Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-21

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eel any intention, at this time, TO enter in
to the general question, reserving himself
fora future opportunity.
Mr.. Y. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, init
mated his wish so to amend the bill as
that the law should remain as ii is until
the 4th of March next, and that it should
then be Invested gifts Objectionable sala-
~ feature.
MIR. Reynolds, of Tennessee, intimated
his wish, if the gentleman from Virginia
was serious in his retunding system, that
he would be good enough to make the
day OF refunding some convenient time
after lie close OF the session, to give gem
tlemcn an opportunity 10 obtain the
means of complying with that provision.
This suggestion produced 10 little mirth
IN the House. Mr.. II. said he was not
for coming down at once to six dollars
per day, but was for fixing OH that daily
sum which would amount as nearly as
might be TO 1900 dollars fer the whole
time of sitting during Il year. lie would
inform the gentleman from Virginia, he
said, that, ii in his remarks on that head,
lie had alluded to the committee who re-
ported this bill, they had nothing TO do
with the rapid race of popularity, which
the honorable gentleman had SO hand
somely described. He would only add,
that he believed the honorable gentleman
himself had now announced motion,
which had more substantial popularity in
1t than all the other motions on the sub
ject put together.
MIR. Deshd, of Kentucky, said, there
were four propositions before the com
nlttee, for filling the blank in tie bill
ten, nine, eight and SIX dollars. lie had
seconded the motion totill the blank with
six dollars, and lie should vote against
every proposition, till ii came down TO six
dollars, which he should support, be-
cause he thought we ought 10 retrace our
steps, and place the pay of the members
on its former footing, at six dollars per
day. a gentleman had said that he
would not be moved by the public voice
on this occasion. Mr. ID. said he thought
he possessed as much independence as
most men, but he confessed that he was
not so independent as 10 disregard public
opinion. Ours Isl government otthepeo-
pie: the people are virtually the COVER
nors, and we, as their agents, are bound
to act up 10 their will, when that can be
ascertaned and can any gentleman
doubt that the will of the people is against
the compensation law! 1t has not only
been disappro bated, butreprobated, from
one emf OF the continent TO the other, i'm
few places excepted, where extravaganza
is the order of the day, and among few
individuals Ia other places, who consider
themselves exclusively entitled to all Off
ces OF prominence, and who look forward
with expectation of filing the situation,
when fat salary would be quite welcome.
lit Is my opinion, that the people had not
only right to complain, but had am
pie cause of complaint. We had but re-
Gently got out OF necessary, but expen-
sive war. l wont say the people were OPP
pressed, but will say they were pretty
heavily burtiened with taxes, and have
no hesitation IN saying that they would
have borne double--yes, treble. as much.
ii they could nave been convinced that ii
was necessary, in defence ofthcir rights:
but when they discovered, (as they believ
ed) that the adoption OF the compensation
law, was aggrandizing ourselves. and
laying additional burthens on them, was
II amy wonder they complained? Altho'
have no doubt but what The agitation I'm
The public mind, was IN some instances.
carried TO extremes, yet the opposition to
what they conceived an encroachment.
was a favorable symptom: forwhile ever
this feeling i'll the pnblic mind, is alive, IL
berty is safe. The people will correct
any errors that may be gone into by their
agents.
Mr.. d. said, this was an unpleasant
subject TO touch upon, and what made IL
rather embarrassing to him, was the know
ledge that he was speaking against the
feelings and inclinations of d majority of
the House, and at the same time recol-
lectIng the pointed and severe sarcasms.
and ridlcule attempted TO be attached TO
all those who were opposed to The com
pensatlOn bill, last session, and particu-
Early to those who got an opportunity of
speaking against the measure. But where
duty impelled, he trusted he should never
be found wanting that he should not in
teriere with motives, and should be cauti-
Gus MOTTO make use of expressions ca.cu-
lated TO wound feeling, and he hoped he
should be treated with a correspondent
liberality, as he should be very careful of
his own feelings. Mr.. ID. said he reiolced
when his honorable colleague brought
forward the resolution on which this bill
IS bottomed, because he thought it came
better from him than it could have come
rom any other member, as he brought
forward the measure which this bill con
modifying, orrepeaIing but the
gentleman>s speech accompanying the re-
solution, was of q character well caIcula-
ted to defeat the purport Of tie resolution.
II was calculated TO rivet on the minds of
the original advocates ofthe measure. that
The law giving the salary TO members of
Congress, was just and correct, d ought
not TO be repealed. The gentleman told !
vom that what influenced him in The IN
reduction of the resolution, was that he |