Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-02-08
CONTINUED.
Or. Mltchelps speech Gonchtded. J

BtraOrQlnaTY TlSquc IUI tllCll iolilS3 $3.50
these profits, after all are not received IN
cash alone, but in a COMPOUND ratio OF mo-
1ney and fame. ItfolloWs from this view
Of the subject, and it IS indisputably the
Just one, that professional men, as such,
receive smaller return Of profit on their
personal stock or capital vested in then.
persons, than any other species OF adven-
turers in trade on equal capital and haz-
ard.
Suppose then, sir, a Professional man be-
comes an ofeial character Does he ac-
quire {" pecuniary" reward equal to the
amount that might be found due TO him, by
a calculation on the principles which have
been laid down; Certainly not. Speaking
in gross, such official men as are contemp-
lated in the bill now depending, are not SO
well paid as professional men are Il the
latter, are moderated intheir conpensations,
the same. a fortiori must happen to the for
mer. Take the career of enc of these Of
6cers about whom there has been SO much
discussion among us. He possesses little
or no chance Of obtaining one OF these dis
tinguished appointments before the sun Of
his life has passed It's zenith, and he~is de-
clining,, the aiterno On of age. Time
.n,ust tlrst have furrowed his face with
wrinkles, and planted gray hairs on his tenn
pies, under this preparatory course, andwith
such preliminary stepts for preferment,
what chance has the successful competitor
TO hold his possession long Though his
constitution should remain vigorous
thoughhe should. have husbandedhis powers
by temperance though like an evergreen
tree, he shall have carried his Juvenile YER
dure far into the winter of years the In
.cumbent on one of these benehces, deceives
shimselfif he calculates upon a protracted
tenure.--T hough he should be favored
with health, and have both the will and ca
-pacity toperform the duties of his station,
he must expect at the close of every lus-
.trum or sooner, that an harsh decree from
the mouth of bohtlcaLcgpedIency will super
cede his commissission and Gust him from
his place. In the mean time, the con-
slant wear and tear of his animated
machinery is going On, and he, quits his
Office with diminished ability to be take
himself once more to the employ meat
he may have relinquishcd.
It will be perhaps demanded, how the
officer is to be made whole under all7these
casualties Ireply that lis. worldly reward
is partly of an h0norary and partly Of
pecuaiury kind. In some places Of emf
.nent crust and delicate responsibility, the
virtue whichis necessary TO their execu-
ton, is its own reward. Those emotions
Of laudable ambition which agitate the
breast OF man, and fill it with the desire of
excellence, are ina great degree settled, |
may say paid, by the very enjoyment and
qualification they afford. The towering
distinction, the elevated rank, and the far
sounding title of the statesman, who has
reached these grades ofpromotiona are justly
considered as making an essential and I'M
por:ant part of what he ought to receive
from the public. Nothing can afford the
good and faithful servant so much delight
as the appreciation, the respect and the
confidence Of his sovereign. These are
the most tasteful cordials In the cup of life.
Inc Accents Ol COlllHeuudtioH ana PIdlSf
are so acceptable, that even the vicious
part of public men procure them ~ venal
means to be uttered in their ears. Che
godlike soul exults when the public voice
concurs with the sentiment of self appro-
baton whieh-it feels. Hut as men helding
Offices cannot sustain life by mere applauses,
whether real or fictitious, and must be
-nourished and cherished by substantial
fare, like their fellow citizens, there must
be some rule bvwhich the amount their sa-
iaries may be ascertained. lrepeat, Sir,
that Congress should be moderate in all
their allowances of this kind. And in or
der to calculate the amount of wages,
to be paid to the pubic servants, the mar
ket price of the articles they mustpurchase,
\ ~