Tuesday, January 15.
District of Columbia.
The bill to prohibit the exaction of bail upon certain suits within the District of Columbia was brought in engrossed, and read the third time.
The final passage of the bill was opposed by Mr. Goddard, Mr. Root, and Mr. Nelson, and defended by Mr. Newton, as a proper measure to prevent the oppression of malignant creditors.
Mr. Eppes desired Mr. Beckley to read that part of the Constitution of the United States relative to the extent of the Judiciary power, and that part of the law establishing the Judicial authority of the District of Columbia, with a view of showing that the bill was not essentially necessary.
Mr. Early moved a recommitment of the bill to a select committee.
Mr. Bedinger wished that the bill might go to a select committee, because he considered the principle a valuable one. He imagined, however, that the details were not altogether perfect. He felt concerned on this subject, on account of several of his constituents who had been tricked out of notes and bonds for lands in Kentucky, which had been advertised, and were no longer available against the drawers in that State; but, should it so happen that business called them to Washington, they might be extremely harassed for want of bail.
The reference was opposed by Mr. R. Griswold, as he was against the principle of the bill altogether.
On the question to recommit it, it passed in the negative—ayes 44, noes 59.
The question was then taken on the passage of the bill, and it was lost, there being but thirty members who voted in its favor.