Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-15
TWEsTy.sEvEsTn coN,,wEss--2; Session
H.dn.sriaa. f,jraGrg ..
SENATE.


Mr. TA1Lw.pen presented rcmonstrance against
the repeal pcs.ponemcnt at the Bankrnp, Law. IL
was signed by respectable citizens OF ST. LOUIS IN the
State OF Missouri lie glad To have this e7dcnce
from that quarter in favor of the benign and hcnehcen'
law lie would move IN reference 10 the judiciary
Committee
MIR, L,ss would be sorry indeed, ifhe remonsrances
Just presented he considered As any evidence
al the opnions and sentiments of the State OF MIS-
souri, or even uf the citizens Of St LOUIS in relation to
what is called this benign and Jen.hcemtlaw lie knew
that the sentiments of Missouri were the very reverse
Of those expressed this remonstrance lie was CERTAIN
that the people of that State looked upon The law us
any thing but that benign and 5enecent measure whch
it represented to be. lie also knew the way III whe
these sentiments in favor OF the law had oeeh o'ouS
To bear on local spots aud in various places, IN oruer
10 sustan the measure He would venture to say that
the great body of the American people had not yet
fully discussed the merits OF that law But Inc consi
Iteration OF it had commenced, and the subject would
yery soon be thoroughly understood. ana when the
consideration and discussion in progress shall have
arrived at that pomt and their sentiments sha DC pro-
claimed in relation the post faeto power OF TINS law
10 abolish all contracts, gentlemen VINO now oeciafe
that the country cerishes II as tentgR anu Oehfcch
measure will have TO change their opinions. IL VIII
he found that is the creditor portion oil Inc COM
munity which was entitled 10 their sympathy lie
was himself the last person in the world to deny ms
sympahies 10 the distressed HIS whole lie mao ma,
been assed in professionally relieving distress. lie
had always believed that inst and equitable Bank
rup, law would effect considerable good IN relieving
the unfortunate But he had, with his friends IN TINS
body resisted the ac OF last session. because he ana
thew scientiously believed IL was vloiaton not
oply of the Letter. bu, the spirit of the Constitution
He should not now have said word, had not this re-
onstrance from ST Louis, the prlnc'pa cry oil ms oate
been held forth and appealed TO as an evidence OF the
feelings of the people OF Missouri IN favor oil the BANK
ruut law now in operation. lie in favor OF be-
nirn and benefcent law operating equally ana consul
,u:ionay But this law was very far from being emit
lied 10 that character He considered 1t mere sponS
ing law for the abolition of all contractsa law not only
,mna;rino contracts but destructive of morals and
aprarian in it's principles. lie and the party 10 which
ne belonged had been repeatedly alluded to as agrarlan
IN their doctrines But those who had passed thus Bank
rnos law were opposed by him and ms ifends on Tue
- bounds of s being acrarian in its principles, de
strneivs of public morals, and unequal and inquitous
in lis operation. :
Cen,lan,en vino have accused him and his friends OF
being aqraran and have so repeatedly SAID mat their
cc,s I'm uroyed so injurious to the morals OF the peo
nle and have produced the dstresses of the country
viii very soon have TO pass the ordeal oil public ludg
1ncnt and stand condemned themselves when the mlsts
have passed away which have shrouded them. linen
viii bp heard u different character OF the measure
which he MIR L. and his friends have advocated and OF
those of the gentlemen who have denounced them
rae voice Of the people will be heard in relation to
this Bankrupt Law, loud and decisive as II was
heard in relation to their projected tax on YEA anu cor
fee Gentlemen will have TO back out again, as they
did then The country going through change, some
thing like geological change. 1t is going through
transition 1t is, geologIcally speaking IN TRANSITION
state All he desired was, that gentlemen would no
longer deceive themselves and others he desired that
the Senate would investigate before it received the
opinions forced upon the opinions OF the people
was it not very well known that opinions are manu-
featured by int rested individuals 10 produce certain
results The great mass of the agricultural commu-
nitv stnr under their vines and under the shade
ii their own Zig trees, or BY their own iiresdes, Know
nothing of what going what devices are resorea
TO- order to bring the influence OF such OPINIONS 10
bear They know not the manner IN which iiiey are
circulated for endorsement, and then forced upon Con-
gres. as .pubc opinion" Blu, he would now refer more
particularly TO the manner III which such puohc
opinion" is manufactured tie wonid reisr 10 the IN
stance in regard to the removal Of the public dePosles
by Cen Jackson Look at the public on that SUBJECT
comprising ak large volumes. And what gentle
man would now stand up and say the people OF the
Union are in favor of I-char;ering such National
Bank the removal OF IN" depoiss aided III destroy
ING: How was the JeaigrtfY and denefcencc vi a
measure TO be estimated How, but by lis effects and
bv reference to example in relation TO similar mea-
sures And whc. the effects ar the example
If former bankrupt law, much less obnoxious !:
Nlo looking back 10 the benign bankrupt law o.!
