New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-23
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pescbes punishment for damaging AID dsfenrne letter.
boxes in the public streets at hne Of $500 three years
imprisonment.
Mr.. Ramsey offered an amendment that whenever ths
Postmasereneral shall employ special agents 70 collect
money he shall require bond and security Of such agents.
which was agreed 10.
| The bill as amended was then passed.
At o'clock the Senate went into Executive session,
motion OF Mr. DooLIrTLE and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. scuEScK Ohio, offered q resolution, which us
adopted calling on the Secretary Of the Interior fer
formation in reference to the pensions stopped account
paid claimed and the amount estimated 10 be Necessary
to pay arrears, etc.
CIVIL APPROPRIATION BILL
Mr. McCULLoUGH Md introduced bill 10 amend tba
Civil Appropriation bill for the year 1859 80 ss 70 make
the proso to the 18th section read that where there 10
no collector At the place Of location Of any pubic ros
power to appoint dsbnrng agent for tie payment on Az
moneys appropriated for the construction Of such public
work. with such compensation as he may deem equitable
and just"
The bill was read three times and passed
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The House then proceeded TO the consideration OF tho
Senate bill to authorize the aPpointmentof an Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, which the main question lad
been ordered yesterday.
Mr. Ross 1Iil.1 moved to lay the bin on the table
Mr.. BRANDAGEE Conn., wanted TO know whether -
would be in order to move amend the bin 70 let
the Secretary of the Navy go to Europe
member added" And to stay there
Mr.. BRASDAGEE repeated the words and to stay there
[Laughter.l
The SPEAKER thought that such amendment would
hardly be in order.
THE FREEDMgN's BUREAU.
Mr. ELIOT, from the Select Committee en- Freedmen,
reported back the bill to continue in force for three year,
and to amend the act establishing the FreedmeDs Bureau
While the bill was being read the morning hour e1-
PRED and the bill went over till tomorrow
REPUyDfEG MONEY.
Mr.. briggs introduced bill to punish attorneys and
Others for Withholding moneys collected Tor oncers sol
ders sailors which read twice and referred 10 the
Committee on Military Affairs.
AN EXECUTIVE MANSION
Mr. RICE Naine) asked leave TO offer concurrent rsso
luton constituting the Standing Committees of Roth
Houses Public Buildings aud Grounds joint com.
mtee 20 examine the several sites that NAY De proposed
for new Executive Mansion and residence and 20 inquire
to the necessity and expediency of such aecooda-
items for the President.
Mr.. FARSswoRTH objected.
TAX on COTTON.
The House went into Committee Of the Wloe Oh the
State of the Union Mr. Dawes in the chair and resumed
graph imposing tax of two cents pound On cotton,
upon which tax has been levied The paragraph
posing tax OF five per all manufactures not otr
wise provided for was, on motion OF Nj sfAULpBG,
amended by adding the following:
Prooided jarar That brown earthen and common ersy
stone shall be subject Of two and ta per csDi I'd
THE BANKRUPT BILL.
The House then proceeded to the consideration Of tie
Bankrupt BILL TO which some immaterial amendments
were on motion o. III 1eSeses Of nnToe n s ,
wish state and to reply general objections tbas
have been raised to legislation upon this subject The
first objection that law shonld be passed which au
thorzes the discharge OF debt without payment full
which cancels the obligations OF contract All bankrupt
laws this principle would be pronounced inszPedent
ton has become repugnant to the conscences Of
lightened nations that there should be any longer
and there are uncertainties with regard the perform
ance Of it by each. All commercial nahohs
have discovered that it is as necessary TOT the
prompt transaction of business, the preservation Of
mar
enterprise, to provide remedy for the honest unvrtu-
nate debtor against the persecution of some grospng
creditor provide remedy for the creditor against
fraudulent debtor. The security, even the life OF ade,
requires that the relief provided by law should be mutual
Oshsrwiss honesty Ia COMPOUNDED with fraud, and mis-
fortune With crime well-sdusted system Of Bankrupt
law provides the desired remedy and while strengthens
rather than weakens the creditors rights ana powers
after, if this bill becomes law imprisonment for debt,
that relic of barbarous usages which still fingers in zone
of the States viii to exist and can never be restored
The energies of the unfortunate debtor will longer 10
lost to his family and his country The past, win is
retrospect of embarrassment and misfortune wall no
longer cast s baneful shadow over his mind HE fntTe
will no longer be uncheered by hope The pursuit OF hap
piness the road to honor career Of industry and enter.
prise with its rewards will again be opened to him. and
the a M s and sD5e' prosperity russ Of the State An
other objection is, that although the power 10 pass
system of laws on the subject OF bankruptcy -
clearly granted to Congress by the Constitution, yet
it is inexpedent for Congress to exercise IT, Such an
argument might have weight if this bill were brought for.
in its operation and did tend TO produce the lene-
fetal results it aims at But the most ingenious and sus-
peous mind has failed to discover any partisan character
in IT, and the closest criticism, in and out Of Congress has
not disclosed any of the other obnoxious qualities il can
not be pretended that State legislation afford adequate
relief for it's power the subject is limited and over
the persons ceases entirely at the States boundaries Al
the time Of the adoption OF the Federal Constitution,
Rhode Island had perfect bankrupt law dsehargng The
debt as well as the person of the debtor but the Supreme
Court declared il TO be unconstitutional and null. New
Yorkonce passed similar law which met the came fate
before the tribunal The power resides solely here;
and being sole and exclusive implies corresponding
duty which the exercise Of that power for the benefit OF
tho people, The Republic has right to the free and unfet
tered services OF all it's citizens and every interest OF me
State demands that they should have the free exercise OF
their faculties in all the pursuits of life is contrary 70
wise policy to permit one class hold another in bond
age where freedom from incarceration only makes the suf
fering intense. With ruined fortunes blasted hoI
paralyzed energies how can those irretrieyably m
prosperity of the State Not alone the miseres Of these
men, but the material interests Of the Republic
demand the exercise Of this benefcent powell Nor IS
there any considerable opposition to it from that elsss
who may be supposed to be benefited by the present state
of the law The great credit interests Of the country
to e no1S s and creditor By me
sage of this bill. After one unparalleled revulsoD IN
trade and another caused by unexpected war and after
the vast fluctuations Of five years state Of war they
have discovered that their interest requires that the
law should be so framed as TO bring about the pompt
settlements and give each party the quickest ana mess
thorough relief had the pleasure Of submitting to thus
House the weghty testimony ever offered Oh sns
subject to any legislative body in the world These Cham
beers of Commerce and Boards Of Trade and their eonst
encies do not fear that any rogue wifu rebel who
threw his property into the scales Of rebellion ", With HIM
creditor, are yigilant and courts are honest
They wish to meet their debtors North and South,
under the common protection Of national law. Their
enlightened sefnterest has risen TO the degree OF
wise staesmsnshp Cannot this Congress be az magnsn
imous as Just and as wise Others object to the sys
tenn because they say retroactive, and svow Their wiz
lngness to accede wholly prospective and sp
peabe only to contracts made after the bill shall have be-