Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-29
rwENrY-sEvENTu coNGREss--ad Session.
Tuesday, Jan. 20.
SENATE.

After the presentation OF petitions, Principally upon
the subject of the Bankrupt law, and demonstrating
against its repeal
The Senate took up the proposition Of Mr.. Clayton,
10 establish as standing rule, regulation that ereat,
Ter whenever claim petition shall nave ueeh pre-
scented to the Senate, and reported upon by ANY oil the
standing committees, and tie report OF lhe committee
conquered in by the Senate II shall not be competent
nj future session take the papers from The hies OF
the Senate 10 be referred TO standing committee or 10
have any action upon the subsc unless new petition
be presented by the applicant or CLAIMANT with aGc-
tona evidence affidavit, or pointing cut error IN the
decision Of the committee
The good effect Of such rnle was pointed out by
NIessrs CLAYTON, GRAHAM, KING, FIERCE,
CALHOUN and PHELPS, in preventing tie accu-
mutation Of claims in the hands Of committees, winch
had been often reported against and which were more
frequently thrust upon the Senate by interested agents,
than By the petitioners. The proposition was partially
opposed BY Messrs. WOODBURY. and LINN, who
were apprehensive that whist ,e good would be e.-
fctcdby il, great ostce might accrue 10 Claimants
The proposition adopted
THE BANKRUPT BILL.
On motion of Mr. BERRlEN, the Senate proceeded
10 consider committee Of the whole the ball OF the
House OF Representatives 10 repeal the Bankrupt law
MIR. BERRIEN occupied The floor during the re-
mainder of the day. in opposition to the repeal OF the
Law. lie remarked, tina, his opinions as 10 The cons.
tntonalty expediency and business oi the law for the
relief of the bankrups had not changed; but that, 50
far as time aud reflection had had any influence with
him. they had only tended TO impress him with the be-
lief that the vote he gave at the last extra session was
correct. He maintained that so lar as there was any
manifestation Of the popular will as TO the proprey Of
the passage of that law, in favor OF IT, The Le
glsa,ure Of the State he in part represented had ex
pressed opinions adverse to that law, which had been
communicated to him. lie did not concur with those
opinions, and did not feel justified, from his sense oil
what was due suffering people, 10 vote .or the ball
10 repeal IT, He spoke IL length on the bad IT,
feet of vacillating course of legislation, such as
would be exhibited If Tins Congress at this session
yersed their will expressed at the last session;
and argued that it would afford to the enemies
of free institutions material on which 10 found ar
ruments against the salutay and practical operations
OF free Government. They had deliberately adopted
u measure of great public policy, at The instance OF u
vast multitude Of the people Of the United States ard
lac thought If they changed their own act OF legislation
before permitted 10 INTO operation, suc course
on chit deprive them of the confidence Of the American
people The law he argued, was correc, in principle and
in detail free from lmperectIons as any plan
that could be devised by the wisdom and ingenuity OF
CONGRESS before they had the lights OF experience rs
would be developed by the practical operations Of he
law He did not believe the Law was so imperfect as
its enemies had alleged 1t simple IN It's details,
and was not encountered BY the complicated machine
nv Of the Bankrupt laws which had not heretofore met
the appreciation of the people The law, as It exists
on the statute could be safely permitted TO go INTO oPe-
ration 'whont specializing the amendments thought
necessary make il practicable, and then they would
have the experience Of its operations 10 guide them
in the amendments they were now specializing about
lie spoke at some length TO show that the law was
practicable and contended that it becsusc of is
practicabilty that was so Objectionable 1t was OPP
posed by its enemies, because IL susceptible o. such
practical operations that It would defeat the machna-
of those who anxious for It's repeal 1t was
ubisc tonable not because II was bankrupt law, but
because It leading measure of the Wing party,
and one Of for the relief of the country,
for which the extra session called; all OF which
measures, il was contcnded By of those who
opposed them, the people had rejected as injurious TO
their interests and mus. BE- repealed He did not, how
ever, understand the language of the country. 1t
was but the wishes and opinions OF those who ie that
all those must be unJone the two yetoeS oil
the Wing President will have lost all their charms He
then spoke at the constitutional power of
Congress make Bankrupt Law In operate others
than traders in the accepaton OF that term and
conended that so far the origin and history of the
practice ofthe law gland, from which borrowed
IT, had any bearing upon the intention Of the trainers
of the Constitution, the construction which they m
tended should be given that instrument, concnsreiy
established the right IN Congress 10 pass law to ope
rate all PERSONS without regard 10 their occupation
or pursuits in life Mr.. L. before concluding, gave
way TO
Mr. HUNTINGTON, on whose motion the Senate
proceeded TO the consideration of Executive business
and, after some time spent therein, adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
On motion of Mr.. T. j. CAMPBELL, the petition
aud all the papers in the case OF the heirs oil Dr. >
Kennedy of Jonesboro in the State of Tennessee, was
taken from the files of the Clerks Office of the House
of Representatives,, and referred TO the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims.
Mr. FILLMORE asked leave 10 report several bills
from the Committee Of Ways and Means, in order that
they might be referred and printed.
Objected to by several.
Mr.. FILLMORE then moved TO postpone the regn-
lar order OF business till o'clock for the purpose of
enabling him 10 make reports; which motion was car
100, noes 40