Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-05-16

law was measure OF national benrht,
or national injury, was a question: a.
: bout which the people oil the United
States could form their own conclu-
sions-but whether the measure would
affect adyantageously or injuronsly the
interest of the people of Kentucky, they
alone were competent to judse--and
so far az he was concerned. he thought
that from their Judgment there was no
appeal. At the Extra Session OF Con
'sress he voted Tor The Bankrupt law.
+. II he had been disposed to re- count rea-
sons why he should vote fer the repeal
'-of the law, he would have pointed to
the expression Of opinion in the State
from which he came-in truth, be
would have occasion to 60 no further
than the other emil 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 exceptions, had recorded their
'yotes for the repeal OF the law. But
he should take &c such pains. With
out entering into discussion OF the
measure at the present time, and in ad-
vances h. would content himself, (coup-
ling the sentiments of tie Legislature
with what he had seen and heard since
he came to the city, with the remarks,
that the law ought 10 be repealed, and
he would conform his conduct to the
requirements of the resolution
notwithstanding the decisive action
of the Legislature, the unanimity of the
Kentucky members of the other House,
and the declarations of his colleague and
friend in the Senate, all evincing be-
goud doubt. the will of his constitu-
ents, Mr.. Clay voted against the repeal.
1t is but just to Mr.. Clay, to state the
reasons which induced him to disregard
the will Of his constituents, SO unequiuo-
Gully made known to him. They were.
that the Bankrupt law was part of the
Whg System which he wished to pre-
serve entire; ana that he could not and
would not be instrumental in taking
from the bankrupt the relief which had
been promised him.
These grounds for discbedience are
found distinctly stated in a speech de-
llvered by him in the Senate on the 28th
January, 1912. Having adverted to the
extra session Of l841, and its measures
the incorporation Of a Nationa Bank
the Distribution Law, the increase Of
the Tariff, the Bankrupt law. and the
relief of the banks in the District Of Co.
iumbia-he said:
these we're the fruits Of the Extra
: Session, SO far as they depended upon
Congress. This was the circle OF ben
efficient measures, intended to embrace
all Interests, and all pats OF, the I'm
ion. 1t was A GREAT SYSTEM,
parts of which were more or less adap
ted to all portions Of the Union, We
have reason to believe, that it was look
ed upon and regarded as Whole; and
that uotes scere givsn for some measures
IN the series, not so much because thea
were IN conSondnce aoith the views Of the
constituents mhose members gaze those
uotes, as because they we're wanted by
other parts Of the Union. and the CON-
Pensation acds found in other measures of
the sane series
This practice Of buying voies for meas.
ures not an consonance with the views of
the constituency by other more accep
table measures, however we'll adopted to
the promotion of purposes of ambition, is
totally subversive of the right of instrut
lion, if not all purity in legislation.
Although the Senate Of Kentucky was
willing Mr.. Clay should preserve the
great Wing system, by the means he had
used to build up, the House of Repre-
sentatives repelIed the suggestion, by ,
vote nearly unanimous. And at The
close of the eloquent speech. delivere,
by Mr.. CLAY, in opposition to the repea
Of the Bankrupt law, he said: And an
invited to unite in this work Of cruelty
have not the heart to DO ii! have no
the hand to do it cannot, / wil not d.
| ig'
stlipt of its poetry, this declaration
means, Il am called upon by my constit
uents to vote for a repeal Of the Bank
rupt law piW not do it!'
After few remarks from Mr. Benton
for, and Mr.. Williams against the repeal
the vote on the bill from the House o
Representatives repeating the Bankrup
law, was taken and resulted as follows
yeas 90, nays %:
Those who voted in the affirmative
were Messrs. Allen, Archer, Bay ard
Benton, Buchanan, Calhoun. Fulton
Graham, King, Linn, McRoberts, More
head, Pierce, Prentiss, Riyes, Sewer
Smith of Connecticut, Sturgeon, Tap
pan, Woodbury., Wright and Young.
Those who voted in the negative, wer
Messrs. Barrow, Bates, Berrien, Choate
CLAY. Clayton, Evans, Henderson
Huntington, Keer, Mangum. Merrick
Miller, Phelps, Porter. Simmons, Smlt
of Indiana, Southland, Tallmadge, Wal
ker. White, Williams aod Woodbridge
You Will see that the fate Of the bill