The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-01-24

of thirty three and third per cent.
more than we should have had If We
had never passed it Z would not wish
to stand in more pitiable, would add
pitIful, condiion before the pc, pie, than
with this bill in my Land as amcnda,ory
of the act Of the last session.
Without now giving an opinion on tho
merits OF the bill, reserving himself till
the bill should be more lully before the
House, he rose TO offer an amendment
which he believed would supersede the
amendment proposed by the gentleman
tom Kentucky. Take notice, said he.
do not pledge myself to vote for the
oiil' even II my amendment be adopted.
do not wish TO entrap the House, bnt
10 shew what, in my opinion, oupb 10
DE done, ii we move in the question at
all Mr. then proposed to strike
oat the whole bill, and insert in lieu
thereof provision to repeal entirely
inc law oil last session, and REQUIRE a
deduction from the amount of nav re.
ceised ~ the members, Of so much as,
curing the past and presen, sessions.
they shall have received over and above
the rate OF six dollars per day The
act OF the last session was retrospectiye
anu retroactive In its operation; and il
the house touched the law at this SEES.
sion, In his opinion they ought TO take,
up the matter where they did at the lass
session, and and law now passed sbould
be retroactive in the same manner &c
o"e act passed at the last session. IL
perhaps might be remembered by the
chair' or perhaps The chairman MIC bt
not have thought it worth while to re.
hemoer, that at the last session, he (Ms.
NahooIpbj had made a motion, Limiting
the operation Of the law TO a futur,.
congress; and that that motion, on The
argument OF other gentlemen, he had
seen TT to withdraw--and he had so
'hongnt ter this reason, that each Con.
gress ought to take upon it the respon-
siol'i'y OIL assessing its own pay; That
10 do SO was a duty devolvlng on il,
!fom which ii had no right to shrink,
II they had now assessed it too high iD
.heir own orinions, they ought 10 re-
fsnd the surplus
ne CHAIRaAK having declared that
Mr' hahdoiPb's motion did not super.
Sede that of Mr.. Johnson
Mr.. RANDOLPH said he was NOT
10 the situation of the man, who had
been,so long remembered that he was
forgot; but he bad been so long mem.
Der OF the House as to have lost ALI
knowledge If its rules and orders uE
proceeding The rule with which he
had been acquainted for near fourteen
years, in this House, was, that the mn.
tion TO strike out the section OF a bilt
superseded motion TO amend it. He
wished to know, If not nov in order,
when Il woeld be in order 10 PROFOUND,
his motion 10 the House.
Mr.. CLAY 1.-THE Speaker1 explained
the change OF practice in late years in
the Enthusiastically it was establi. he'd,
that Sill should be open for apy amend.
Rents, TO be made as perfect 8 it could.
before motion was entertained to
strike out the FIRST section. -
MIR. SOUTHARD, of New Jersey.
safd this subject was one so practical
so familiar to every one by the discus.
sIoBs Ii had undergone, that it was no,
worth while to detain the House with
any remarks in support of the PROPOSE
non which he now submitted, to FIX the
compensation for the future at the old
standard Of Sic dollars per day.
Mr. GROSVENOR, of New York,
said be was in favor of retaining. the
salary feature he thought it most con.
sIStept with the public interest Buff
that law must be repealed, one ereac
objection to that course would be re.
moved BY the adoption of the amend.
ment suggested by the gentleman from
Virginia If touched at all, said he, ia
should be In such manner as not to
brand our names and that of the Congress
to which We belong, to the latest ages,
with dishonor and disgrace. | would
not put into my pocket tina. compensa.
Ion which believe to- be right, and
refuse 1t to our'successors, or put into
my pocket what believe TO be uniust.
and keep 1t there. For the purpose
therefore OF removing this great and
prominent difficulty in his mind, he
should move to fill the blank with Ten
dollars--not that he should, If his mo,
ton succeed, vote for this bill, becauae
IN the abstract he preferred a salary.
He would make the mileage differ.
ent, however, and at q less rate than
that. Mr.. G. disclaimed any intention,
at this time, to enter into the general