Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-11
DEFERRED DEB.3TE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
JL,,.,y,,. L. r.
REPEAL. OF THE BANKRUPT LAW.

insrucng our Senators in Congress to vote for anc
procure repeal Of The General Bankrupt Law, passec
at the late extra session of Congress- He moved tina
the resolution be now taken up and considered.
MIR. CRCTcuFiELD, without having heard any thine
from the gentleman from Preston on the subject, knew
enough OF the proposition before the House, from III
statement by the Chair, TO determine him TO vote
against and oppose the motion take up the resolu
ton. Should It be taken up, he anticipated more re
marks from that gentleman at some future day.
/ Mr.. e. hoped that the attention Of the House would
be seriously called 10 the proposition to take up anc
consider the question IL the first step which hat
been proposed TO be taken for introducing the subec
of Federal relations into the deliberations OF the House
at the present session. lie asked gentlemen if they
were prepared to enter at large into the discussion q
the subject. He begged them seriously to pause al
we'll consider the matter before they determined TO EN-
bark as extensively into the consideration OF the sub
ect, they would necessarily have to d. should they
take up the resolution. "A for his own part, Mr. Z
said, he should not hesitate for one moment IN The
he should adopt in all matters OF this kind. he
should vote against all motions TO consider resolutions
on the subject Of Federal Relations though he NIGH
agree with the of the resolutions III the objects
sought to be attained And here he would say that he
agreed with the gentleman from Preston in his views
on the subject of the Bankrupt Law. As he under
stood that law, he opposed to it decided grounds
lie opposed to it out and out because he considered
it inexpedient and unconstitutional. Therefore, nc
should go farther than him n endeavoring to bring
about It's repeal if he thought it at all incumbent on
Il him, this House. TO move in the matter lie thought
this indeed most extraordinary case, and he was
ghened in his views the subject when he con
sdered the fact, that both Of the Senators from Slr
gn;a had voted against the passage of the Bankrupt
law and when he recollected that the State had the
same Senators as then. lie would 20 iurthcf-he
had some assurances-at least, he had reason for
believing that whenever an opportunity should offer
the Senators from Virginia would vote for repeal oil
the law. Why then instruct them, Mr.. G. would
not, far lie concerned vote for such rcson
ton that of the gentleman, under present clrcum.
Stances if it could be passed without dlsse n.
tent voice-hecause he was opposed to all useless lie.
gisatlOn. But was it Likely that the gentleman would
get his resolution passed Would it not consume a
vast deal Of time and money in long debates Some
gentlemen, Mr.. L. did not know how many might be
opposed 10 the proposition 10 repeal the Bankrupt law,
and might refuse TO sanction any view tending that
way. They would answer the arguments Of those IN
favor of repeal, and, therefore, proracted discus
sion would ensue. Mr.. {. reminded the House that a
batch OF resolutions the subject of Federal Rela-
tons offered the day, and that the discus
sion nj those would necessarily follow this
There time, said M. c., when the resolves Of
| Virginia had some influence, not only upon her own
representatives, but the Union. That time, he fear
ed was past. She had not the influence which
she exertcd and which was felt in times past. Another
view presented itself TO his mind Upon whom was
the influence to DE exerted, Ii the Senators were OPP
posed to the law, it unnecessary TO instruct them
nd To the Representatives who were TO be request
ed only =, out OF u had voted for the law. Then,
con;cndcd Mr. c., all the influence we could exercise
would not be worth the time already consumed in the
discussion of the question. If any influence to be
pense Of the public Treasury. We were in debt; with
all exertions, with increased taxes, we should
have to raise $i00,000-money which must shortly
be paid. Under these circumstnnces-wth orr Urea
sury so suated-did il become us to embark in
the discussion OF Federal Relations; MIR. &. trust
ed that The House would take the ball at its first
hop and refuse to enter into this subject. lie hoped
they would SC. precedent By which to BE- govern
ed in future, and not spend two or three weeks IN
the discussion of Federal Relations thereby spend
ing $50, 900 out Of the public Treasury-a SUM snfi
cicnt 10 pay the interest large loan. lie begged
gentlemen to disregard the advantages which they
might derive from discussion OF this subject. They
minht derive some political capital from il; but he
hoped they would iorego that, convinced as he was
that they might do the people good by letting the
money remain in their pockets than by acting on Fede
raj Relations.
Mr.. Blows of Preston was truly glad to hear the
Jews Of the gentleman from Spottsylya the
pedency of the Bankrupt Law. He reioced TO
find that the gentleman regarded as unconstitutional;
STILL he sorry to hear the bugc sounded in the
House. calling the party spare them the debate.
He surprised 10 any debate arise on motion
10 okc up the resolution which he had subnltted and
thought if debate was to he had II would be much more
appropriate the resolution itself 1.-THE gentleman
CONSTITUTIONAL why, asked MIR. Brown, did he not act
with him and let the resolution be passed without diff
Guilty md without opposition? If the gentleman and
his friends would act with him, Mr. B., the resolution
might easily be passed in five minutes, without expense
and without debate. Gentlemen would not DO this,
there was no probability of their doing it, and Mr. B.
feared something Interior in The matter Their aversion
to any action grew out ofheir hostility to the principles
of Virginia. He greatly feared they wished to play
into the hands of party beyond the limits of Virginia
party who were seeking, srenuously and an1ously
seeking, the aid of the Bankrupt law.
Mr. b. reiterated his expressions OF surprise and as
constituent at the opposition which had been made to
the motion to take up the resolution he had offered
He really expected it would prevail unanimously. lie
well knew the character of his people, and his
knowledge of their opinions made him free 10 say, that
they, whether belonging to the Democratic or TO the
Wing party were universally opposed to the Bankrupt
law. They expected that Virginia would speak out on
the subject-woud declare her opposition to such an
odious measure-would speak as became the fame OF
the venerable aud proud Commonwealth.
Mr. B. then referred 10 the reason set forth by gen.
temen for passing the resolution evnced by the
fact that Senators both voted against the Bankrupt
Law lie replied to the argument and dwelt upon the
propety of the State speaking out account of the
weight and efficiency which it would give to our Sena
tors in their action If backed by the moral influence
of their State thus solemnly and delibe rntey speak
ing, they would be jealous in their Efforts and
those efforts would be crowned with power which
if gentlemen would act with him, and act with unan
nifty, il would tell at the West and elsewhere. Gentle.
men might attempt ridicule Virginia and her resou
tons; but they could not, in spite of all their Efforts
and all their attempts at satire and buesque, SINK the
wellearned reputation she had acquired 1t was indeed
vain for them to endeavor detract from the many
!aurels she had won and from the high standing she
enjoyed amongst her sister States MIR. b. said he had
received numerous communications pressing HIM to
persist in this communications from the far
West urging the propriety Of Pie course which he pro-
posed that Virginia should adopt in taking stand on
this subject, and loudly calling for aepea OF the Bank
rupt Law
MIR. B. then proceeded TO call the attention of the
House the fact that the Bankrupt law would go into
operation the LIST of February next; and hence lie
deduced the importance of early and immediate action
on the resolution. The day which its odious exac
tons were to commence was fast approaching Already
had it been felt anticipation. No sooner did it pass
Congress than creditors began TO be alarmed and to
press their debtors. They commenced actions against