The Hickman courier., 1877-11-02

Mr President, il has been the Gus
tom in this body, upon the introduce
[ 'lon OF "A bill, to have it laid on the
table until the mover should give no
lice OF the time at which he would take
it up for remarks This practice ac
compli-hes a double eud 1t the Seu
ator Is popular speaker, it secures an
audience In the galleries, and at any
rate gives him the Intervening time for
preparation | shall waive these ad
vanrages, if they be advantages, aud
proceed 10 submit my remarks at pres
out
The bankrupt law Is almost eleven
years of aye, and in the opinion Of a
large majority Of the people aE,Qng
whom | live. it is old enough to;die
Ga the occurrence Of that mouruful
event, the official who Is fatteniug on
fees. and the gentleman who !, com
pieting his arrangements to avail him
self Of its advantages. may drop a tear
to ifs memory; hut all those who de-
sire 10 receive what Is justly due them.
as we'll a. those who intend in good
faith 30 pay their honest debts, will
scarcely make an effort 10 conceal their
satisfaction and qualification at the
demise II had its birth amid the
convul>ions consequent upon civil
war; and now, when peace and order
are established, aud when confidence
and good fellowship prevail, let it 20
/ 10 its rest
Whatever sins of omission or Of
commission may be charged against
/ this government candOr extorts the
admission that it has never failed for a
single instant to iuculcate the lesson
that reputation is abominable In
political ethics there may be broad
! -psee which marks the difference be
tween public aud private reputation;
but plain man, who Is in the habit OF
settling doubtful questions upon the
basis of correct. moral principles, will
have to use Il very powerful magnify
ing glass 90 discover the line Of sepa !
ration- To the naked eye that line l.
100 dim aud too indistinct to be traced
at all; it amounts simply TO distiuc
iiou without "a difference
am not the friend of reputation
in any form cor any shape l would
erect standard OF good faith aud of
fair dealing. which should be alike ap-
pIicabIe 10 government. corporations.
aud to. individuals, and by that stand
ard government. corporations, and in
diNiduals should stand or fall | do
not believe that majority has the
right to vote the properly of "a mInoIi
~ Into speculative enterprises under
pre;eu,e OF promoting the general
pros perity. Such "a practice regard
As @ pajpable violation o! private righg
but it has received the sanction of Ju@
courts in many Of the States, In my
own among others; and, where money
has been advanced by innocent per
sons TO be used in tie prosecution Of
the scheme. the amount should be paid.
even though the original act was
wrong. aud although technically might
furnish au easy meuu> of escape |
would resist the wrong at It's Inception
with ali the force Of argument aud ap
peal at my command, but. when il was
dUue. ami Wc had pOcketel or expeud
ed the money Of the creditor. il would
be q pitiiul defense 90 cnuteud that
the obligation was c4ucclel because we
bad borrowed more or less thlu We in
tended. or because our agent had tran
,cended his authority. although We
had approved his acrion by receiving
he money at his bands No. sir. let
Is pay up. aud # we should ever be
% unfortunate as 20 be under the ue
.es>ity of borrowing anUther cent. let
Is be iirtle more prudent and little
more cjrcumspect IN the negotiation.
These are my views ot good faith
The government iu lis zeal for the
maintenance of il credit has not been
onlned within the boundaries OF sim
'le equity ami justice, but has SCARED
nto regions OF generosity au4 mIeou
unity Congress p1~sed la" that
he bonds OF the / uited States should
e para ~ O.u' ""'u IL ''" o'e" pre-
''uS'y usI''''i 1', 'l''' AI'IN o''N7 were
cc''"D'9 'oI a'' uU'S' Puo''e anu pr
are eAceP' import uu''c7 ana lu'er-
81 on 'he PuOIlc ue"',
y ne "0u'H ''i'nN ''''' " so'e'u',Ien
I'l sue" d 'oI'y 'P P'ecI'''ou o. H.
Ieui' "ou'N p'ouP, '"1 ue0l"I 10 Iiil'
''e Us eA'"ipie I''']r man polnt MIN
The nanNrnpf Ia" as aiIoFdl"s sure
ne ana speedy del''erance from hi>
ihcn''IeS. Is II just 10 the tax payer
eX'ort inc gold III payment OF the
u'leS on MS imports ana at the same
me compel him 10 receive bankrupt
Tor the notes taken Tor hIs
'erchandI~e W hat he'd Tor fraud
trader eouiu Duy Ten 'housahd
oliar stock OF goods on credif, and by
educting 20 per cent he could realize
he cash; he could then take the bene
t OF the bankrupt law aud by paying
. per cent receive his discharge.
laking $4,000 by the operation. Will
ny body say that this cnnuot be done
+ that even worse than this has not
ecu done?
4 voluntary b,nkrrnt law of
and of doubtful proprietv
.nder any circumstances. i at this time
unwi,e and impplitic. and
ueht not 10 exist. Iti.a reasonable
nd "A probabIe conjecture that there
ms never been a time since the food
IF before the food. when the minds
,f men were so thorouglv engrossed