Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-01-27
DEMOCRACY" AND THE BANK
RUPT LAW.
FACTS FROM THE RECORD

The doubIc.deaug Of the Democracy"
towards the Bankrupt Law, is almost with
out parallel in efirontery and deception.
Prior 10 1910, the records of the country
show that both parties favored the enact.
ment Of a Bankrupt Law. Among its
warmest advocates were the very pillars of
the democratic party. The attempt to give
1t party character, originated after the
law was believed to be growing unpopular.
We will prove that Martin Van Buren,,
Thomas ii. Benton, Senators Wall of New
Jersey, and Linn of Missouri Col. Richard
Nj. johnson, Ex-Scnators Norvell Of Mi
chigan, Sprague Of North Carolina, and
Nicholson Of Tennessee, Attorney General
Butler of New / FORK, Alexander Ming Jr.
of New York, Senators Walker of Missis-
s.Ppi. and King of Alabama, and Ex-Secre-
tIry Levi Woodbury., were among the no.
ted supporters Of a Bankrupt Law prior to
lS40. A "Domocratic' Senator made the
first movement on the subject at the session
Of $40. "DemoCratiC" States and State
legislatures, were conspicuous in sending
on petitions praying the passage Of such a
law; "Democratc" leaders in Congress, in
turn insisted that public opinion demanded
IT," and III short, the "demoCratic party" in
Congress, were fully committed to Bank
rupt Law These things we will now pro-
coed - prove, from the unerring records
Of the Country.
FIRST, then, as to Mr.. Van Buren--iH
1927, whiIStG Senator in Congress, he 70.
ted for u Bankrupt LaE--a law rctrospec-
tive in its operations, and to use the Ian.
guage Of Col. Johnson az the time, giving
'reIicf" only to "priracgcd orders" and re-
tusIng to extend It's advantages "tc the COT
t0ge as well as The palace The Journal
shows that Mr.. Reed Of Mississippi having
moved an amendment to the first section Of
the bill declaring that nothing contained in
/ that section, 0" ans other provision of the
/ bill, should extend, or De construed 10 eX.
tend to any contract made before the pas
sage end PRONUNCIATION Of this act it was
rejected, and among the votes recorded
against It, (aud Of course in favor Of the
rct1 oSpcctiuc fCatuyc) are those Of Martin
Van Buren,. Thomas II. Benton, r. NJ.
johnson. VIM. II. King, and Levi Wood
bury. Mr., Van Buren, even went so far as
TO make speech against the amendment;
/ (See Con. Deb. 81 vol p. 1880 thus sustain
ing with all his energy the feature cancel
ling debts contracted before the passage Of
the law. The 23d section Of this bill ex-
tended its provisions 10 az classes Of ctti-
sens. Mr.. Van Buren, was unwilling 10 e1-
tend them to any but merchants and traders,
and made a speech against the 93d section.
To his remarks Col. X. NJ. Johnson replied,
and from that reply we append an extract:
Mr., J. observed, that he should vote for
the bill if the section under consideration
were rctaiued but he certainly could not,
if it were struck out. The gentleman last
on the floor (Mr. Van Buren, was one of
the committee, and it was the first time he
had heard that gcnticman's opinion was ad.
verse to this section: and he felt as much
regret as surprise at discovering he was
against it. He thought that if this bill
were applied 10 one class, it should be 10
another. If they passed this bill TO al!evi-
ate the suffering Of merchants only. it
would be partial Jaw as regards the other
classes. The yivifying principles ought not
to be confined to any privileged order; but
the relief and advantage held forth in the
bill ought to be general and unconfincd, and
their good effects be dispensed TO the cottage
as well as to the palace; and unless such
was the nature Of the bill, he could not vote
for it,
The bill, with this section retained, failed
and a motion to reconsider being made,
Mr.. Van Buren, remarked:
He had, during the late discussion, di,
rcctCd his efforts against the ninety-third
section, and the vote given yesterday had
fully shown the Senate was opposed to
such system. He had been constrained
by that feature of the bill to give his vote
against il. \ proposition was now made,
on the the part of the gentlemen who had
hitherto supported that section, TO strike il
out. They had made an avowal that they
would abandon that section altogether, and
thus he (Mr. V. b. had no alternative left:
he must he in favor Of the bill, when the
, only clause to which he had originally OBJ.
jcciod was to be cxPungcd."
T The bill was reconsidered, (Mr. Van Blu.
rem voting for the reconsideration and
, again put upon lis passage, and rejected,
, 81 to 81. Among those voting for the pas
sage stand the name OF Msi;in Van Buren,.
r (See Con. Deb. vol. 3, p. 2SS.) Thus il is
shown that in 1927, he voted for Bank.
, rupt Law affecting contracts made before
, the passage Of the lar, and extending its
advantages" in the language Of Col. John
son, to a privileged order" whilst they
I were withheld from the tenants of 1.-The cot.
lage." In 1887, he recommended the pas
, sage of a Bankrupt Law including corpo-
, rations in his annual message TO Congress.
: Mr.. Miller, the cxpounder Of prophecy,
had his eye sight much improved by his
recent illness. Perhaps this improvement