Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-02-25
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY, fEBRUARf Is, 1914

Staies Of this Confederation, and that il could
not be passed, unless 40 part Of The system
Of measures, TO suppose that she would refuse
her support TO il. The people Of that stata, 10
spirit Of sympathy, wonld shy, II the measure
was demanded BY the interests of the other
sectiony Of the country, they would yield their
objections 70 the one measure, and nike n as a
part Of the system He pledged his life for il
that when Kentucky we t0ld fbas this was .
link in the frsat system Of Wing msaauses,
including the Bank and al, ohe would ~,
preserve The entire system, Sathl than reject
the Bankrupt Law. $50 measures Of relief
were ~ necessary nows % they were y the
extra session.a Thesl vas no return % public
prosreritys ss6r w6s ID Dispes tfth tlJcm.
The reverse was too 1ue. All ihS considers
tons that existed at he extr1Aoession for their
adoption, exists much stronger now Than at
that time. They were not likely to be dimin-
ished in the future. The circumstances with
which they were then surrounded presented to
his mind sad and glooey future. The en-
barrassments under which The country was
grooming, were, he feared, to b increased
He appealed to the Senator'S 10 know whether
they would, when the country was writhing
under It's distress, repeal this law without
moments warning. He argued that the inter-
ests Of the creditor were.as we'll taken care Of
in the law, as the interests Of the debtor, un-
less they were prepared 10 say that the creditor
was not only entitled 10 The soul OF the debtor.
but the souls cfhis wife and children. He ap-
pealed to the friends of the system not to per-
nit one portion Of Ii TO be undpne, unless they
were prepared 10 yield the whole, which would
be the effect of the abandonment .f this law.
The morning hour having expired,
The Senate then took up the bill Of the
House Of Representatives TO repeal the Bank
rupt law.
Mr.. Benton resumed his remarks from yes
ierday. But, before entering upon the further
enforcement Of the two leading points Of OBJ
lection, one as to the character Of the bankrupt
&C, of last session, beins general insolvens
law for the abolition Of debts and abrogation
Of contracts at the will and pleasure Of the
debtor; and the other as to the choice OF time
and place which it leaves 70 his discretion;
Mr.. Benton, Ia allusion to the remarks Of the
Senator from Kentucky, Mr.. Clay,] on pre-
sen,ing the last petition before the orders Of
the day came up, remarked. that the Senator'S
lMr. CIay's1 concluding words were the pith
and only argument Of all the memorials, petit
lions, and remonstrances addressed TO Con-
gress in support Of the law; and the only ar
guments urged ia the Senate againstits repeal.
These petitions, arguments, and speeches,
were nothing but appeals to tbs passions, on
false assumptons-ons assumptions wholly
L--.i..- :. r.-;.. Of fnvt and wholly untena-
Bile, even WIN aI1 The arts OF sophistrv, before
any assembly Of the people or this Union
The whole burden ofihese appeals is the ..un.
fortunate, honest and deserving debtor;"" will
MT 10, tc I,,ss hv III suo a.,
doors Of The prison house, and let the incarce-
rated come cut from his dungeon to see the
light Of day, and breathe the vital air - will
not Congress strike the nlanacles from his
limbs, and let him have the free use Of them,
10 labor for the support and enjoyment Of his
starving family !" Where are debtors i'm
prisoned, Ia wha, dungeon are they incar-
cerated from The light Of day or the vital air !
Where are their limbs manacled and shackled
and kept from locomotion In what State Of
this Union were the persons of debtors subject
to any such rest. intsl Did not those who
made these baseless appeals know they were
all gross Observation-Disclosures appeals to the
UNIV r.hy Of the conside,a alton
If any grave deibera,ive body! Yet the SEN
ator from kentucky had carried his ilnagina-
ton SO far as to lead him 10 argue upon the
supposition that all the bankrupts Of the Uni
ted States are in prison--is dark and dismal
Observation-Disclosures shut out
from light and air and family ties! That they
are all therein this condition--anxiously
waiting for these three days to expire that their
chains NAV be struck of--the prison doors
thrown open--and themselves restored 10 the
light Of heaven and liberty, 10 provide for their I
families! Is not this all sheer imagination
all fancy, with scin,illa Of fact for its basis
and vet the whole Of this is nothing but a col
lation and repetition Of every speech and every
petition offered ia support Of The bankrupt act
of last session. All is about unfortunate, hon
est and deserving bankfupls imprisoned for
debt. II is all gross falsity-all piece
Of rhetorical inagination--all got up to influ-
enc the feelings and passions Of those who
ought not TO be governed hy passions Of mere
in matters Of crave legislation
Having disposed ofthe Incidental matter grow
ing out Of the remarks Of the Senator from
Kens1cky. Mr.. Benson took up his argument
whore he left off yesterday, expasiating on the
unconstitutionality Of a general insovent law
for the abolition Of all deh1s, and abrogation
Of all contracts at the option and pleasure OF
the debtor. He traced from The Romans the
origin OF The English system Of Bankruptcy
its progress through successive reigns down 70
the amendatory act Of William the Fourth the
state Of the English system prevailing at the
time the Constitution ofths United States was
adopted the charter Of all legislation on the
subject of the power granted 10 Congress 10
the CONSTITUTIONAL show that, until the IN
PRODUCTION Of bill BY late Senator from = as
sachusetts, [Mr. Webster, twS years ago, on
q petition from Mr.. Siillwsii, now Marshal Of
the Southern District Of New York, an idea
mover was entertained by any legislative body
or earth, 10 enact law for the abolition Of all
private debts and 'abroratio. Of all contracts