The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-12
gmrntp=SfOfnth Congress.
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE.

THURSDAY, June ~.
The following memorials and petitions pre-
scented and appropriately referred.
Br MIR. EVANS: Two memorials from citizens of
Portland, Maine, asking the passage of bankrupt
law.
xBy Mr. PRENTISS From number Of citizens
Of SumtervilIe, Alabama praying Tor the enactment
Of a bankrupt law
BY Mr. YOUNG: From citizens of Illinois, in ia
vor Of bankrupt law.
BY Mr.. BUCHANAN: From citizens Of Penn
sylvana, praying that duty may be imposed on i'm
ported silk.
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 bill making APP
preparations, for limited me OF the proceeds OF the
public lands Of the United States and for granting
lands certain States.
MIR. HENDERSON, pursuant TO notice given yes
terday, introduced bill establishing uniform system
oil bankruptcy and moved that II have frs, and
second reading this day, and be then referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. WALKER wished an expression Of the sense
of the Senate the proprety of acting 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 not he realized should nothing
be done in regard to it, The refusal of the late Ad-
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.
Mr.. BERRlEN chairman of the Committee on the
Judiciary expressed himself anxious the Sena-
tor from Mississippi could be to some definite ac-
ton the subject but did desire the subject to be
pressed al this time, unless there was some we'll
grounded hope of satisfactory result.
Mr.. SEWER was in favor OF the reference of the
bill. lie hoped it ould be reported on, and then de-
lated; and this for an obvious reason The Senate,
at this called session, had five six important matters
before III and if, seemed probable IL could despatch
each of these in five days they would 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 as subject of amusement Tor
their leisure hours while the other House should be
cuped in disposing OF the bus down to them
from this body.
Mr.. CLAY would here take occasion 10 make re-
mark for the purpose Of correcting misundcrstand-
ing which seemed TO peva in the country in refer
opin ION entertained here MIR G. was
perfectly ready TO vote for any reasonable bankrupt BILL
although his State had little individual in crest
in such subject probably any other State in the
Union. He had some time since expressed the opini-
that bankrupt bid could not at this session pass
the Senate that opinion had been founded solely
the experience of the last session The subject had
undergone discussion, but the friends vi the bill
considered its fate very doubtful that they torbore
what had been said just now II was obvious that they
could not get test question now as TO whether the
subject would be finally acted al the present call.
ed session. He would suggest 10 the honorable
Senator from Mississppi whether II would not be
best to let the bill be referred to the Judiciary Com
mtee; let them perfect its details; and 10y that time
better judgment could be formed whether il could be
taken up this session and discussed without
too far extending the time devoted TO the subject.
II this found mpracticable or inexpedlent then
let the bill be published The world, and it could he
taken up acted at the regular session. Although
Mr. Clay considered bankrupt bill part of system
of rciet for the country, he could not that
should stand out the head at that list of
of relief which il desirable TO perfect during the
present session important it might be, he could not
consent to having il dsplace the subjects Of Bank of
the United States and the distribution of the proceeds
of the public lands among the Statc.-he could not
place the Importance of general bankrupt bill in
parison with that of like these after they
should have been disposed of, he entirely wiling
the other should be akenup He hoped the bill would
be referred.
After further remarks from MIR. HENDER-
SON, not distinctly heard by the Reporter the bill
read second time, and referred TO the Committee
the Judicisry.
dents message relates 10 foreign aairs the Com
mtee Foreign Affairs.
On this motion, MIR. BUCHANAN rose and ad-
dressed the Senate at some length
Mr.. RlVES replied with earnestness and ANNA
ton.
Mr.. CHOATE ntmated his intention TO address
the Senate, but yielded TO a motion adjourn; and at
near o'clock P. M. the Senate adjourned.