Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-02-08

rendered on land, v ould have received no
remuneration, as experience had proved in
The case of the Tippecanoe expeaition :;
and that it was contsary to Justice t. confer
pecuniary rewards on one elias, of our c;u.
Gems in exclusion Of others. In favor of HE
bill, it was stated that the captured vessel.
| 1t brought into port, would have produced
| six times the amount now proposed to be 81
lowed to ner and that the captors ought
not Ia incur total loss from the destructi
ON OF The vessel, which the fear of her fall
! ling into the hands Of the enemy had rem
| dered necessary TO the public service. Il
was urged, that If any city in the United
| States had to legislatc OH this subject, hive
times as much would have been awarded
as Is now proposed. All the gentlemen who
| spoke offered the tribute of their respect to
the gallantry and conduct of the officers and
| seamen of our public vessels.
| The question on the passage of the bill
was decided asfollows yeas SIS nays So.
So the bill was rejected.
On motion of Mr.. Cheves, the House re-
solved 1t self into committee of the whole
| MT. breckenridge in the chair. on the bill
| to increase the salaries of the Secretaries of
the War and Navy Departments.
Mr.. Cheves rose, and stated hat the sala.
| ries OF these officers heretofore had not been
lcHnsideredas arduous ; but that now the
| duties of these officers had become equally
arduous, required equal talent, Incurred
to equal responsibility with theother off;
GERS, and were liable to equal expencea.
1t had been therefore thought by the com
mittee of Ways ank Means, that the sala.
rles OF all the Secretaries ought to be pla
ced on an equal footing. He moved to fill
the blnak IN the bill for the amount of the
salary with fr,s La, IN ID
sent salary of the Secretaries OF State and
Treasury.
Aster few observations from Mr.. Find.
ley in favor of the bill
L he motion was agreed to by very small
majority.
MIR. Rhca moved to amend the bill bv
incorporating therein provision for raising
he salary otthe Post-Master-General of
the United States from 1000 to $500 dol
lars
MIR alimadgc moved to amend the n
mendment so as tn increase the salary of
the Assistant Post Master General TO oeoo
Motion lost
The question on Mr.. Rhea's motion was
then decided in the negative by small ma
jorit
The committee rose and reported the bill
ana the question being stated on concur
renee with the committee ofthe whole on
the principle of the BILL
Mr.. Randolph stated his objections to the
measure. he was opposed to the bill not
because he did not believe the salaries, alb
ijractedly considered, with reference to
the grade of talent which ought to grace
these Offices, might be too low but because
compared with the salaries of the Judges &
other officers of the United ST ates, their "a
laries were, comparatively already to high.
he drew comparison between the fate of
this bill AID of that just rejected for com
pensating the officers and crew of the Con
stitution, unfavorab.e to the decision of the
House on these two CASE. He was not for
| lavisning treasure on those who were bask
ing in sunshine at home, and withholding
with niggardly hand the remuneration
justly due to the merits and exploits of the
latter.
Mr.. Cheves replied. He fully agreed
with Mr.. Randolph that salaries of other of
flcers were too low; but it was no reason
against placingo Officers oft the same grade on
an equal fonting, that other officers were
too low The greatest objection to the pre-
sent inequality of the salaries of the Heads
OF Departments was the inferi ,ritv which it
Imphed in two OF these officers to thcot
Two, though all were placed in the cabinet
on an equal footing, &c. He too .lamented
the decision of the House which had Just ia
ken place but it was no reason whatever
against the measure now before the House.
Mr.. Randolph spoke IT. explanation, and
added some other remarks to those he had
before made. He particularly objected to
an increase at this moment, of the salaries
OF those who had placed the nation in it's
present situation. The equality of compen
sation would not place these officers on an
equal footing, he contended. The one would
still take precedence ofthe other, in redicu
lous limitations of the customs of foreign
courts. Equality of salary would not place
these officers on the same footing; it could
not, as he said, compensate for the Unequal
ity created by the inferiority of intellect,
surprising that to exist, &c.
Mr. Cheves rejoined, and replied to some
of MIR. RS remarks.
Mr.. Blob spoke in favor of the bill. and
stated that it had been reported without a
nv reference to personal considerations.
tor 1t had been laid before the House before
It was known what gentlemen were to fill
these two Offices.
lie vote on concurrence with the COM
nittee IN liking the compensation at 5000
dollars, was as follows:
For concurrence so
Against il &c
Mr.. Chevcs moved that the bill lie ON
the table Motion lost.
The bill was then indefinitely postpon-
ed.
a bill from the Senate for the relief of
Kheuben Atwater, and bill for the relief
OF w ashingCn Lee, were severally twice