Mr. STEWART. There has been a great deal said about making this a uniform law. It was strenuously contested here for 2 days last week that if we allowed the State exemption laws to prevail the bill would be wanting in uniformity. Now, it seems to me that if we exclude from the operation of the law 1/3rd or one 4th of the inhabitants of the U.S. it will certainly be wanting in uniformity. I believe that would destroy the law alto ether. This amendment is equivalent to saying that it is impolitic to pass any law on the subject of bankruptcy, because there is no court which will say that you can pass a bankrupt law and at the same time exclude from its operation a large class of the people of the U.S. There is no court which will sustain that as a uniform law. As I understand this law, it is for the benefit of the loyal as well as disloyal, to enable the business of the country to readjust itself and prosper after the great troubles through which we have passed. It is to the interest of all parties that this law should be passed, the interest of the creditor that he may have the debtor's property distributed fairly in the U.S. courts, the interest of the honest but unfortunate debtor that he may again engage in business and be enabled to elevate his ener gies in such a way as to be useful to the community. And if you say that it shall not operate as to a large portion of the people the law is unconstitutional. We cannot pass that kind of a law. That is too manifest a want of uniformity. But perhaps it may be said that this is done by way of punishment. Then it comes under the prohibition to pass an expostfacto law, and canniott will destroy the efficacy of the bill. You sothe object in this way. There are other ways of punishment. In making a uniform law you have no right for any reason to except any large class. As the Senfrom Kansas suggested, you may perhaps put an oath as to Present belief, which every body can take, and it will be uniform. You can make them swear that they do not believe in secession, if you choose, but even that would be out of place in a law of this kind. The question Presented is simply this: will you have a bankrupt law at all? With such a provision as this in it I am satisfied the law will be unconstitutional and void.