Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-09-21
RICHMOND, SEp1.E-MBER p.
RISING OF THE TEMPEST.


The Citizens OF Fluvanna, in the exer-
else oftheir constitutional right, as a por-
ton of the American people, to review the
conduct OF their Representatives, have
assembled at the Court House, in pursuance
of public appointment, and after due con-
sideration OF tina subject, have tho't pro-
per to declare to the world, I'll cir senti.
ments in relation to a late act of Congress,
commonly called the CONDENSATION Laqv.
Attached from principle to the repub-
lican administration of the government,
and willing at all times to Judge with favor
OF its measures, it is with regret that they
find themselves obliged to censurc on the
present oCcasion--but nevertheless, they
owe it to themselves and their country, to
avow their utter Misrepresentation Of this law,
which, in every point of view appears to
them indcfensibe. After so free an ex-
preston of their opinion. they feel it incum-
bent on them to state concisely, the rea-
sons upon which this judgment has been
formed.
The grounds upon which they rest their
opposition to the Compensation Law, are
chiefly these The change in the mode of
compensation, and the unreasonable in
crease of the pay, together with the man
ner in which the law was Procured to be
passed. On the first point, the citizens of
Fluvanna believe it wrong in principle, to
give to the members of Congress a stated
salary. Salaries have heretofore been be-
slowed on those officers OF the government,
whose time and labors are exclusively de-
voted to the public service. But members
OF Congress are not precluded from ensag-
ing in private pursuits, by their duties to
the public. The sittings of Congress vary
in their length, as the public exigencies re-
qaire-and it is believed, that in time of
peace, not more than three months would
be necessary, en- an average of sessions, to
go through the business of the National
Legislature. This calculation would leave
them three ourths of the year to attend
to their private concerns, and without pur-
suing the subject further, suffices to shew
that members OF Congress are not fit OBJ
jects of stated and annual salaries. On
the other hand, 1t would be hard to devise
a mode OF compensation more Just in itself,
or more obviously appropriate to the ma
tsre OF their services, necessarily iudefi-
mite in duration, than the old per diem
compensation. Such is the plain view of
the subject, which naturally presents itself
to the common sense of mankind--and
such. as far as the enquiries of the PEG.
pie OF Fluvanna have extended, is believed
to have bean the practice of all LegisIa-
tive bodies heretofore, in relation to the
compensation of their members.
With regard to the second objection, a
difference of opinion may honestly exist as
to the adequacy ofthe pay under the old
law, and therefore the citizens of Fluvan-
ma, will not affirm positively. that no ad-
dition to it ought to have been made but
they are prepared to say decidedly, that
the increase proposed by the late law is
excessive, aad out of all proportion to the
scale upon which the other officers of 20
vernment are paid. Admit that three
months, upon the peace establishment of
the nation, are sufficient to transact the
public business, which, if the members of
Congress are diligent i'll the discharge of
their duties, is allowing them time enough /;
it follows that they have paid themselves
at the rate of six thousand dollars YEAR
Or suppose the sessions, one with another,
to last 100 days, then their daily com
pensation, under the present law, is SIS,
or an advance upon the former pay, of
$50 per cent-an augmentation in either
point of view, manfestly enormous. Had
the Congress of the United States added
two dollars per day to their pay under the
old law, and voted that their successors, not
they, should be entitled to the addition,
| the case would have presented very diff
| ferent aspect But to rise at once to $500
per annum, and to vote that themselves
| who enacted the law, should receive the adj
| ditional emolument which it created, is a
| transaction upon which the citizens of Flu
| wanna cannot reflect without feelings oil
the deepest modification and chagrin. IL
| the history of this law, there are other
| circumstances which cannot be wholly pas
| sed over, but which shall be briefly touch
| ed upon. The manner in which it was
hurried thro' both sshouses--the unconsti
nationality of its ex post facto operation
| the refusal Of Congress to augment the sa
laries of other officers of government,
known to be inadequate-and the haste t
terminate the session, after placing them
selves upon the footing of saiaried officers
are facts upon which the citizens of Flu
wanna cannot forbear to comment. The,
are sanguine in the hope that the eusuinJ
Congress. in obedience to the voice of thu
nation, loudly expressed, and out of a re
gard for their own honor, deeply invoive
in the result, will hasten to expunge iron
the Statute Book, law which casts S
dark a shade over the purity of the re
preventative character.
That the citizens of Fiuvanna may nc
be wanting in their humble efforts to tn
attainment of an end, which in every poir
Of view they deem 50 important
RESOLVED, That it is expedient to instruC
our representative in Congress to use h
best efforts, at the approaching session {
that body, TO obtain the repeal of the Com
|