Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-20
Mr.. CLAY AND THE p,Sr,,,,r ,o,,

MIR CLAY AND THE BANKRUPT ACT
In consequence of the Opposition to the Bank
iup' ACT ny the kentucky delegation, the def,m.r'
OF N' C'ny' who ore ever on the alert To bl,ekeu
his name, have imputed that opposition 10 him In
The senate. Monday. he took occasion To refer ia
the Impu'ation in terms BETTING his ch,r,c,., W.
extract from the proceedings, the following.
MIR CLAY had great v'riciy Of petitions 10 r,,.
sen'' aI .'uons'ret,ng against the repeal or post
ponement OF The Bankrupt law. He ,nu,nn,a, -,
them IN parcels Of from two To ,our st,,,n 1870
theV came, and generally by what numbers s;ensJ
Before making a motion To refer them he suL,,,,, a
lew observations on the subject, particularly in
reference To the arguments proponnded ia - ~
Postpoheuen! or repeal, namely, that one bun,l,.d
inlllons oi dollars worth of propertv ,ro,lJ -
thrown by tho operation Of tho under tne a,,r
uoneers hammer, at n time that the country could
not furnish means TO purchase such prnperty This
he considered an unfaunded assumption. lie knew
not why two hundred millions might not be as.uo,
ed az well as one. But whether fifty millions or
one hundred, or two hundred Millions he would
ASH what worse IT would be to have the proncrtv
OF debtors sold under the operation of the B,nkru nj
ac', than under the executions orthe Courts. and
10y The shcrfts, or other officers Would II NOT in
iac va better, because all the creditors would get
pro ra'n snare under the Bankrupt act but none ex-
cep' ne partial tredors under the execution Of the
sherii. In the latter casc the creditors would hive
no motives to attend safes and hjd for the proncr,v
with view OF realizing the most from it, but under
the Bank upt net all would be Interested in keenny
the property from being sacrificed. In conclusion
he referred to rumor which hat been circu 'n,.d ~
amnnner that demanded some notice M his b,nJs
This rumor was that he had ins;.at,d certain
movements in the other end Of the Ctptol fibe
House oi Representatives in relation 70 the rene,l
OF the Bankrupt law. He scorned to repel an in
slnuauon SO dishonorable, and 81 Inconsistent with
his whole course Of life and character. He mi.b,
as well he accused Of originating the motion Of his
Trend from Missouri mir. Linnl TO repeaI the Dis
ulouuon act. When the Bankrupt act was or It's
passage IN the other House. every one of the Ken
lucky delegation but one voted against IL; and that
one, on hrs return home, finding reason TO chance
ms cplnion, had now voted for its repeal. II had
been insinuoted on this, that he mir Ciav) Ind
dictatd to the Kentucky delegation. a nd Influenced
iheir recent vote. Those who made the iusinuation
knew nothing Of Kcntuckans if they supposed
any delegation sent from that State would brook
such dctntion. And whatever difference of oninion
prevailed IN the Senate between himself and those
who were opposed To him in politics he could an
peal 10 every gentleman in that chamber for the re-
iuaion To all such insinunions. He believed tber.
was not one who would couniensnce the foul cal .
umny-not one who did not believe of him that
Whatever mny be tic errors of the head, the heart
at least was right and that he had studied To live
ana 40 an honest man-honest IN puolic and IN
private lite. Having made these few observations
re moved That the petitions should he referred TO IN
committee on the judiciary; and they were SO re-
At general Meeting of the subscribers OF the II eh
mond Library Association, held on the 18th nst,
the following named gentlemen were elected OFF
GERS for the present year, viz;
WM. u. HAMILTON, President;
THos. SAMSON, LIST Vice President;
Gus. a. MYERS, 81 do;
Jonw l.. Bacon, Secretary
JonS Ii. Cook, Treasurer.
DIRECTORS:
Samue Nj. Price, Boiling Haxall
James kent, Henry a Homes,
Joseph w. Randolph, Lawson Nunnaiiy,
Robert X. Duvnl, C. J. Richards,
Henry Christian, Thos. NJ. Smith,
Tnos. a. Haley, EIwd Ii. Skinker.