Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-25

ted States. | was from home but once
from the time became candidate, ana
returned Ia the district in which reside,
not until long after the close oftle electi-
on. have never ilatttred the follies nor
the vices of mankind-It is not III INV ma
ture 10 ftatter man. am not indifferent
10 popularity-bui desire that popular
lty only which is the voluntary tribute ia
yrtuOns, independent and honorable acti-
ons; the reward Tor services performed
with hdeilty and integrlty--no other
would enjoy.
When the law of the last session was un-
der doiiberation-the law which it is now
contemplated 10 repeal saw and felt
the deilcacy otmy situation. To be cal
LED ON to vote on question in which [
was personally interested, although the "a
mount OF interest was TOO triilins 70 influ-
ence any honest or honorable man; TO
intiuence any description ofpersons, ex-
cept so&e3liserable mendcants or treln-
biting paupefs. For, what man, / ask, vino
is Tito come here-who is qualified 10
represent the free, The independent people
OF this natlon--who could be influenced
by pecuniary consldcrations-who could
not, by Inc proper exertion oil his own a
bIlIties, III domestic pursuits, benefit him
self and his family far beyond any thing
WHEN the government can afford or ought
TO give. The delicacy of my situation
dlu not result nom adoubt as TO the course
winch | ought to have pursued, which |
determined TO pursue. The question was
no sConerpreseHted to me, than nv con
viz tons of the impolicy and impropriety
OF the measure, assumed the force ofintu-
ltion. Yet KNEW that the most pure and
honorable motives were everliab,e TO mis-
representation. That an honest OPPOSITE
on to a measure ofan impolitic character,
especially ii it required any thing like
what some term se!Edenial, would be at
trlDuteo TO base, tow and contcmpt;ble
mode OF counting popularity that little
scuis, bursting with malignity, would be
constantly scattering their filth 81 venom
round. !, sr, have never iremble,. nor
covered before mortal man; nor have |
ever stopped 10 q mean act, TO promote
my private or my public interest. At the
last session, took occasion to state that
was satisfied that the depreciation of
money, and theincreased price OF every
article OF consum Gtion-of living, had rem
dered the SIX dollar compensation INSULT
cleni TO meet the reasonable aud decent
eXpenceS OF members at this place. |
nave uniformly maintained this opinion.
would then have voted for law raising
10 moderate amount the daily paw of
the members, TO sum which would have
borne Inc same proportion to the expence
OF living, which the old compensation bore.
at the lime il was fixed. provided the law
mad been postponed in its operation until
iae 18th o. March next. But j will never
vote torany measure in which nv person.
IL interest may subject me 10 the imputa-
tlon OF being influenced by selfish, sordid
and mercenary motives
Ihe mode OF compensation presented
an objection which was irresistible and
conclusive. Every appropriation of the
public treasury should be clear. definite
and certain. No mystery should exist.
The people, for whose benefit alone this
moaey should be touched, ought to have
the means ofjudging with certainty. as to
The amount of expenditure, in order TO
enable them TO Judge ofthe justice and
the wisdom OF the expenditure. The
services rendercdby the members of Con-
gress, by the members of every legislative
body, are. from their nature aud charac
ter, contingent and uncertain. Depend
ing on therelations ofthe country-some-
times ON the prosperity, and frequently on
the adversely which she NAV be visit
ed, they are not services of ihat char
acter which can be fairly and prooe,,v
compensated by fixed annual salary
The various misrepresentation which
have existed in reference TO the law Of the
last session-the law which now claims
the attention of tins honorable BODY
which has obtained the serious attention
OF this nation-tlle difficulty which has
been experienced by the people i'm Under
standing IFS provisions, are, to INV mind.
conclusive evidences that 1t ought TO be
repealed. Why, then. should the law of
the last session be so pertinaciously adj
hered to? a law which proposes a com.
pensatlon by salary, when, in truth.
no single idea which enters into the com.
pick term called salary, is preserved bv
that law. What is salary certain.
liked and determined sum, TO be paid AT
certain fixed periods-dependant on no
other contingency but the continuance in
office. Whereas, the salary provided by
that law depends OH several contingent
cies. The member must in be his place
on every day during the session, or must
be prevented, after taking his seat, or af
ter setting off from home with tic view
70 take this scat-by sickness FROM conf
nuingin the first case, orin hesecOnd from
taking bis seat, 90 entite him to Che sa.
larry. For, II he is absent single DAY. or
any number Of days, from the service Of
the House, either with leave or without
leave, deduction is made ola sum enual
TO that which the absent DAYS bear 10 fire
whole number Of days in The session. or
sessions, if there be more than one in the
xtear / COZ, frrI,, enc eI.t 4 H. -.