The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-01-21
REPEAL OF THE BANKRUPT LAW.

The proposition now before the House Of Rep
resentutives of Congress for the repeal ofihe Bank
rupt Law passed at the Extra Session, has been re-
ceived. by this community, with the most profound
astonishment and regret. The circumstances I'M
der which this Law was passed were of Il peculiar
character. For many years past. some enactment,
| establishing Il uniform system of Bankruptcy had
been loudly called for, from oil parts of the
Union. The distresses consequent upon n series Of
years Of maladminslralion Of the national affairs,
by the locolnco Pary--the unparalleled and nor-
dinate expansion of paper money throughout the
country, which naturally followed the withdrawal
Of the wholesome control exercised by the United
States Bank, before Jackson waged his indicative
war against that lnsiituton--thc malignale opera
ton OF Bcnton's specie humbugs,--and other Ito
plan projects of the same visionary and senscess
dynasty, had brought vast members Of the most
active and public spirited among the business por-
ton Of the population of oui country, into state
of hopeless and irrelreyable insolvency. Under
this state Of whitening oppression, surmountable by
no efforts of their own, good half million of the
most active portion of our fcow-citizens were,
either medlately or Immediately, suffering intensity
of torture which we will not undertake TO describe
When, then, there was fair prospec. of a change
in the administration of our National Government
when these, our oppressed lelow-citzens, saw
or though, they saw, that the iron grasp Of re-
morsecss despotism was about 10 be unloosed--
there appeared, to their delighted visions, a bow of
promise, radiant with the bright hues ola confident
hope, sreached over the Heavens, and spanning
the Earth. Then it seemed that the long desired
the long deerrcd--ihe almost abandoned expec-
la,ion ofrellef was at last TO be realized. When,
in the prosecution of its promised measures, the
new Wing Observation-Disclosures 10 its promises
and true TO its Unsurpassed that benignant and
salutary law, which came TO these afflicted people
with healing on It's wings-they felt rs if the curse
which had been denounced against them had been
suddenly revoked the cumulative weight Of misery
removed from their shouders--and then went up
TO Heaven. from the lips Of the wives and children
of the relieved n sincere and fervent benediction,
upon those wise and humane legislators who had
worked so much good for them and Their country.
VIII il be believed that this cup of bliss is about
TO he dashed from the'lips, TO which II was intend
ed to carry peace and comfort? Does it come with
in the scope Of human comprehension TO conceive,
that the very same Congress, with sort of incon-
ceivabe insanity, and within five short months of
its passage, now agitatng the repeal of that ex-
celient measure Cold and heartless men, some
of them--ardent, over-zeaous, and thoughess
mcn--have combined their forces, TO annul this
nerciful edict-and there is imminent danger that
their Vaccinations any prevail.
Petitions, signed by thousands upon thousands
OF our elowcillzens went up to the Halls of Con-
gress in favor of this Law. Resolutions, approx
ing 1t. have been passed by the Legislatures of
many Of the States. Chambers Of Coismerce me- |
lnoriazed in support of it. Public meetings in its
favor have been held IN cities, towns and villages
in all parts of the Union. An almost unanimous
voice went forth from the people, invoking the
Government to this measure Of relief Under these
benign influences, the Law was enacted-and |
scarcely any measure OF our Government has, at |
,nyImc, secured to l'sclf' more decided popular
NV