is00-l will say it moral IN its effects and Just
and benrfcent in The character Of lis results Just
what then happened viii now happen. Congress was
very soon obliged repeal that law, almost BY acca-
nation So 1t will he with regard to the called be-
yion and bentfcent law OF last session
MIR. TALLa,pGF explained that he had merely sad,
4
nome of the most respectable citizens of ST. LOUIS, and
he was glad have that evidence Of the favorable
tiInent entertained in relation to this law from that
quarter If public opinion manufactured IN that
city in favor of the law, 1t was not certainly by the
rigners of this remonstrance.
Mr. LIsS explained that he had said public opinion
got up for the occasion, but did not say by the
signers of this remons,rance The way IN which pub
c opinion is manufactured he would explain There
are photographic petitions prepared by Interested per-
eons who scatter them throughout the whole country,
and obtain names 10 them, by paying the collector SO
much per name as he has heard, and believes 10 be
true. cent apiece will thus produce names in thou
sands of those who have not considered and discussed
the merits of the measure, and perfectly unaware
of its consequences. great deal Of public opinion
has been manufactured in this way He did not say 1t
had been done in this instance-ndeed he was certain
it had not but that such is the way public opinion has
been got up generally in favor of the Bankrupt law Is
notorious. Now, he protested against this sort OF cS-
preston Of opinion from large cities being enforced as
the opinion Of the people 1t species OF city IN
luence on legislation which he must protest against
Tie protested against manufactured opinion TO
Cor public opinion.
AS far as the remonstr1nce presented is con-
cerned he believed il signed by many who are III
every way respectable; and he was willing to receive
4. US their opinion; but certainly not rs the opinion OF
The citizens of st. Louis at large
Mr. TaLLMApGE wasvey happy 10 Learn from the gen
;lcman himself that, although he believes such ;i-
features of public opinion he had described had hec
GOT ~ in other great cestheTc had been no Suchopc
ration carried in ST. Louis He was also glad 10 have
lis testimony that the SigncrS OF the emonSirancc from
that city were among lis most respectable inhabitants
He would that tins reronStrance not one OF me
lhograph petitions which he had alluded, and that
it is moi a manufactured expression Of opinion The
Senator appealed the experience OF the former Ban
lupl law He also commented in the strongest terms on
The measures of the party which passed this
Yet if gentlemen on his Mr.. TailmadgeSl side, com
,nen,ed upon the measures of their political opponents
grea, complaints made Bu he would say ila, ne
Thing should prevent him. all occasions he might think
proper from commenting with freedom upon any system
of policy presented for his consideration lie would com
mcnt freely on the effects OF measures and lei the gem
llenen OH The other side do too.
Mr. L,SS observed that he would readily accede 10
that As long as personalities not applied, there
could be objection to free discussion and free com.
men, And he was sure the Senator from New York
sirnnnlv as he have