Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-12

that they did not consider il public robbie
ry. And the honorable gentleman from
Virginia did not refuse the money becaus
he thought it unjust, for he advocate,
the measure; upon principle only, IN
could not agree TO embrace the presen
Congress. The worth of that mernbe
was we'll known TO the House and as Il
those who had voted against the measure
and had received the compensation, h,
did not suppose that the people of any
district would have complained OF any
such member, who had only taken thai
| which had been allowed other members
by laN. In justice TO himself, 10 the
! House, and rartic ularly to the nation, he
conceived it his duty thus 10 distinguish
| the real from the fictitious compensation
laws; for the age ofreason bad moi pass
| ed away, and although there may have
| been, 4 temporary sacrifice Of worth and
| merit, II cannot continue. MIR. Johnson
sad, such had been The artificial and in-
fatura! excitement against the compcil-
sation biI', that a particular friend OF his
called upon his debtor TO discharge a
written obligation under hand and seal ::
upon presenting the note, the debtor de
lnanded To know Of his creditor whether
he was III favor of the compensation bill ;
amt, upon being answered IN The aifrma-
tive, payment was positively rciused.-
This was not all. lie had understood if
q constable presented himselfto the JUS
tees oftlie peace for preierment and pro-
motion, he was called Oil to know if he
was III favor of the compensation BILL
Ii the Justice of the peace wanted to be
sheriff, he could think OF no better eXpe-
dent than 10 denounce the compensa-
ton bill /; and particularly those who of
tered as candidates 10 represent counties
III the state legislatures, denunciation of
the compensation bill was made Il sine qua
nOn. III fact, by these and other means,
the poor compensation bill excited more
discomfort than the alien orscdition laws,
the quasi war with France the internal
taxes Of '9S the embargo the late war
with Great Britain the treaty of Client,
or any one measure of the government
from Its existence. Such effects could
not naturally result from the measure
under consideration, but from the misre-
presentation of designing men, and from
misunderstanding of ii by the sirtuous,
the FAITHFUL, the honest yeomaBry OF the
country. iAr. j. said, this reminded him
OF another story that WAS told him, of
young gentleman having made known TO
the father Ola beautiful daughter, his
wIs.i To wish the house on her account
who demanded ofthe young man, as a
preliminary, whether he was in favor of
the compensation bill This brings me.
sad MIR. Johnson, TO the most natural
part OF the enquiry the amount of com
pensatien. If we consider this subject in
an abstract or positive point OF view, we
must take d variety of circumstances into
the calculation, aud it may be difficult
TO say what is the precise sum that should
be given. If ii married man shall bring
his family with him, he viii incur an cX-
pence greater than to come alone. If
member should come alone to the CITY of
Washington, he lncurs less eXpence than
If compelled TO bring one servant, or an
attendant with him, to aid him OH the
road, and when at the city, TO fake from
him the trouble ola thousand calls, which
would break in upon his time, aud render
him, III great measure, useless To his
constituents; or by paying the same for
extra attention at the boarding houses -
Or the amount of expence may depend
upon a thousand other considerations
whether member shall drink wateralone,
or whlskey, or brandy, or MADEIRA, or
Champagne or whether member shall
occupy room alone, or whether he can
ind some kindred spirit 10 occupy a room
together. But this part Of the subject
cannot be reduced TO any thing like RIa-
theDatIcal precision, as TO the amount OF
compensation. Bat this have said, and
this now repeat, that for married or sim
gle, with servants or without servants,
with horses withouth horses, 1900 dollars,
as money-making scheme, is poor bu-
siness, whether applied toihe farmer, the
mechanic, the lawyer or the doctor, or any
other class of The community such is the
necessary expense and sacrifice in being
a member. Nor is it my wish that il should
be money-making business. 1t is nv
wish TO receive my compensation from the
people whom ] represent, and not from
any other quarter despise prodgalifv,
extravaganza and luxury, and equally
desplse griping avarice and in this, as
III all other cases of money, I would be
governed by the principle OF economy
fix 10 unnecessary burthen ON the people
but they must support their liberties d
the govt of their choice, by moderate
and rational system cf necessary snp-
ply. But, leaving this positive view of the
subject, comparatively speaking the com
pcusatlOn TO members OF Congress IS ina
dcquatc; and, TO equaiize, YOU must eth
or level or reduce The salaries Of most OF
the officers of government, or You must
add To- the per diem which has been re-
ceiyed by ihe members heretofore: and
! believe the people have moi vet instruc-
ted the members ofC0ngross 10 lessen the
salaries of officers which have been fixed
by the patriots of the country, for twenty
years and upwards and ille people must