New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-23
A2raPiaufSYu.

When the Editor of the Courier and Enquirer
was one Of tne most desperate bankrupts in Chris
tendon, be was most urgent in demanding of Con-
gress the passage OF National Bankrupt Law
and we did what we could to second his efforts
Common report said he had for years been in the
ceipt Of very large income, had received large
from his relatives, was still an underhand pro-
prietor, wholly or in part, of the lucrative Courier
establishment, had with in bis legi,i-
mate business and really ought to pay his homes,
deb,s-might do 30 if he would husband his re-
sources, attend to his business and carefully apply
all his surplus means 10 the discharge of his liabi.
ties. To all this our answer substantially was-We
know very little of his any mans circumstances.
but we are bound to presume that he will fairly
render all he has to his creditors as the proposed law
requires and If he does that are in favo. of let
ting him goclcar 1t seems the dictate of both
Scripture and Reason that the man W ho owes and
absolutely can't pay ought to be exempted from
useless legal persecution. Should he ever become
able TO pay, he will do SO if an honest man If q
rogue he can easily cloak his property and keep it
while the perpetual liability to be sued will discour-
age him and prevent his making any thing. So be-
Mevipg we were and favorable to General |
Bankrupt Law, though we did not think best TO
browbeat Members of Congress who differed with |
rs on this question accuse them of being bribed
But we did our hest 10 carry the law reoiced at it's
passage, and deeply regretted its repeal The first
applicant for its benefit in this city was James Wat
son Webo-his schedule of debts il we rightly re-
member, amounted 10 come $3.50. oo0 assets 5000.
He squared the yards, we understand. at no-pence |
In the pound. Then Judge Belts required all ap-
in, for 6. ac III
vertse in his paper lit is his again since the whise
washing was completely which must have givea him
$4,000 in clean cash. The Tribune was ret allow
ed 10 publish any OF those Notices, though it bad
far greater circulation than any papa; selected by the
Judge and ten times thar at least one of his
pets. Never mind: we like .h5erality 10 the unfor
tunaie we like TO see those Who are down have |
chance TO get up and we still rejoice tina, we helped
through the Bankrupt Law and that Col. Webb has
got rid of the legal liability Of his debts. We trust
he will pay some Of them sti-quite as many as if
his nose had been held to the grindstone
But this we don't like, that in erary other !
number Of his paper we should be asssiled Agra
rian, &c when the most Agrarian measure we ever
supported was this very Bankrupt Law for his
benefit and that of his class so his paper constantly
teens with denunciati0a of US and others for our
alleged sympathy with criminals and disposition 10
screen them from justice, which we are told is
cruelty to the honest and aw.abidiNs; yet he him
self is almost the only criminal we ever helped 10
beg off from the State Prison, Is this generous p
Is 1t fair Why may not DC allowed to feel some
sympathy for the ofeud.ss Anti Renters as we'll as
for duelist7 Why may we not wish the poor
Tenants on FeuaAl Estates transformed into Free
holders as well as help him to get his debts sponged
out by Bankrupt Law And if We are misled by
OFT symps,hies in either case is he tho man who
should rebuke us7