33* THE BEE, OR March 2, 



duftions from them as poffible; and that few ten^pta- 

 tions fliculd be given for wafting thefe in needlefs or 

 oppreffive law-fiiits ; fo that this objeftion only tends 

 to fiiew that the objedl aimed at has a chance of being 

 accompliihed. 



It was again objefted, that as the laws relpecling 

 bankrupts ftand at prefent, it happens that in this 

 country, the bankrupt cftener abules his creditor, than 

 that the creditor opprelles his debtor ; and that therefore 

 any thing that diminiihes the power of the creditpr over 

 the perfon of the dtbtor would b& an aft of ill judged 

 humanity. 



This objeclion feems alfo to proceed from faife rea- 

 foning. If debtors now are found to abufe their credi- 

 tors, the bufinefs of the legiflatuve Ihould be to provide 

 means for guarding againli that abufe, b^- difcrimirat- 

 ing between the innocent and the guilty, and by guard- 

 ing the creditor againft lofies hy fraud, not by enabling 

 liim at pleafure to AidrtU the Jiftfortunate ; and it is 

 believed that all the regulations above ftated tend to thc^t 

 point. 



Creditors are in the firft place allowed to have recourfe 

 to the moft eafy and dircft mode of obtaining pcirefiion 

 of the whole of the debtor's effects ; and he hnsthe ftrong- 

 efl inducement to difclofe them fairly and candidly. 



They are, in the nCxt place, individually, granted a 

 preference for obtaining payment of fuch part of tlieir 

 debts as remain undifcliarged, after a dividend of effetls 

 fliall have taken place, tliat no perfon at prefent pof- 

 fefles in this country, and that no perfon ought of right 

 to poflefs, but in a cafe of this fort. This certainly is 

 .1 powerful means put within their reach of getting the 

 better of the ctTefts of a fraudulent bankruptcy, whicli 

 they do not at prefent enjoj' ; and of courfe the litua- 

 tion of creditors muft be bettered by it. 



By the fame regulation, the iituation of a fraudulent 

 bankrupt is rendered mucli lef:^ agreeable than at prefent. 



