United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1802-04-17 00:00:00, page 1

Miscellany.
.. —___ —mtte^M^C'TC^szTxaßmttCTti—CT— l —it
NEW ORDER OF THINGS.
o—
From the Wajhington Federdift
ri OLONEL Tousard, command
{_, ant of one of the regiments, and
inspector of artillery at Weft-Point, by
the new military arrangement is left
out of the lid and the fecond # Major,
Cendant Freeman, promoted to the of
fice which the law seemed to have had
in contemplation for one of the two
lieutenant colonels.
It is impossible to view with calm
nefs, this flagrant disregard of merit &
Services, and open violation of public
fhth. Col. Toufard came to this coun
try, at the request of Silas Deane, our
agent in Paris, at the beginning of the
revolution, and Served in the American
army with zeal and ability during the
greater part of the war ; and 101 lan
arm in the service at Sullivan's retreat
on Rhode-IHand. After the close of
die war, when troops were railing for
tie purpose of garrisoning the forts,and
defending the frontiers against the de
predations of the savages, general Walh
mgton requeued Col. Toufard to ac
cept of a commission. The Col. at firft
declined, alledging that the uncertain
ty of the army establishment, would
place him in a disagreeable Situation,
and that he would rather prefer some
more certain and permanent mode of
living ; but upon being affined by gen
eral Washington, that the army
would in all probability, be permanent
to a certain extent, and preding his ac
ceptance of the commifficn, the Col.
complied ; and in a few weeks after
wards, Strengthened his connexion with
this country, by marrying an Ameri
can Lady. Col. loufard was regular
ly educated in the military School in
France ; and has always been esteem
ed, a faithful, brave officer, an able
tactician and Skilful engineer. Whilst
we are inviting to our Ihores the refufe
of Europe, whole reliefs and turbulent
dispositions, render them unfit for any
government, and manifed the greatest
anxiety, immediately to cloath them
with all the priviledges of citizens, lay
ing open to them the roads to “ honor
and confidence." —-Whilst thePrefident
of the United States has called to his
council, and cherishes in his bosom a
foreigner, whose political career has
been dißinguilhed for its violent and
active opposition to the constituted au
thorities and laws of the country ; —
he dismisses a man from the service of
the United States, whose experience &
military talents are peculiarly fervicea-
Ne at present, in the military school at
Well point—who fought for this coun
try during mod of the revolutionary
war—who has been an active and use-.
fal officer, almost from the commence
ment of our political existence to the
prelent time—who loft an arm in our
service—and who (alas ! fatal to him)
enjoyed the friendship, eftcem and con
fidence of Gen. Washington. It will
naturally be aSkeJ, what heinous crime
has he committed, to obliterate all these
services : I fear readers, you have the
cause already explained, I blush for
my country, when I fay, that recent
circumstances, but too clearly evince,
that the enjoyment of the efte^m and
confidence of Washington is too strong
a proof of merit to be fullered to re
main in office. It was certainly an
honorable dißinaion; and will be more
than fufficient to wipe out any attempt
at disgrace to whicli it may give rife.
Envy is a rank, base weed, but its ven
om has been too frequently ' directed a
gainst such characters to mistake its
Object.
What can be contemplated with
more pride and veneration, by the citi
zens of a free country, than its aged,
maimed and infirm veterans. —Their
toils, their dangers and misfortunes,
endear them to us by every tie, which
binds man to man. We look at them
and fay,it was in defence of every thing
dear to us, they endured thefs toils, en
countered these dangers, and fubjeded
themselves to these misfortunes—The
maimed veteran is the ornament of the
country, and the pride of the army-
Let such console themselves with the
reHeftion,that there are periods in every
country, when it may.be truly faid,that
"the port of honor is a private Ration,"
i'^KI'SMOUfH, N.H. Printed and Published every
Os ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICHLEAD TO POLITICAL")
prosperity, RELIGION and MORALITY are indispensable}
supports. WASHINGTON'S Legacy. J
/oLXIL] SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1802.
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR.
Portsmouth
©nitea States
CONGRESS.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
'^ASHINGroNjMARCH 24.
SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
THE House of Representatives
took up the resolution which had
been laid on the table, fixing the time
of adjournment to the fecend Monday
in April. The resolution puffed with
out opposition, and was sent to the
Senate where the consideration of it
was postponed to the 9th day of April.
Tlie committee of revifal and unfin
ilhed business then reported a bill for
reviving a law which ,d expired, in
creasing the salaries of certain officers
therein named, to Wit, the secretaries
of the several heads of departments, the
PoR-maßer general, Attorney general
of the United States, and several others.
Upon this bill, the house resolved it
fclf into a committee of the whole, Mr.
