Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-09

solution against repeal OF the Distribution Law, which
the Senate ded by adding another resolution, as
follows, viz:
"Resolped further That the people Of this Common
wealth we'll as Ike General Assembly, regard the
continuance in force of the land distribution law as
Of far greater Importance than The repeal Of The
Bankrupt law"
You will perceive. that the Senate made two impor-
tant amendments, on changing the instruction TO The
Senators TO vote for repeal of thu Bankrupt law into
request, and the other allowing them if they could
to trade for continuance Of the Distribution law. by
consuming to preserve the Bankrupt, law for that
Siderati0n.
The House, however, rejected the Senatr's amend
ments by vote of yeas to 81 nays; each House ad-
hered 10 its POSITION and the resolutions failed by their
disagreement. No member, however was left in doubt,
that both the Legislature and the people of Kentucky
were in avor of The unconditional repeal of the Bank
rupt law by an overwhelming majority, and "thc obli-
CATION of the Senators TO obey that will was CON-
pete according to the doctrine OF instruction. as laid
down by Mr. Clay in 1917.
IL there Gun be any doubt the subject. it is OBJ
vnted by the remark of Senator Morehead Mr. Clay s
colleague from Kentucky, in January, 1872 on pre-
sen,ing remonstrance against the repeal of the Bank
rupt law. He said ut could not have escaped his
notice, and that Of the Senate, that The Legislature
OF Kentucky had, by large majority passed resolu-
tons upon the subject of the Bankrupt Law, ex-
pressing an opinion, that it ought TO be repealed.
ut was not for him to search for to vndi-
cate The sentiments of the people of that State
THIS or any other question-but he would merely
point to her position under all circumsances and the
manner IN which, whether in times OF prosperity or
distress, in peace in war, she had always acquitted
herself as a member of the Union. Whether the
bankrupt Law was measure of national benefit,
or national injury, was question, about which the
people Of the United States could form their own
conclusions-but whether the measure would affect
taUe0u uiur .Iy Mo nf tho
people OF Kentucky, they alone were competent to
judge-and so far Us he concerned, he thought
that from their judgment there appeal. AT
the Extra Session of Congress he voted fer the Bank
rupt Law. II he had been disposed recount rea-
sons why he should vote for the repeal of the law, he
would have pointed TO the expression Of opinion in
the State from which he came-in truth, he would
have had occasion TO go no further than the other
end of the Capitol, TO satisfy himself OF the public
state of feeling, by observing, that the whole body
OF the delegation from Kentucky, with one excep-
ton, had recorded their votes for the repeal oil The
law. But he should take no such pains Without
entering into discussion of the measure at The pre-
sent time and in advance, he would content himself
Coupling the sentiments ot the Legislature with
what he had md heard since lie came TO the city)
with the remarks, that the law ought to be repealed
and he would conform his conduct to the require.
mcns of the resolution"
Notwithstanding the decisive acton OF The Leglsla
ture the unanimity OF the Kentucky members OF the
other House. and The declarations OF his colleague and
friend in the Senate, all evincing beyond doubt the
will OF his cons tucnts, Mr. Clay voted against the
peal.
II is but lust to Mr.. Clay state the reasons which
induced him 10 disregard the will of his constituents,
uneqair9caliy made known TO him. They were, tina
the Bankrupt law was part of the Wing System which
he wished 10 preserve entre and that he could not
and would not be instrumental in taking from the bank
rupt The relief which had been promised him.
These grounds for disobedence are found distinctly
stated IN speech delivered by him in the Senate The
2Sth January, l542. Having adverled TO The extra
National Bank-the Distribution Law, the increase o
the Tariff, the Bankrupt law, and the relief of The
banks in the District Of Columba-he said
"These were the fruits OF the Extra Session so fa
as they depended upon Congress. THIS the cir
Gle OF benefcent measures, intended 10 embrace al
interests and oil parts of the Union. II was A
GREAT SYSTEM, parts of which more oil
less adapted 20 all portions of the Union. We have
reason to believe, that it was looked upon and re-
garded a ichOle and that rotcS giren fol
somc in the series, not much because eJ
were in conSonance m: the riens If The constituents
,chose Numbers gere Mosc rotcs because they
wanted by other parts Of The Union, and the eompen
satica fcmrd in oter acceptable o
the same series I"
This practice OF buying rotes for measures not "in
consonGnce with the of the constituency by
"other more acceptable MEASURES, however well adapt
ed 10 the promotion Of purposes OF ambition, totally
subversve of the right of instruction. if not of all pu
riiy in legislation
Although the Senate Of Ky was willing Mr.. Clay
should preserve the great Wig system by the means
he had used TO build IT up the House of Representa-
tives repel!ed the sugges,ion by vote nearly unnn
nous. And at the close of the eloquent speech, de H.
vered by Mr.. Clay in opposition to the repeal of the
Bankrupt Law he said land am in vted 10 unite ir
this work Of cruelty have not the heart TO do it
have not the hand to do il. cannot trW not do ii :!
S,rpt Of its poetry, this declaration means, 81 ar
called upon by my constituents 10 vote Tor repeal
the Bankrupt law-I lcH not no 1t p
After few remarks from MIR Benton for, and Mr.
Williams against the repeal, the vote on The bill from
the House Of Representatives. repeating The Bankrupt
law was taken and resulted follows yeas % ma
g.
Those who voted in the affirmative, Messrs
Allen, Archer, Bayard, Benton, Buchanan Calhoun
Fulton, Graham, King, Linn, McRoberts Morehesd
Pierce, Preniiss Rves, Sewer, Smith Of Connecticut
Sturgeon, Tappan, Woodbury., Wright, and Young.
Those who voted in the negative, were hessrs Bar
row, Bates, Berrien, Choate. CLAY, Clayton, Evans
Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum, Nlefrck
Miller Phelps, Porter, Simmons, Smith OF Indiana
Southland, TaIlmadge, Walker, White, Williams ant
Woodbridge.
You will see that the fate Of the bill depended on
Mr.. Cays vote; and had he obeyed The will Of his con
slituenis Tint wholesale repudalion Of honest debts
which disgraced the year 1912, would never have oc
CURED, as the Bankrup, law had not then gone into
operation.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Sipned) LYNN BOYD.
Messrs. w. Coles, Geo. w. Hopkins.