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

ence between salary officer and a per
diem, is simply in the mode of payment,
and not in the amount. 1t is immaterial
whether you give The President his 6S dol
lars per day, or whethcrhe draws his 25,-
600 dollars quarter yearly. The same
may be said OF the military, and the exec
utive, aud judicial departments.
Thcper diem allowance originated from
the necessity aud convenience of mem
bers, who had daily calls upon them and
the salary officer was made such from
convenience IN Repayment suarter-yearly.
or scmI-annua,iy. II is Impossible TO
make any other distinction. 1 believe
gross sum wii retcrn the proceedings of
the House: and although the people may
change their representatives every Con
gress, the case vii. not be altered, they
viii net. III i'le aggregate, find men more
enlightened, more patriotic, more indus
trio S. or hess ayariciOus; and il isulNays
hes, TO Blend selfinterest and patriotism
together. i, can he done and themost
ere.iciai SCSul;s, III my humble opinion,
were discovered from lis operation at the
last session. But | deny that members
of Congress are made SALARY otiicers-at
least they do no. partakc of the advaDta-
ges oi Il salary officer. In the executive,
O. judiciary, OF military, or naval depart
nlentS, III case or sickness or absence OH
furlough, no deduction is made from the
pay OF the officer. If they languish on
bed ofsickntss, under their own roof, and
surrounded by theirown friends, the act OF
God docs not lessen their claims upon
their country for support.
But if a member of Congress should he
placed IN the same situation, he receives
no part of his 1900 dollars; and if detain-
CT aftert the session terminates, liereceives
no additional compensation. He must
perform The service TO entitle him To the
money. The Roman diadcm was put up
TO the highest bidder, and history gives
us the consequences; and If making mo-
ney, or saving money, be the object of the
people, there is no district i'm the United
States, so poor, but could furnish some
character 10 serve Tor nothing, aud, ii re-
CURED, would give to The public treasury
tie 1900 dollars for scat in Congress:
but then we should have very different
Congress from that which is noW so much
identified with the honor and rights of
the nation. The rich aristocracy of the
country who could roll in their carriages,
or the protigate, who would wish 10 put
themselves III the market would general
Nv compose Congress under such an Or
ganizatlon. We have memorable, a We
ry memorable example before us oflegis-
lators serving their constituents for no
thing mean the members of the Bri-
tlSii Parliament. And WHAT'S the effect
The king and Ministry have fund 10
purchase majority; some cannot be pur-
chased-such as Chatham and Fox; o.
theirs were not worth purchasing. But
tor fifty or one hundred wears it has been
so contrived, that the King and his Mi
nistry have had majority OF Parliament
To support them In all their systems of
war and taxes, with the execution of a
very few wears indeed when the voice
OF the people TOR moment gained the as
cendancy. And although the members
OF Parliament serve fornothing, the votes
In many places were bought as any other
article III the market; for was intimate
with an Englishinan, who resided in nv
nsighbouThood, who informed me, that
he generally received sixteen pounds
sterling, for his vote at each election.
Tie motion which make, therefore,
does not arise from any change Of senti-
ment as 10 mode and amount of COM
pensaiion. With other consih -rations.
already mentioned Voc PopuH FOR Dei
has Ms controlling influence Not that
this prlncpse ilnpiieS perfection in the
people; but hold il as z political max
IN, that the people arc the fountain of
rover AMI authority; and it thew should
he ever carried away BY a mOlnenlary i'm
F''iSc, 1t does not arise from corruption.
md the presumption is, that The people
ere AWAY right, as they are, as a people.
always virtuOus in their views and a re-
preventative who acknowledges this prin-
c;ple, and is willing TO carry into effect
the will OF the people, is entitled TO some
Hberallty, to some consideration But
10 not admit that the great body of the
people are SO deeply affected bv this
measure; but ! believe there is sufficient
Dating iDifamInable matter q, turn the
scale IN most instances. In this respect
am for taking away all pretext, and bow
10 the will ofthe people, thus partially
expressed, under all those unnatural
means OF excitement 10 which have aIlu-
ded.
Vigilance is virtue in free people;
It was tins virtue that preserved us from
Parliamentary encroachmentS in I776,
and conducted us TO independence.
Like Argus, the people should be watch
tut, they should not slumber upon fheir
posts. But at the same time we should
guard against preoipitancy and unfound-
ed suspicion, for these are the oppOsitcs
81 vigilance. II was these that threat
ened or cause in times that tried mems
souls: when the father of his country,
the immortal Washington, was distr,ust-
edof wanting fire capacity of general
or commander iH chief, in pursuing his
Fabian policy, particularly his mcmora-
bic retreat through the Jerseys, that saw
ed his shattered army, and has crowned
him with so much glory Unlimited con
fideugp * a vreakuocr h,tf ruCounIc1