Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-23

to be unsuccessful, all that they can claim
is a faithful surrender Of his remaining
effects. Let him give these and begin the
world again. What is the effect of SUBJ
jecting his future acquisitions to the seizure
of his creditorsl 1t is to stihe in him the
spirit of enterprise, and 10 bind him and
his family down TO perpetual poverty,
without the remotest prospect Of benefit TO
his creditors, or TO society"
ave should provide a uniform system of
bankruptcy upon as liberal principles as
Justice will warrant---and as experience |
shall show its imperfectons, we should
give it such consideration and amendment
as will be found equitable. SHOULD Ex-
PEcT ITS PROVISIONS TO BE EXTENDED TO
ALL CLASSES OF EVERY PROFESSION, INvoL-
UNTARY AS TO MERCHANTS, AND VOLUNTARY
AS TO OTHERS"
THE law should embrace ALL CASES Ex-
lsTING AT THE PASSING OF THE LAW, as
well as all which may happen in future.
Such are my views upon this subject. |
do not set up myself as a standard for
others-organized as am, could not act
otherwise, without a violation of con.
science and the obligations of solemn duty
For have no doubt that if the system
should be established, its beneficial effects
would be felt in every part of our country,
and especially throughout our whole trad.
ing community. 1t is a system which |
believe prevails in every commercial coun-
try in Europe, and in every civilized ma
ton on the globe. Indeed, from the ear
Hest antiquity, the Jews, though an agri-
cultural nation had their general jubilees.
1t is the same measure in different form,
the same great conservative principle for
the same great object. In this country all
power is based on the will Of the people.
We have no legal or constitutional classes
but the rich and the poor, the fortunate and
the unfortunate, are all equal. There is a
perpetual revolution of property; the poor
becoming rich and the rich becoming poor;
and TO suffer any unnecessary impeachment
to enterprise, is to interrupt the prosperity
of the nation. If then. the relief which a
bankrupt law gives, EXTENDING ALL
IT'S PROVISIONS TO ALL WHO DE-
SIRE 1T, is proper for any other country,
it is MUCH MORE DUE TO THIS GREAT RE
PUBLIC"
So much for "Od Tecumsehw Let us
now introduce the late Senator Linn, Col.
Bentons personal, and political friend, and
the staunchest of Locofocos, to the witness
stand. That gentleman declared, that the
introduction of clause including corpor-
atoms was with him ga sine qua non,
whether he would vote for Bankrupt
Bill or not" See Con. Globe, p. 444.]
On the 5th June, Mr.. Walker (of Mi)
spoke as follows:
"MR. WALKER SPOKE EMPIIATIcALLY N
FAVOR OF PASSING SUCH BILL Gncluding
the banks if it could be done,) and insist
ing that PUBLIC OPINION WOULD
SOON RENDER 1T INEVITABLE"
[See Con. Globe, p. AS.
Again, July 25, ls4I, Mr.. Walker said:
"If this law was not passed, the Mou-
sands of unfortunate debtors IN this country
,could either haze TO WEAR TIE CHAINS OF
THE SLAVE, OR BECOME EXILEs FROM THEIR
NATIVE LAND" mo man could doubt
that Congress. has the porcer to grant the
relief so loudly called for and the States
had not the power"
Mr.. Senator Strange, spoke as follows:
HE proposed to amend the first section
of the bill. by striking out of the sixth line
the words, "that he hath been engaged in
trading" and of the eleventh line, the
words, "as trader liable TO become" and
in the thirteenth line, the word "according-
! ly" 1t would be seen that the object of this
amendment was TO prevent the provisions
of the VOLUNTARY portion of the bankrupt
bill being exclusively applicable to traderS.7
Thus il will be seen that the party, who
now impute to Mr.. Clay as a sin not
within the reach of forgiveness, his opin.
ions in favor of the Bankrupt Law, first
of all proposed one exactly of the same
nature-that scheme TO that effect was
first preached by distinguished Senator
of the Loco Focc Party-and that in fact
it was Democratic" scheme throughout.
That the "Party" was animated by any
patriotic intentions we do not believe.
The key TO the whole manGuvre is TO be
found in Benton's declaration, in June
1910, (six months before the election) that
five hundred thousand voters, demanding
the passage Of law on the eve of an
election, must have an influence on the
hopes and fears of Lawgiver, as well as
on his judgment and conscience But in.
stead of being popular, the law has proven
to be the reverse, and hence the eager
anxiety of the party to shift the response
| bility on Mr.. CLAW.