The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-23
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
wAsms0ros, May %, 1866.

PENSIONERS
Mr. SCprNcg (repl OF Ohio offered resolution, which
was adopted calling he Secretary OF the Interior for
information reference 20 the pensions stopped
count OF participation the rebellion, the amount of
arrears paid or claimed and the amount estimated to be
necessary to pay arrears, &c
THE civn AUTHORIZATION BILL.
Mr. McCUIAouGH, (dem) of Md, introduced bill TO
amend the Civil Appropriation bill for the year 1882 so
to make the proviso TO the seventeenth section read
that "wherc there collector at the place of loca-
ton of any public work therein specified, the Secretary
of the Treasury shall have power 10 appoint
dlsbursing agent for the payment Of all nonevs
appropriated for the construction OF such public work
with such compensation as he may deem equitable and
Just
The bill read three times and passed
ASSISTANT. SECRETARY or TIE NAVY.
The House then proceeded the consideration OF the
Senate bill authorize the appointment Of Assistant
Secretary OF the Navy. which the main question had
Mr. Ross tdcm) Of ILL.,, moved to lay the bill on the
table.
whether would be in order to rlcve to amend the bill
so as to let the Secretary of the Navy go Europe.
A MEMBER added--And to stay there.
Mr. BIANDEGEE repeated the words land to stay there
The SHAKER thought that such amendment would
hardly he IN order.
qne bin was passed by vote of 60 yeas to Al nays
tine BANKRUPT
The House then proceeded, during the morning hour
TO the con Liberation OF the Bankrupt BILL TO which
| some rnaterial amendments were, on motion of
Mr. Ira eP Of srS, L. made ia Closing hi. debate
wish te,e and to reply 10 some general objections that
have been aiscd 10 legislation upon this subject The
first objection IL that law should be passed which
authorize Tie discharge OF debt without payment in
fun or wdoh cancels the obligation of a contract All
incxpeden nd unjust. Ny reply is, that in the pro-
gross of it has become repugnaut to the con-
OF enlightened nations that there should be any
longer servitudc for debt There are two parties to
every contract aud there uncertainties with regard
TO the performance Of II by each All commercial ma
| prompt transaction Of business the preservation
! Of mercantile honor and the encouragement Of
trade and enterprise TO provide remedy for the honest
unfortunate debtor against the persecution Of some
| grasping creditor rs TO provide remedy for the
creditor against fraudulent debtor The security,
the life trade requires that the relief provided by
l law should be mutual OTHERWISE, honesty Is con-
! fourried with fraud and misfortune with crime
! A well adjusted system OF bankrupt law pro-
vides the desired remedy; and while 1t strengthens
rather than weakens the creditors rights and powers
rewards unfortunate honesty with emancipation Here
aer II this bill becomes law, Imprisonment for debt
rec Of barbarous ages which still fingers in
Of the States will cease to exist, and never DO
stored The energies OF theniortunate debtor win no
longer he lost to his family and his country The past
no longer cast shadow his mind his future
will longer be uncheered by hope The pursuit OF
happiness the road to honor career Of industry and
and he will enter anew redeemed man. into the life
and prosperity Of the State. Another objection is
that although the power TO pass system OF laws on
the subject Of bankruptcy clearly granted to Congress
! by the Constitution yet 1t Is incxpedent for Con-
! grcss 10 exercise IT. Such an argument might have
weight IL this bill brought forward party
urc, II II were partial and unequal IN its opera
,ion and ana not tend 70 produce the oeneheia,
suspicious mind has failed to discover any partisan
character in H. and the closest criticism, In and out
OF Congress, has not disclosed any Of the other OBJ
| noxious qualities. Il cannot be pretended that
state legislation afford adequate relief, for i,s
sons ceases entirely at the States boundaries At the
time OF the adoption OF the federal constitution Rhode
Island had perfect bankrupt law, dschargpg the debt
| rs well the person Of the debtor but the Supreme
Court declared Il TO be unconstitutional and null New
9 Snoe ps.ea ,nn TS wnsn met e same
here; and being sole and exclusive II implies CORE
spending duty, which Is the exercise OF that power for
| the benefit Of the people The republic has a right
TO the free and uneicred services OF all ts citizens and
every interest of the State demands that they should
have the free of their faculties In all the pur-
suits Of life is contrary 70 wise policy to permit
case 10 hold another bondage where freedom from
incarceration only makes the suffering more intense
with ruined fortunes blasted hopcs paralyzed
how can those irrerievably insovent contribute TO
the welfare Of the family or the prosperity Of the state
interests Of the republic demand the exercise Of this
bcnencen power Nor there any considerable opposI
ton 20 from hat class who may be supposed to be
benefited BY fhe present state Of The law The erea,
credit interests Of the country, 70 their honor be
spoken have appealed to 70 naonalize the relation
Of debtor and creditor by The passage this bin After
unparalleled revuson in trade and another cadscd
Snq sY ae hon %
true interest requires that the Law should be framed
~ TO bring about the most prompt settlements and give
each party the quickest and most thorough relief had
the pleasure OF submitting TO this House the weghty
testimony ever offered this subject to any legislative
body In the world. These Chambers Of Commerce and
Boards OF Trade and their constituencies do that
any rogue wlful rebel who threw his property into
the scales OF rebellion with himself will escape through
the meshes OF this bill while creditors vigan and
courts are honest They wish 70 meet their debtors,
North and South, under the common protection OF
tona law. Their enlightened sefntercs has risen 10
the degree Of wise statesmanshp. Cannot this Con.
1 grcss be as nagnanimous, as just and wise
I Others object to the system because they say
! II Is retroactive, ard ayow their willingness
TO accede to u were Il wholly prospective and
applicable only to contracts made after the bill shall
have become law II this DO uvgcd constitutional
grounds meets with perfect answer the dec sions
Of the Supreme Court Nothing be clearer than the
! Ianr age Of Chief Justice Marshall explaining the
clagsc In the constitution under which this hill n
framed. aud that wb.ch contains The prohib-