Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-12
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY ~, ls42.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.

By the following vote it will be seen
that the Senate have rejected the bill re.
pealing the Bankrupt Law passed some
time since by the House of Representa-.
tives. Mr.. Preston and Mr.. Mouton were
absent when the vote was taken.
Yeas--Messrs. Allen, Archer, Bayard
Benton, Buchanan, Calhoun, Fulton, Ora
ham, King, Linn, McRoberts, Morehead
Pierce, Prentice, Rives, Sewer, Smith OF
Conn, Sturgeon, Tappan, Woodbury.,
Wright and Young-22.
Nays-Messrs. Barrow, Bates, Berrien,
Choate, Clay of KY, Clayton, Evans,
Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum,
Merrick, Miller, Phelps, Porter, Simmons,
Smith of Ind, Southland, Talmadge, Walk
er, White, Williams and Woodbridgc-23.
DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION.
The following is a copy of apetition pre-
scented by Mr.. Adams, from some forty-five
citizens of Haverhi, Massachusetts:
To the Congress of The United States:
The undersigned, citizens of Haverhill,
in the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts,
pray that YOU will adopt measures peacea-
bly to dissolve the Union of these States
First: Because no Union can be agreea-
bic or permanent which does not present
prospects of reciprocal benefits.
Second: Because vast proportion OF the
resources of one section of the Union is
annually drained to sustain the views and
course of another section without any adj
equate return.
Third: Because Judging from the histo-
nv of past nations) that Union, if persisted
in the present course of things, will GER
xainly overwhelm the whole nation in utter
destruction.
The petition caused considerable excite
ment in the House, and much angry debate.
Mr.. Marshall, of Kentucky, offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which up to our latest
dates, had not been finally acted upon:
Whereas, the Federal Constitution is a
permanent form of Government and of per-
petual obligation, unauthorized or modified
in the mode pointed out by that instrument,
and the members of this house, deriving
their political characters and powers from
the same, are sworn to support it, and the
dissolution of the Union necessarily i'm.
plies the destruction Of that instrument, the
overthrow of the American Republic, and
the extinction of our national existence
A proposition, therefore, to the Represen'
tatives of the people, to dissolve the organ.
ic law framed by their constituents, and to
support which they are commanded by
their constituent to be sworn, before they
can enter upon the execution Of the polit
ical powers created by it, and intrusted tc
them, is high breach of privilege. con
tempt offered to this House, direct prop
osition to the Legislature and each member
of it, to commit perjury; and involves, ne
cessarily, in its execution and its conse
quences, the destruction of our country
and the crime of high treason.
Resolved, therefore, That the Hon. Johr
O. Adams a member from Massachusetts
in presenting for the consideration of the
House of Representatives of the United
States, petition praying the dissolution Of
the Union, has offered the deepest indig
nity to the House of which he is member
an insult to the people of the United
States, of which that House is the Legisla
tive organ; and will, if this outrage be per
mitted to pass unrebuked and unpublished
nave ulSSTdCcu Ills Couitiy y, tiliouSh tiC'i
Representatives in the eyes of the whole
world.
Resolved. further, That the aforesaid
John @. Adams, for this insult, the first o
the kind ever offered to the Government
and for the wound which he has permitted
to be aimed, through his instrumentality, a
the Constitution and existence of hi!
country, the peace, the security, and iber
ty of the people of these States, nigh
well be held to merit expulsion from the
National councils, and the House deem
it an act of grace and mercy, when they
only infict upon him their severest cen
sure for conduct so utterly unworty his
past relations to the State, and his presen
position. This they hereby do for the
maintenance of their own purity and dig
nifty; for the rest, they turn him over to hi
own conscience and the indignation of al
true American citizens.
L