The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-12
Gmeirtg= Sehenth Congress.
f.s4 FIRST SESSION
in SENATE,

- a 4. 81
THURSDAY, June 10.
The following memorials and petitions were pre-
scented and appropriately referred 4s
Br Mr.. EVANS: Two memorials from citizens Of
Portland, Maine, asking the passage of a bankrupt
law
Of Sumtervile, Alabama, praying for the enactment
By Mr.. YOUNG: From citizens Of Illinois, in fla
vor Of bankrupt law.
By Mr.. BUCHANAN: From citizens of Penn
sylvania, praying that duty may be imposed on i'm
BY Mr. BATES: Resolutions Of the Legislature
of Massachusetts, in favor of the distribution of the
proceeds Of the public lands.
BY Mr.. HENDERSON,: From the president and
directors of the Grand Gulf Railroad Company, ask
ing remission of duties on railroad iron.
Mr.. CLAY, on leave, introduced q bill making APP
preparations, for limited me of the proceeds OF the
public lands Of the United States; and Or granting
Mr.. HENDERSON, pursuant to notice given yes
terday, introduced bill establishing uniform system
4of bankruptcy and moved that it have its first and
second reading this day, and be then referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
i, Mr.. WALKER wished an expression of the sense
Of the Senate TO the propriey Of acngon this sub
ject during the present session. His own State was
peculiarly DESTROYS that it should be disposed Of "a
bill lad been passed once and the expectations of the
nation generally would be realized should nothing
be done in regard to it. The refusal Of the late Adj
minstration to act upon the subject had done more
than any thing else to their defeat and should
the present Administration follow the example, they
might expect similar result The country generally
demanded definite action in the matter; they wanted,
in word, to know their fate. sf n 8E.
Mr.. BERRIEN chairman of the Committee onthe
Judiciary expressed himself anxious as the Sena
tor from Mississippi could be to see some definite ac
ton on the subject but did desire the subject to be
pressed at this time, unless there some we'll
grounded hope of a satisfactory result.
Mr.. SEWER was in favor Of the reference of the
BILL He hoped it would be reported on, and then de-
hated !; and this for an obvious reason: The Senate
this called session. had five six important matters
before IT, and if as seemed prohable il could despatch
each of these in five days they would soon be out Of
work and he considered dlen the root OF all
evil he hoped the subject of bankrupt bill would be
reserved by gentlemen subject Of amusement for
their leisure hours while the other House should be oc
cuped in dsposing of the business sent down to them
from this body a
& Mr. CLAY would here take occasion TO make re-
mark for the purpose Of correcting misundcrstand-
ing which seemed to pievail in the country in refer
ence to some opinion entertained here. Mr.. Z. was
perfectly ready TO vote for any reasonable bankrupt BILL
although his State had little individual interest
in such subject probably any other State in the
Union. He had some time since expressed the opni-
that bankrupt bill could not at this session pass
the Senate that opinion had been founded solely on
the experience of the last session. The subject had
undergone some discussion, but the friends Of the bill
to press the question on the passage ofthe bill From
what had been said just now obvious that they
could not get test question now to whether the
subject would be finally acted al the present CALI
ed session. He would suggest to the honorable
Senator from mississippi whether it would not be
best to let the bill be referred to the Judiciary Com
mtee; let them perfect its details and by that time
better Judgment could be formed whether could be
taken up at this extra session and discussed without
too far extending the time devoted to the subject.
II this was found impraccable or inexpedient then
let the bill be published the world and could he
taken up acted on at the regular session. Although
Mr. Clay considered bankrupt bill IA part of system
Of relief for the country, yet he could that
should stand out at the head of that list of measures
of relief which u was desirable perfect during the
present session. important it mig ht be- lie could not
consent to having il dspace the subjects of Bank of
the United States and the distribution Of the proceeds
Of the public lands among the States-he could not
place the importance off general bankrupt bill in COM
parson with that of measures like these After they
should have been disposed of he was entirely willing
the other should be taken up He hoped the bin would
be referred.
After some further remarks from MIR. HENDER-
SON, not distinctly heard by the Reporter, the bill
was read second time, and referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary. E
Mr.. RIVES moved 10 refer SO much of the Presi-
dents message relates to foreign affairs to the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
On this motion, Mr., BUCHANAN rose and adj
dressed the Senate at some length.
Mr. RIVES replied with earnestness and ANNA
ton.
Mr. CHOATE intimated his intention TO address
the Senate but yielded to motion TO ADJOURN and at
near o'clock p. M. the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,