Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1898-03-24

reasons why he can be consigned by
United States Judge to thei custody of
q United States marshal 'until he shall
be released or give bail conditioned for
his appearance from time to time as re-
quired by the court and for his obedi-
ence to all lawful orders"
How do American freemen like thatr
AS for my single self, l would infinitely
prefer to be locked up IN clean cell in
a county jail than given into the keep
ing Of United States marshal, perhaps
manaoled and dragged around on exhi-
bition to crafty bis alice.
Let it not be forgotten that the demo-
cratic and populistic caucuses both voted
in favor Of "a wise and fair bankrupt
bill,'' which was generally understood to
be bill providing for voluntary bank
ruptcy and for involuntary bankruptcy
only for fraud. We stood ready to vote
:or such bill, but we would not vote for
this monstroustrous measure of black
mail and oppression.
BAILEY 5 LUMINOUS STATEMENT.
No man ever served IN the American
congress who could state proposition
more clearly or expound a theory more
lumlnousIy Than Joseph W. Bailey.
Speaking of this bill be said:
Il am myself so strongly impressed
with the need Of some legislation on this
subject that, although l do not believe
in any law with ap involuntary provision
/ would be willing to vote for the pass
age of a bill which provides involuntary
bankruptcy in cases OF actual fraud. l
have no sympathy with fraudulent
debtors.
"Bankruptcy, even when voluntary, is
remedy from which men Of pride and
self respect always shrink and to which
they never resort except in the last ex-
tremlty. It leaves upon them stigma
| which no time can efface-a stigma
which not only follows them through life
but which follows their children after
| they are dead If men are willing to
bear this odium IN order to free them
selves from the CALLING and oppressive
burden Of debt, 1t is their own cnoice,,
and I am willing for them to make it,
but, sir, I will never vote to give mer-
ciless and ofttimes vindiotive creditor
the right to afix the stigma OF bank
ruptcy to the name OF an honest man
whose only misfortune is that be cannot.
pay his debts.
It permits the men who have forced.
him into bankruptcy against his vii.
and against his interests, who nave de-
stroyed his BUSINESS and sacrificed his
property, to make an affidavit that he IS
about to leave the district, and his tes.
timony may be needed, and upon that
affidavit he must be taken into the Gus
tody OF the marshal and held against his
| will and in violation OF his rights as q
free man while his merciless and vindic-
tive creditors are dividing up his prop.
erty
Il understand the Importance of law
which enforces contracts and which ia.
sures the collection of honest debts. I
know that such laws are necessary in
every country where industry thrives
and commerce expands, but, am not
ready to admit that either the interests
Of commerce or the thrift OF industry is
above the rights of man, and I hold the
liberty of the citizen more sacred than
all the debts on earth"
Write it upon the tablets of your
memory that this Torrey bill IS repub-
lican measure. A few republican men,
bers, who still possess some bowels Of
compassion, voted against that bill of
denominations, which IN deviltry discounts
the alien and sedition laws, which sent
old John Adams to his political grave,
but in the main the bosses lined them
up on roll call.