Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-31

venue service. aid uniting It to the Navy; and usn'
iron in the construction Of said vessels and report y
bill or otherwise.
Mr.. HOPKINS suggested that part of this sub
ect was already under the consideration oil commit
lee.
Mr. KING did not conceive that any harm coui'
arise from the consideration Of this subject
MIR. ADAMS reminded the House that the subJec
of establishing line of steamers between this cohh'l
and France, Jointly with that natonD was orough
before the House at the last session. by message fron
the Executve-that message was referred to the Com
mi,tee on Foreign Affairs, and they reported res9iu
ton favorable to the project, by calling upon the Ne
partment of State to report at tins ne
solution would be postponed until that resolution nae
been replied to. cd. ,.,o
MIR. KING Of Georgia was aware of the d'rectior
which The resolution alluded TO by the honorable gen
lleman from Massachusetts had taken, at he last seS
sion and so far as regarded the communication across
h Atlantic he should unree with him. that that portion
of the resolution he had the honor TO submit mght DC
stricken out There were, however, other ports WIN
which it might be important to estaoi'sn commune
cations by The means OF steam vessels IL was true
that the French Government were engaged IN es'a
bshing fourteen steamers for line across the Atlan
tc and bis insertion Of foreign ports in his resolution
was with no view Of coming in conflict with them
file conceived that it might be of the utmost import
ance 10 the country 10 establish line ol steamboat
communication between New York and Chasres, or
reign ports in his resolution, he had that route IN view
solely and not France. There were also various I'M
portant points the lakes, as we'll as on the missis
sppi at which steamboat lines might very advantage
ously be established. How desirable 1t might be IN
time of peace SO to administer the aars OF the Navy
and Post Office Departments by aiding in the eslab.
lshment Of steamboat lines the vessels OF which might
be converted into armed steamers IN time oil war; would
be the proper subject of inquiry Tor the committee
Mr.. X in conclusion, said that he would, at the
suggestion of the gentleman strike out lie ~o'as
oregn pors though he did not see the necessity for
doinp so; for information was desirable, come from
" hatever quarter il might
Mr.. KENNEDY, of Maryland, entirely concurred
with the gentleman from Georgia as to the proprety
and expediency of such inquiry as he had suggest
ed He had now in his possession petition from a
gentleman residing the Pacific, pointing out the i'm,
portance of mail communication between this coun
Try and The Pacific, through the lsthmus OF Panama
He should present that petition at the hrst opportunity
allowed him to do so.
Mr.. KING of Georgia begged leave to add, that he
too had received various communications, which he
should take the earliest opportunity OF presenting IL
was not unknown to the House, that at the last session
this subject was under consideration and referred for the
action OF committee. He hoped there would be no
objection to the appointment of committee.
The question was then put end the resolution was
adopted.
INDEMNITY FOR FRENCH sPoLIATIoNs.
Mr.. ADAMS observed that he gave notice the other
day that he should this day move TO 60 into COMMITTEE
of the Whole for the purpose of acting on the bill pro-
viding indemnity for French spoliations prior to lo0O
That bill (hr. a. snd) stood first on the calendar and
he now moved that the House resolve itself into CON-
mittee of the Whole for the purpose of taking up
MIR. PlCKENS inquired whether this proposition
took precedence over the Bankrupt Law.
The SPEAKER replied that the motion was in or
der.
Mr. MEDILL called for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered and, on taking the question: resulted in
yeas So, nays 90.
So the House refused TO go into Committee of the
Whole.
MIR. CAMPBELL of South Carolina in accordance
with the notice he had given asked leave TO introduce
the bill in relation to the Congressional Districts.
Objection was made.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
On motion of MIR. EVERETT, the House took up
the bill for the repeal Of the Bankrupt Law.
Mr. THOMPSON Of Indiana, who was entitled TO
the floor addressed The House at length in reply to the
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.. CushingI He
had supposed that the present session was to be devoeo
entirely business and the progress made thus tar had
confirmed his expectations. No evidence OF DISPOSE
ton to make the hall of the House arena for party
conflicts had appeared until yesterday, when the re-
markable spectacle exhibited by special friend oil
the present Administration coming here to throw hire
brands into The House, and TO charge the majority with
negecting the public business This charge OF neglect
of the public business by the Wing party was the war
out its progress its close and during the recess II
seemed that the cry was now to be resumed
Mr.. 4. made long speech, defending the wings
the attacks Of the Presidents party and placing
in strong ridcule The movement OF Mr Cushing, IN
putting the administration up TO the highest bidder
Mr. T. did not touch the subject under discus
sion: The Repeal of the Bankrup, Law.
Mr.. EVERETT obtained the floor and, with a few
preliminary remarks, moved the previous question:
Before taking the question his motion, however,
Al. hat ;rht ka nF he
House.
MIR. KENNEDY of Indiana appealed to the gentle
man from Vermont 10 withdraw the call for the pre-
vous question until he, gentleman on his side
of the House, could be heard on the subject
Mr. EVERETT refused to comply
Mr.. KENNEDY said if he could make no better
arrangement, he would undertake to renew the mo-
ton If the gentleman would withdraw it.
MIR. EVERETT insisted on his motion.
The question then taken on the motion for a
call of the House. and it was negatiyed.
Mr. BRIGGS called for tellers on secondng the de-
mand for the previous question. Tellers, however,
were not appointed; and the motion OF the gentleman
from Vermont was negatived.
MIR. KENNEDY then proceeded 10 address the
House The question of repeating the bankrupt law,
he said had created considerable sensation in that
House. He originally voted agains, the passage Of
that law, but not because he opposed to q well
regulated bankrupt system; aud he should vote tor
the repeal BILL because he conceived large majority
OF the American people mad decided against lhe ci US
it was But he was free to soy that he believed the
bankrupt law Of the extra session had done lis worst,
or, in the language of the gentleman from Vermont,
who was its advocate, it had answered the purpose OF
ills passage; or rather, he (Mr. X might say the
purpose of those who passed it. II had given the I'D
vantage to many, who were not entitled TO IL 10 get
rid of their honest debts and now, when the time
had arrived at which many honest men would take
advantage of its provisions, it was TO be repealed
lie responded then, fully to the observation OF
the gentleman from vcrmont-that it had accom-
plished its object; and he (lr X would now vote
against lis repeal, if this bill they could engratt
good that would be prospective in lis opera
tion and that should include corporations within its
provisions But, as he had said, he should now vote
for the repeal BILL because the American people hat
said i, must be repealed. He must, however, be per
mitted to say, that the and the mode OF the
passage of The law Objectionable TO him, and the
House must excuse him if he spoke plainly on tina
subject. What, then, were the circumstances under
which the bill became the law of the land? lie under
.,ood ona N ha that IL might be the