Jones in the chair.
Mr. J. C. Smith of Connecticut,
moved to amend the bill, by introduc
ing the fpecific sum to which each offi
cer, separately, should be entitled, in
stead of the general terms reviving a
law passed in 1798 for increasing these
salaries for a limited time which law
expired, by its own limitation, on the
31st of December last.
This motion gave rife to a debate
which continued till 5 o'clock. Mr.
J. C. Smith, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Euftis,
Mr. Goddard, Mr. Dana and Mr. Gris
wold supported the motion ; and Mr.
Alston, Mr. Giles, Mr. Nicholson, Mr.
Williams of N. C. Mr. Elmendorf,
Mr. S. Smith, Mr. Mitchell and Mr.
Varnum opposed it.
Mr. Bacon, rising whenever any ei
ther member fat down, argued both
tides, taking alternately the affirmative
and the negative.
In favor of the amendment, it was
urged that some of the salaries might
be proper and others not ; that unless
the amendment should obtain, gentle
men must vote for increasing the whole
or none. It was also thought that pub#
licity should be given to the a& and
that the actual sums granted should
appear upon the face of the bill, and
not merely be referred to in a law pas
sed several years since, and now extind.
Mr. Bayard said, the proposition as
brought forward by the committee,
wore the appearance of a veil, designed
to conceal the tranfadion from the
public eye, under the pretence of con
tinuing an existing law, but in fad, by
reviving one which Was at firft tempo
rary, and which had already expired.
It was not fufficient for those in the ma
jority, to Shew that the expences of liv
ing were now as great as when- the law
passed. If they would act confidently,
they must prove, before they vote for
this bill, in its present form, that those
expences are greater ; they opposed this
law, as giving extravagant and unne
cessary salaries, railed a clamor against
it, and by that clamor brought their
immediate friends into office, whom
they are now willing to feed and sup
ply to a degree which they have Stig
matized as extravagant and prodigal,
and at the fame time to Shelter them
selves from public notice under an old
law upon which they had call such
opprobrium.
Mr. Bayard declared, that unless
ingenuously, by meeting the fubjed
fairly, and taking the responsibility up
on themselves, he would vote against
the bill, though he was not at that
time prepared to fay, that the salaries
proposed were higher than he should,
be willing to give. He thought that
some of them, at least, were reasonable
and proper. He was willing to enable
the officers of government to live in
the Ryle and to entertain with the lib
erality of gentlemen ; but if some of
them chafe to live in a penurious man
ner, while others were disposed to a lib
eral and gentleman-like style of liv
ing, he did not conceive that the pub
lic was under any obligation to enable
the penurious officer to lay up more
money than the officer who lives in
that style which is expeded of a gentle
man and a public character. He was
therefore in favor of the amendment,
which would bring each individual sa
lary diftindly before the committee.
Mr. Nicholson was opposed to the a
, mendment for the realop which the
they would throw off this veil and ad
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Mr. Giles observed, that neither this
nation, nor any other, had the least
cause to dread the expence of the civil
lift. A reduction of salaries could
have but little effed upon the national
expenditures, and an increase or dimi
nution of these, was scarcely worth
contending about. He would carry
his views of economy to more impor
tant objeds. The great objects of ex
pense in every government have been
armies and navies —and all governments
have a tendency continuallyto augment
those dangerous and expensive ma
chines. He had therefore always been
opposed to expences of this nature.
Mr. Elmendorf said, he would reply
to some remarks made by the gentle
man from Delaware, (Mr. Bayard,)
because he thought those remarks ex
tremely improper, and unworthy of any
reply. He thought it did not belong
to that house to decide whether the of
ficers of government were gentlemen
or not. He believed they were 'gen
tlemen and that he (Mr. Bayard) haz
arded his own reputation as a gentle
man by making the remarks.
Mr. Bayard explained. He said he
was not surprised that the gentleman
did not underßand him—He had al
ways found it extremely difficult to
make him understand—He had not in
sinuated that any of the officers of gov
ernment were not gentlemen —but
merely referred to their comparative
style of living in regard to hospitality,
liberality, and customary equipage.
