The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-31
BANKRUPT LAW MEETING.

AT public meeting Of the citizens Of the CITY of
Rochester, New York, held at the Court House on
Thursday evening, July 18th, 1S4l, pursuant to a
call numerously signed and previously published in
the newspapers of said city, inviting the citizens with
out distinction Of party to meet for the purpose of
giving expression Of public opinion and feeling in
relation to the passage of General Bankrupt law by
Congress at its present session his Honor the MAYoR
was chosen President Hon. THOMAS KEMPsHALr and
DAnUs PERRIN, Esq. Vice Presidents, ERASMUS D.
SMITH, Esq, Secretary.
The call for the meeting having been read by the
Secretary, " a,''sru
On motion Of Mr.. j. B. Clarke,
Resolved, That committee Of nine be appointed
to report resolutions for the consideration and action
Whereupon, the Chair appointed as such commit
tee Mess SIX B Clarke Charles Hill p Darwin
man Graham Il. Chaplin, Jas. w. Smith, and Benja-
men Campbell ,.l,',
The committee having retired, returned and report
ed the following resolulions @HsS
Resolved, That the sufferings Of the hundreds of
thousands of honest and unfortunate citizens Of the
country, who overwhelmed in hopeless and mex
ricabe bankruptcy, imperiously demand the passage
by Congress at its present session. of such General
Bankrupt law as will afford them speedy and efectua
relief
Resolved, That inasmuch as the question Of the
passage of such law by Congress, has for number
of years past been thoroughly discussed in the public
journals in the primary assemblies of the people, in
and that, inasmach the almost unanimous opinion
of the people has been expressed in favor Of the mea-
sure through those channels, well as in the numer-
petitions which have been addressed to Congress-
we can discover no good reason well grounded
excuse for any further delay in placing the law upon
the statute book.
Il Resolved, That inasmuch as those who NAV be
liberated from the shackes of bankruptcy by the pro-
posed law, are to surrender the price of that lib
eration the last arhng of their property eyery hour
of the time for which their liberation is deferred is so
much distracted from the only capital with which
of life
Resolved, That the best interests Of the solvent
and creditor classes will not be preudiced by the pas
sage OF a General Bankrupt Law; but, on the con-
trary will be promoted, along with the general pros
perity of the community, which that measure is so
well calculated to advance aswE
Resolved, That however the other measures now
engaging the attention of Congress- may tend to the
successful administration of the Government and the
advancement of the interests of those who have been
so fortunate to survive the pecuniary disasters
which have befalen the country, those measures can
in the absence of a General Bankrupt Law bring no
relief to the nsovent classes and that it is only by
the enactment of that law that relief can be extended
to those who, Of all others, most require it,
Resolved, That whilst we shall rejoice at any
measures Of national legislation which NAV advance
and secure the prosperity of the solvent and already
prosperous classes insist that the principles of our
Government, which are the principles of equal law
and enlightened philanthropy demand that the less
fortunate, though not less honest classes who ask
not an increase of prosperity but the humber boon
OF emancipation from the chains and thraldom of
bankruptcy, be permitted to share to that limited ex-
tent at least in the benefits of that legislation.
Resolved, That we will cheerfully acquiesce in
the propriety Of subjecting through the Judiciary
Department Of the Government, insovent or fraudu-
lent State corporations to the compulsory power of
General Bankrupt Law, should Congress in its wis
dom see fit to incorporate with the law provision
for that purpose. iE9IT
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
forwarded TO the Representative in Congress from
this district and to the Senators from this State for
presentation to the two Houses of Congress and that
copy OF the same be respectfully submitted TO the
President of the United States.
The report Of the committee having been accept
ed, the resolutions were discussed by Messrs. M.
Strong, Q. N. Bush, J. B. Clarke J. Gates and W.
Il. ohaplln, and unanimously adopted.
b II was then, on motion, h@ .a-s...
Resolved, That a committee of seven be apponed
to engross and forward copies of the proceedings Of
this meeting to the President and to both Houses of
Congress to correspond with similar committees of
other places in relation to the passage of General
bankrupt Law, and to take such other measures to
secure such passage may be necessary and proper
Whereupon, the Chair appointed as such commit-
Tee Messrs. Erasmus d. Smith, III. l.. Stevens, Malt
by Strong, Henry O'Reilly, James X. Livingston,
II. Chaplin and J. B. Clarke.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
published in the newspapers of this city, and that the
editors of the National Integencer, Washington
De respectfully requested give the same an inser-
ion in their respective journals.
The meeting then adjourned
f. r. SMITH President .a