Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-27

Il Is Intended that the law allows to every
member defined and certain sum, with
oat any deduction for absence or omis-
sion oi duty, II Is not Il correct representa-
tlcn. Such deductious are provided for
"a. tie Law, as completely as Under the
former ,uo,ie. II has already been OIL
served, tiilt q difference OF opia:on has
long existed on this point and it still ex-
.sis. Nlien the LAYS OF l7y6 WAS passed,
there were those who thought il adyisca-
Die TO change tie mode then in practice,
and To adopt the example, of an annual
allowance, WHICH had been formerly set
by Il very respectable State. There
have been, a,,d stili arc, these who are
not without tear, that an augmentation of
t'Ie daily pay, ii II should not in fact
tend, M some Eases, 10 tie protraction OF
the session, might produce an evil OF e.
quail magnitude, by subjecting the Legis-
lalure To such au imputation.
Nor is 1t at all true, that the inconveni-
ence q attending a session OF Congress is
AWAY III proportion To its length. The
season of the year IN which the session is
holden, may be lis material as It's dura-
ton. The length Of the Journey to the
seat of government is the same in both
cases and both cases require IN entire
breaking of ofail priyateengagements,a and
an exclusive devotion to public business.
1t may be added, also, that while com
pcnsation was computed Nv the day, as
the sessions would naturally be Longest
IN times OF war, the greatest expense
woEtd fail on the treasury, when il could
bear Ii with the least convent; nee
1hlnklng, however, that the measure of
augmenti0y The compensation Was itself
a necessary one, and HAT the form, itnot
The best, was fair subject oi experiment,
the House dill not forbe2r 10 adopt it,
from difference of opinlon ~ regard to the
manner. 1t passed the law III lis pre-
sent form, III the nope that good would
result from The changcof mode, and with
the knowledge that Il such should not be
the consequence, the former mode could
be easily, and al any time again adopted.
There now remain some other tories
connected with this subject, Which the
committee would submit 10 the consider
alton OF the House.
OF all the powers with which tho peo-
pie have Invested the government, that of
legislation is undoubtedly the Chief. In
addition to ITS own important ordinary
duties, the legislature Is the only power
which can create other powers. Depart
mcnts, viii, all their duties and Offices,
viii all their emolumcnts, can emanatc
FROM the Legislature alone. Over the
most numerous branch of the Legislature.
therefore, the people have retained the
power OF frequent elections and with
This branch alone, they have trusted the
original exercise of the right of taxation.
The members of the House OF Reprcsen-
gents OF the people in this high trust
IbpN- and yl,nx- al
ately from the suffrage of the people
They and they alone, can touch the
handspring OF the public prosperity
They are elected TO be the guardians of
the public rights and liberties. Can the
people, then, have any greater or clearer
interest, than that the seats of these, their
representatives, should be honorable and
independent stations, IN order that they
may have the power of filling them with
able and independent men! Is il accord
ing to the principles of our government,
that the legislative office should sink I'm
character and Importance, below any of
fee, even the highest III the gift of the ex-
ecutlve! Or can any thing be more I'M
To the success OF free repre-
sentative government, than that the repre-
sentatlves of the people should estimate
any thing higher than their own seats, or
should find inducements TO look to any |
other favour than the favour of their CON
Stituents!
Ii would be most unnatural state Of |,
things, in republic, if thepeople should !
place greater reliance any where else, than |
III their own immediate representatives |
Oh If, on the other hand, representatives |
should reyoiye round any other centre |
than the interests of their constituents. |
their representatives, the direct |
influence and control ofthe people can a
lone be felt. III them, the RAYS OF their |
power are collected; and there can be no |
better criterion by which to Judge of the |
real influence OF the people in tie govern
ment, than by the degree ofrespectabiIily
aud Importance attached TO the repre-
sentative character. Evil, indeed. to the
republic viii THAT time be, should If ever
nrYe, when representatives in Congress.
instead OF being agents Of Inc people 10 |
exercise an influence III government, shall
become instruments OF government to in
iucnce the people.
Ii is, probably, the necessary tendency
II government that patronage and infu-
nee should accumulate wherever the ex-
cutiyc power is deposited and this ac-
umulatlon may be expected To increase
With the progress Of the government and
he increasing wealth of The nation. To
.uard, IS far as possible, against the eff
cct of this on the legislature, the consti-
ution has prohibited members of Con-
.ress from holding, while members, any
'fhce under executive appointment; but
has not restrained them from resipniug |