Mr. Elmendorf was sorry that he
had misunderstood the gentleman, and
proceeded to remark, that there was a
laudable economy manifefted in the
bill itfelf, as it merely enacted in four
lines, that the former law should be re
vived ; whereas, if the amendment
obtained there would be the addition
al expense of printing the particular sal
aries of seven or eight officers.*
Mr. Goddard laid, if it was not the
object, it was at least the effect of the
bill, in its present form, to cast a veil
over the tranfa&ion. He was at a loss
to underßand why gentlemen so pe
remptorily refufed to let the items of
compensation appear upon the face of
the bill, unless they were unwilling that
the fubjeCtfhould come fully before
the public. The gentleman from Vir
ginia (Mr. Giles) on a late occasion
was anxious to render compensation
proportionate to services. Granting
that the ratio of salaries, fix by the law
now proposed to be revived, was just
and proper at the time of its passage,
how is it known, and how can it be
known without an examination of each,
that the fame ratio is now the most
proper. Very considerable reductions
have been made in the military and
naval establishments, and a consequent
redudionhas taken p^^ duties
• N. B. Tbis would jioeU the bill to right or
tern line:, and a printer would be about as long in
printing it as Mr. E. was in mating bis Gnomical
remark ; but would not ebarge as much de the #•
penfis of Congress would amount to in that fee.
gentleman from Delaware had urged
in favor of it. He thought it invidious
and indecorous, oy a vote of that house,
to point at a particular officer, and fay
that he did nit live like a gentleman.
He believed that the increase of salary
was proper at l^tirne it was made,
and he now thought it proper to revive
that increase.
Mr. Euftis was of opinion that the
question must eventually be decided by
comparing the compensation of each
officer with his duties and expences,and
as he thought the amendment offered
the mo? dired way of coming at that
comparison, he Should vote for it.
Mr. Giles said he and those with
whom he voted, were charged with in
consistency in now voting for an in
crease of salary, which they had for
merly opposed when the expences of
living were at lead as great as they now
are. There is, however, said he, one
reason for continuing the increase
which did not exist for originally mak
ing that increase. The offices were for
merly accepted with an expectation of
receiving certain eftabliShed salaries,
and they aded optionally in doing so ;
they had no reason to expert that their
compensation would be increased. The
compensation however was increased,
and the gentlemen who at present hold
those offices accepted them with a ra
tional expectation that the salaries
would remain as they were when they
came into the offices.
and Services or the heads or thole de
partments. He was not disposed to
concur in the economical project pro
posed by the gentleman from N. York.
He thought, the Saving of information,
of which the gentleman had Spoken,and
which he had proposed to accomplish
by preventing a publication of the sums
given to public officers, not the mod
laudable species of economy, nor one
which it was worth the while of the
house to inculcate.
Gen. Smith thought the salaries ra
ther too low than too high, as increas
ed in 1798. The officers were merely
enabled to exist ; they ought to have a
liberal support while in office and Some
thing to carry home when they retire.
Mr. Dana said, gentlemen are egre
giously mistaken if they suppose, that
by rejecting the amendment they can
prevent a difeuffion of the merits of
the bill and an examination of the i
tems. Though the amendment pro
posed is the most direct and proper way
of coming at each Separate question,
those questions may be reached by an
nexing a proviso naming the salary pro
posed to be altered. He declared that
for his part he would not be prevent
ed in this way from offering his opin
ion upon the real merits of the bill. He
did not think that the law proposed to
be revived established the best poflible
ratio of compensation for the present
time and the prelent rate of services.
He suggested that there ought not to
be so great a difference between the sal
ary of the secretary of the navy and
that of the secretary of State. As great
talents,induftry and fidelity are as requi
site in the former as in the latter, and
he did not fee why the compensation
Should not be equal. He wished for
an opportunity to examine these ques
tions distinctly and underStandingly,
and he would not be compelled either
to reject or to adopt the whole en mass.
If gentlemen would not meet the fub
jeC tin the most direct and proper man
ner, they would Still be unable to elude
the examination demanded.
Mr. Mitchell was in favor of the bill
as it Rood.
Mr. Bacon had heard no objection to
the rate of salaries established by the
law of 98 ; he therefore concluded that
the rate was a perfectly proper one ;
consequently, if he voted to increase one
salary, he Should vote to increase every
other one in exaCt proportion, and it he
voted to diminish one lie should vote
to diminfh every other one in exaCt pro
portion. He, though he had seconded
the amendment, was astonished at the
redfins given by the gentleman from
Delaware, (Mr. Bayard) for support
ing the motion. That gentleman, he
said had declared that he would vote
against the bill, unless the majority
would make concessions to that gentle
man, and acknowledge that they acted
improperly in opposing the passage of
the law. Mr. Bacon had never expect
ed to hear such a principle avowed on
that floor. He did not think it either
an honourable or an hontf principle.
Mr. Bayard rose and said, that a friend
had mentioned to him an expression
which had fallen from tlie gentleman
from N. York (Mr. Elmendorf) which
he himfelf did not hear, but which he
was informed charged him with having
hazarded his own reputation as a gen
tleman by the remarks which he had
made. He wished to know what the
gentleman meant by that observation.
