Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-27
.EGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
DEFERRED DEB.1lE.
EErEAL OF T!iI BANKRUPT Law.



EErEAL OF r!iG BANKRUPT LAH.
Saturday, Jan. IT,
The House having refused 10 sustain the motion Tor
The Previous Question: the resolution declaring Tic
bankrupt law ought to be repealed,
MIR. DoKMAS then offered the following as an addi
ton to the esouton had been prepared by his friend
from Campbell, (alr. Toler,l who was SICK:
Res0ired, That should Congress fail to repeal the
Bankrupt Law passed at the Extra Session, and any
attempt shall be made TO amend or modify its provi
sions IT Will be, in the opinion of this General Assem-
bly,, alike volatve Of the Constitutions and subverslve
Of the rights Of the States, to embrace the State Banks
or other corporations within it's provisions.
Mr.. BArLs moved that tie amendment be laid upon
| The table.
The SPEAKER said the motion was out OF order. The
appcndagc could not be separated from the principal.
| MIR. BAYLY then sad, he hoped the House would
not adopt it. There two for this
which were perfectly satisfactory TO him. The first
was that the amendment alluded 10 speculative qucs
ton in its and CT practical Importance. HIS
resolution the contrary, referred to PLAN, distinct
and practical question The amendment, too, was on
subjec: without local habitation or a II
referred 10 proposition, which would not be adopted
for long time to come If ever; for there but one
condition OF circumstances that would ever induce
Congress 10 include the Banks in any Bankrupt Law
tina, might be passed And that in the lie.
gisaturcs of the several States should continue to grant
them ndulgences 10 do they pleased. On this ques.
ton the Democratic party themselves were not agreed
lie (Mr. Bayly) did not think il came with very
good grace from the other party. live commenced
the consideration of various subjects which might be
conprehended in the limits of The Bankrupt Law
where would we stop There would be no end to our
| legislation the subject Yet the very party who
insisted, so strenuously, that had nothing to 90 with
Federal relations, now propose oiegsatr at large on
the subject and show what Bankrupt law should be,
in all its details. They propose 10 show, not only
what Congress should not Go, but nlnuely what they
should do. lie had another objection to The amendment
His resolution was the result OF compromise, and
such, should be voted upon without amendment
Besides the amendment was in lis character, incoin
patibe with the original resolution. If the Bankrupt
Law complicated in lis character that the Judge
Of the District Court unable to understand IT in all
its bearings, what would be the effect Of the amend
ment: Would it not lead 10 debate; pro,rncied de-
bate upon the merits Of the whole question; Undoubt
edly lie thought il would. lie had avoided referring
to the merits Of the amendment. His objection to u
was, that il inconsistent with the resolution and
on a subject not before Congress
Mr.. DoRNAs said he did not rise with the view oil
entering into discussion of the merits of the question
on the amendment he had proposed During nine years
service in the House. he did not believe he had con-
sumcd more than half hour III debating Federal lie
a,ions In all that time, he recoeced 10 have made
but one speech and that of the character
as those which he in the habit OF making. Nothing
was more disagreeable 10 him than the discussion o
such subjects The gentleman from Acconlac had said
that the amendment had practical operation and Ell
/
STILL lie considered i! had much as the original reso
luton lie believed that neither would do any good
k'he opinion of one in the United States would be
Influenced by the action of Virginia.
!. But, continued MIR. d.. was not bankrupt Law u
include corporations recommended by MIR. Van Bnren
Those who have read his Messages doubt remember
his opinions on that subject.
Mr.. ID. contended that The amendment offered by him.
did have direct and practical bearing on the subject
al this particular time nasmuch the leader OF The
A. had, ptrg dune IL m
solution in the Senate Of the u S., referring the Bank
yupt Law 10 n Committee with instructions to intro
duce amendment including corporations Was not
that evidence that this question was before Con-
gess, and introduced, too, by prominent man, lead
or of the gentleman party. Are not our corpo-
ratons in danger: Was IL 10 be said that Mr. Benton
was not the head Of the Democratic Party, but one
whose opinions and movements did not deserve TO
lie needed: As the guardians Of our State lnst'u
TONS it duty protect them from DANGER aud
in that point he considered the amendment as iInpor
tant.
Mr. ScoTT of Fauqnier said that the objection OF the
gentleman from Accomac to the amendment, was found
ed upon he erroneous notion that the resolution which
hehad submitted, was the result oil compromise he
gentleman regarded il Il compromise agreed on by
the two parties He Mr. 8, had submitted II his
own hook. lie did not consult other gentlemen Of The
Wing party, did he express their views. tie DID
not pledge them to lis support. lie was merely actua'
ted by desire 10 proiler 10 gentlemen on the opposite
to useless debate on proposition that in his opinion
should never have been introduced or entertained here
He was the only Wing who voted for the tanng up the
resolution Of the gentleman from Preston some days
since, and the reasons which induced i:n TO give
that vote, had already been explained
The gentleman from Accomac had often remarked
that he (Mr s. was the leader Of the Wings. Had
the gentleman referred to his actions generally such
conclusion would not have been come To. lie did mol
profess to be the leader follower of any party lie
had thought that distinctive difference between Inc
two political parties was, that the one acknowledged
no leader, while the other implicitly followed those
was called 10 order by the Chair) In regard to the
measure now before the House, he had no difficulty IN
voting for it, He concured in the sentiments eS-
pressed by the gentleman from Rockbdge and thought
/ if it important 10 act upon one branch OF Tue
subject ihe original resolution 1t was equally 50 10 acl
upon the other, (the amendmcnt)
Mr. Baows Of P. said he thought that any general
| Bankrupt Law that might be passed should be made
applicable to corporations. He what surprised
10 the anxiety which gentlemen had manifested In
order guard with especial care the interest OF corpo
rate bodies For HIMSELF he recognized no difference
between private citizen and a corporation he was
unwilling that one should be exempt from penalties and
allowed to enjoy privileges not possessed by the other
He prepared to say, whether be wonld be VIII
ing this time include the Banks and other corpo'
rate bades in Bankrupt Law; yet, he feared the time
would come when such measure would be found ex'
ccedngly sautary and eSpedient. When the Banks
should have continued their present course until they
had become generally odous-when our efforts nj re
forming their condition should have been exhausted
then resort must be had Bankrupt Law applicable
TO corporations
| Debate ): continually