have been worth 5OO
600 votes to the Federal party. The Bankrupt law
must then wait the approaching Presidential canvass
in order to give Mr.. Clay the future benefit of it.
The petitioners for the Bankrupt bill may, then,
60 to sleep till it suits Mr. Clays political views to pass
their bill In the mean time, the bill must either in
clude not include banks and trading corporations
To include them is becoming more popular every day
and it is believed that the Of the Democrats (pe
haps all Of them if The State banks left ou) would
n RankrDpt hill hich should include them.
on the contrary the party will go against bill which
does not include these Institutions If the friends of
the bill would join he Democrats and put in the banks
the bill may be passed this session aoiho The license
Of Mr. Clay, for Bankrupt law to include banks
would Immediately regulate The currency and supersede
the argument for National Bank"
1t is not my purpose to attempt vindcaton of the
honorable Senator from Kentucky (Mr Clay) from
the I'm just aspersions contained in this article. He
needs none at my hands. What have to say is not
so much on his account on account of the subject
to which this attack relates
had hoped to find, at least subject for the le-
gislation of Congress- upon which the deiherative
wisdom of this body could pass without reference 10
the paltry considerations of party. And if there be
one matter, above all Others which ought to be exempt
from such maIig n influence il is that of Bankrupt
law From the first introduction of this measure, at
former session. down to the present tme its friends
have endeavored to divest it altogether of party cha
racter appeal to all who present at the former
discussions of this measure whether such has not been
the course of its friends. With what painful regret,
then, do article like the one just read from
paper, recognised as the organ of proud and pow
erful party attempting to bring this subject into the
arena of party politics. and to create, whether inten
tona or not most erroneous impressions in regard to
to of its devoted friends. The honorable Senator
from Kentucky is represented hostile the passage
of Bankrupt law at this session, because he wishes
to keep the question open for political capital till the
next Presidential election. Was there a more
unjust aspersion upon the motives and character Of
one of the most distinguished and high minded mer
which this country has ever produced2 / do moi
wish, nor intend, to indulge in harsh language th
occasion; but leave il TO be judged of by honorab,
gentlemen OF any and of all parties. To be kept Al
political capital till the next Presidential election
Why, sir, what has been the uniform course of thu
honorable Senator from Kentucky this subject who
is not at this moment in his seat He has been it,
open Jealous devoted advocate whenever it has beer
presented. If at the commencement of this session
he entertained doubts whether Congress would be
able TO act upon it, with the other great hich
were called for by the county, is it to be imputed to
him a fault Or rather, is it to be charged upon
him a premedtated design to defeat the measure 7
The gross injustice of such an mputation, such
charge, is apparent on its face Other gentlemen,
friends of this measure, entertained the doubts
was not one of that number. have urged the inn
porance of from the very first call of the extra
sion down to the present time, measure cal
culatt to give immediate relief to the country than
any otneT. nave DelleVeu, anu sui DelleVe tnat IL
be better acted upon at this than at the regular
session of Congress. And believe the honorable Sc
nator from Kentucky, well other gentlemen have
come to the same conclusion tis with unfeigned re-
greet therefore, that any attempt to impeach or
dstort the motives of honorable gentlemen in relation
to their action on this great national question and
more especially the motives ofthe distinguished Sena-
tor from Kentucky when that patriotic State through
her representa es here has CALAMITY and disnte-
restedy Come up to the relief of the unfortunate.
Her late representative on this floor, Mr. Critten-
den,) the present Attorney General of the United
States of the ablest and n ost unring advo-
Gates of this He was one Of the Judiciary
Committee which reported the bill at a former session.
and maintained it with great ability through every
stage of its progress. am authorized to say that his
successor Mr. Moehead) will, in this matter fol-
low in the footsteps of his illusrious predecessor
We have heretofore been told that Kentucky felt no
particular interest in the passage of this bill but her
Senators here believe it Just to other portions of the
Union and did not confne their views question
OF great general interest to the limits of their
own State And on that broad disinterested principle
they have acted On the subject Of relief TO honest
unfortunate Debtors Kentucky as true to the mark
as her own unerring rifle. No matter what change
takes place In her principles. 1t was with profound
Attorney General vacae his seat in this body-a body
which was adorned by his presence-and enter upon
the arduous duties of another station. But are
consoled by the presence of his successor Mr More
head who has the head and the heart to carry out
the principles for which his predecessor and colleague
have commended; and might with entire justice say
regard to any change of representatives in this body
from that noble State
I" Like the waves of summer as one dies away,
"Another as pleasing and shining comes on"
But we are told, in the article just read from the
Globe, that Bankrupt bill pass at the present
sion if banks shall be included | wish to warn the
trends OF this great measure against the fatal deusion
of thi. suggestion In the first place. it has no
cessary connexon with the subject and in the next
place. the effort to include banks was made form
er occasion and failed. And how did it fail In the
last Congress majority Of the Judiciary Committee
10 the Senate was composed of the opponents of the
present Administration. They were the political
friends of Mr.. Van Buren,. They reported Bank
rupt bill, with provision to include the banking in
situations of the country. That provision fully
discussed in the Senate Honorable Senators on the
other side took strong ground against it, and it
finally stricken from the bill on their motion. do
not speak of this result for the purpose of giving it
party character But speak of il for the purpose of
showing that il should be left upon its own merits and