Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-10

feet upon the passage of the act. Should his
amendment be defeated, he would then move
to insert August LIST. 1878. He did not think
the people Of the country were fairly notified
of the fact that the bill would be repealed inn
mediately; it had been in the judiciary COM
mittee a long time, and they were not prepared
for repeal. He thought it best to allow it to
remain in force until September. Some con-
sideration was due to men who were indebted,
and Congress should not in haste put an end to
this law at once.
Senator Beck said the bill to repeal the bank
rupt law Immediately had passed the House by
an overwhelming majority, and at another time
passed the Senate by an overwhelming aiority.
The Senator from Ohio, Thurman, seemed to
have changed his tactics. Now he wanted to
The country was not in condition to stand this
sort of thing. If it was good thing to repeal
the bankrupt law, it was good thing to have
its repeal take effect Immediately. Let the
question be settled. Nothing 80 deranged the
business of the country as uncertainty.
Senator White favored absolute and imme-
date repeal of the law.
Senator Herman favored the rejection of all
Senate amendments and the passage of the
bill, after agreeing to the House amendments,
which he thought perfected it.
Senator Matthews said he had supposed this
bill would be accepted by the Senate, as it
came from the judiciary committee. He ac-
to have repeal take effect the first
of January, 1879, because at that time
Congress would have been in session month,
and an opportunity would be offered to frame
wise substitute for the present bankrupt law.
He argued that the friends of immediate re-
for their zeal in this matter. He referred to
the petitions presented by Senators from Ohio
and elsewhere favoring its immediate repeal,
and said he had no doubt he would
please large number of his personal and
political friends should he support, immediate
repeal Of the law, but he could not do 80. He
argued that to pass the bill for immediate re-
peal of the law, would be violation of the
fundamental principles Of justice, and would
impair the obligation of contracts. The pas
sage of the bill would be to pass retroactive
law because it would operate on past con-
tracts.
Senator Whyte asked if the passage of the
bankrupt law itself was not retro-actiye-did
it not operate upon former contracts?
Senator Matthews said, yes, it was wrong in
the sense of depriving the people Of their
rights. Continuing his remarks, he said the
bankrupt law was passed in 1857, but it was
only within the past two or three years thit
clamor had been made for it's repeal. He had
letter this morning from friends in Indiana
denouncing him for his support of the bank
rupt law, and said no one wanted
it in existence except thieves.
That was the style of argument used. He
stood upon his own convictions, and while he
questioned the motives of none he did not
allow any one to question his. He favored 8
bankrupt law because he thought it was for thu
good of the country, because he thought it was
right. Seeing that the repeal of the law was
foregone conclusion he would vote for tn
amendment of his colleague, fixing Septembe
1st as the time of repeal, that was bette
than immediate repeal.
Pending discussion, Senator Anthony moved
when the Senate adjourn to-day it be to meet
Monday next Rejected; yeas 10, nays 81.
Senator Thurman urged the Senate to remain
in session and finish the bill to repeal thu
bankrupt law to-day. He had no doubt i
could be finished in half an hour. Then h
would not object to an adjournment unit
| Monday.
Senator Eaton moved to adjourn. Rejected
yeas &c. nays %.
! Senator Hereford introduced bill to pro
vide for the election of representatives to tn
46th Congress from West Virginia. Referred
The Senate then proceeded with the consider
alton of the bill to repeal the bankrupt law
and Senator Maxey spoke in opposition to al
the Senate amendments and in favor of agree
ing to the House amendments and passing tn
bill, but before he had been speaking long h
yielded to Senator Davis, Illinois, and on hi
motion the Senate adjourned.