Mr. Elmendorf rose, appeared em
barraffed'and looked pale. He said he
might have used the expression, as he
spoke upon the spur of the occasion
without consideration ; but declared,
if he did use the expression, he meant
nothing personal or difrefpe&ful to the
gentleman.
Mr. Bayard proceeded : he was c
qually unable 10 understand the gentle
man from Maflachufetts (Mr. Bacon)
he presumed no gentleman on that floor
would utter sentiments which he had
not considered, or would be ashamed to
defend what he had advanced. He
had perceived nothing in the character
or conduct of the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts which entitled him to assume
the office of judging either of the honor
or bonefty of others.
Mr. Bayard said, he should be gov
erned on the present occasion, very
much by the conduct of the gentlemen
on the other fide. When the law was
passed, the. then majority openly took
the / r&ponfibility upon themfelves—^
- ; , ^—— ——. ; ; — —
Saturday Morning, by WILLIAM TREADWELL, &C 2
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After a few other remarks, the ques
tion on Mr. Smith's amendment was
taken and loft. The committee rose
and reported the bill to the house.
Mr. Dana rose and Stated in the
house, that the salary contemplated by
the bill to the attorney general was
3,000 dollars, that this salary had ori
ginally been !,§&), that it was raised
firft to 2,000 afterwards, in consequence
of the war in Europe and the numer
ous prizes to be decided upon in oun
courts, it Was increased to 2,400 and
finally, on account of the increased du
ties of that officer, for a limited tim%
under the 6th and 7th articles of the
BritiSh Treaty, his compensation was
raised, for three years, to 3,000 dollars.
At this time he was obliged to refuse
constantly at the feat of government,
and his whole time -was occupied in
public business ; that officer, had theb,
probably, more business in one mon:u
than he has now in a year.—This ~
evident from incontrovertible fact—
that officer can now be absent from the
feat of government for fix months to
gether, which would certainly not be
the case if public business required his
attention. Mr. Dana thought, there
fore, that it would not be unreasona
ble to reduce his salary to its original
amount, upon the principle of appor
tioning compensation to the quantum
of service rendered ; but he was not
disposed to make so great a redaction ;
—He would propose merely to take oft
600 dollars whicli were added only for a
limited time ad 14 coaitatoa of^-
clamour was raised, and a new order of
things brought about. If gentlemen
now want the law let them take it ; —&
but let it appear to be what it really is,
their own measure, and let not us bo
Rill compelled to fuffer the whole op
probrium which may result from th^
measure; If gentlemen now think that
the law is right, and that they were
formerly wrong in opposing it, let the
fad so appear to the world, and let them
not attempt to Screen themselves under
the cover of a law which was intended
to be temporary, and which was actu
ally expired. It is futile to urge, as the
gentleman from Virginia has done, that
the present officers accepted their places
with an expectation that their salaries
would be continued as they were. It
is to be presumed, that those gentlemen
knew the laws of their country, and
that this ad was to expire in a few
months. The gentleman from Virginia
fays, that the expense of the civil lift ia
small, and not worth much attention—-
that he is for carrying his views of econ
omy to much higher and more impor
tant matters—to the military and na
val expenses. How long has tlie gen
tleman entertained these Sentiments ?
It is but a Short time Since he thought
it very important to extend his econo
my to the judiciary department, an ar
ticle of economy by whicli a few nou
fand dollars are saved at the expense,
as very many gentlemen in both houses
of the legislature and throughout the
country believe, at the expense of the
constitution of our government : He
had thought it neceifary to economize
in the mint eßabliShment, the destruc
tion of which, instead of being a saving, -
would probably be an adual loss to the
nation, at least to the poorer part of it.
Mr. Bayard repeated, that he felt no
hostility to the compensations proposed,. .
and that he should probably have voted
for them, had gentlemen brought up
the fubjed fairly, and offered to make
the measure their own.
Mr. Dana observed, that gentlemen,
resolve to consider the rates of compen
sation fixed by the late law as perfect
in every refped, and to pronounce the,
former administration infallible. He
believed it to be the only inßance ir>
which they had been disposed to ascribe
that attribute to that administration.—
He said, if the gentlemen had no wi(h
to veil this measure from the public
view, it was pretty extraordinary that,
they would not fuffer the Separate prop
osition to be brought up and fairly met-
Mr. Griswold. When the law was
palled it was deemed necefiry for the
officers to employ their whole time at
the feat of government, and in the pub
lic service. If that service has dimin
ished Since the 4th of March last, and
gentlemen can now be spared for half
the year to pursue their private and
profeffional business at home, there can
be no propriety in paying them full
salaries.