Mr. FESSENDEN. I do not propose to make any remarks further than to say that on the question of the perfect right of Congress to pass a bankrupt bill containing a similar provision to this I have no doubt at all. The idea of some gentlemen is that the law to be uniform must be equal in its operations. I do not hold to that idea at all. If we make a rule which operates upon the States equally, that is to say, which is equal in its terms so far as the States are concerned, it would not be unconstitutional, simply because owing to the particular provisions of the several States the operation would not be precisely similar. I think, therefore, there is no objection to passing a bankrupt law establishing a principle of exemption which should apply, not only to what may be at Present exempted by the States, but what may hereafter be so exempted, if Congress saw fit so to Prescribe. The provision of the Constitution unquestionably was intended to apply to the several States to prevent any distinction being made between them. I think, however, any provision we agree to on this subject should be pretty carefully worded. I do not approve of specifying any exemption particularly, whether it is to be a homestead or anything else. If the laws of a particular State allow a homestead and the laws of another State do not, so be it. It is not worth while to pass a law that shall define what may not exist in any particular State, and compel the State to conform its laws to it. That this exemption substantially I am not particular as to its terms ought to be made have no doubt, and without it I should not vote for the bill, for the simple reason that there is probably not a State in the Union, or hardly anyone, that has not exemption laws. The people of the several States have become accustomed to these exemption laws; they hold property of one description or another, real or personal, under them; and to attempt to pass a law of Congress which shall disturb all people in the possession of that property would be so odious in its effect that the law, in my own judgment, would be repealed in a very short space of time. The result would be to create a confusion and a sensibility in the people of the States that would be an effectual i. to its perfect and wise and just operation. I hope, therefore, that the clause will not be stricken out, although it is susceptible of amendment and should be made more definite, and then it should pass. As I have always been in favor of a general bankrupt law, and think one ought to exist and that it is very much to our discredit that we have not had one in operation for a great many years, I shall vote probably for the bill; but if the effect of the bill is to unsettle all the laws of the States and property held under the laws of the several States for a series of years, to which the people have become accustomed, I certainly could not consent to anything of that sort.