Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-02
RICHMOND, JANUARY ..
FOR THE ENQUIkER.
ON SALARIES.


GERS of the general government. That
body is Too enlightened not 10 perceive,
that in order 10 command, for a seiass Of
Gears, The best talents OF The na'i0n,a II is
necessary TO hold out TO their rossessor.
The Involvement of pecuniary eompenss-
ton as we'll as Of honorary distinctions
Jeav fof series Of gears, because Iadmit
that an great occasions mrn viii make ex
7 aer,Ii,ary sacrifices for The public good.
Rui in The general course OF human ma
fare. they must aud will consult their in
al, dual interests, which leads them 10
the acquisition of Whatever will better
tilrir conditions, and satisfy tier Datu-
raj desires and wants.
II is, nie,,d. on this apparently narrow
I,r;ncipie Of ifioUe. as conradistinguish-
81 h"m seiGshnesS, that the whole progress
ufspcic:y reposes aud 10 II we are IN
ieb,ed, AS Il ceiehratedWriief asserts, for
al The nob!est eAeriions of human genus,
inr every thing which distinguishes the
civilized tom Tie savage state. Benevo-
ience, pairiutisln, social feeling, correct
Inc evils arising from this strong passion
ot srlf-love, and prevent II from degene-
Falling into oduus and disgusting ca
tremes, bat they are not themselves the
c,oying principles of human action, nor
docs lie fabric of society rest Oh such
comparatively weak principles. lis ioun-
cations, on the contrary, are deeply fxed
IN the primary law Of our being, winch en-
joins il upon us 10 pursue, before every
other Object, our own safety aud liappi-
ness, aud The safety and happiness Of those
immediately connected with us. So true
is this, that another and a very late and
able writer on Political Economy Count
Tracy concludes, that "Society is pure
w and solely Il continual series OF e.r-
chrngcS," necessa lily arising from individ-
ual desires and wants. and having no
other support.
The pursuit oiourown happiness; in 9th
or words, the operation of the principle OF
selflove oGiises us 10 value whatever coniri-
bn,es to augment our oyments-and as
wealth confers ihemcaws ofobiaining eth
eyreal or imaginary good Ga matters not
which, } we are willing 10 make sacrifices of
TIME, labor orialents, toprocure its posses
sion: and the sum ofthese sacrifices will be,
in general, precisely equal,n The expected
acquisition. Hence, know no rule with
as few exceptions, as " that the Qualiilca-
lions Of the incumbents of offices depend
in ordinary times ia great degree upon
the amount Of their salaries" And is IL
not perfectly unreasonable TO expect that
II should I've otherwise, as long as the or
ganZalion at man continues The same Z
In most other cases, ihe principle is ac-
knowledgcd and acted upon. To com
mand the labor and ingenuity OF experts
lii The trads and professions, individuals
know that they must pay their price.
They know, too, that qualifications seek
the best markets and are a, .he disposal
of the highest bidders. Aud why should
q different rule prevail when the public
is The chap man, and is seeking for Judge,
legislator or governor!
II, therefore those who command The
parse OLA nation, think il a matter Of any
Importance 10 employ in the public SER
vice able and efficient men, they must
make il their intrrrd 10 act and this in
ipnst, unless the offices in question con
fer grea. powers ar splendid honors, must
consist IN The cmoluments Ia he derived
from them, compared with their Iabors.
70 expect their co operation or any 9th
or terms, would he 10 comriit a fatal mis-
take. apparent, after shor, time, in the
visible dccIeustoo III qualifications, OF AL
public fuDctiGnaries.
No donbt this principle might be car
ried TOO far. To allow exorbiiant sala-
TIes would lie unnecessary TO The object
IN view, conirar' 10 the spirit of oar in
Sliiuiione, anda gross imposition on those
obliged 10 pay them Salaries are Intend
eel Tor Two objects: first, as an adequate
compensation for services rendered to the
public; and, sernnd!y, as ii sufficient in
ducement for Individuals possessing The
proper qualifications TO relnquisli on IFS
behalf their private avocaiions. Confined
~ these objects, they cogduce to the good
oi q state, and particularly Of "A republic,
nv throwing open lis ionnrs and offices
10 AL ranks amt conditions of men, and
III securing for public stations Tie proper
and necessary requirements. But il they
are made 10 minister 10 the luxurrs and
vahi!les of men, 10 pamDpr their deprav-
ed appciites and swell their bloa!ed pride,
they may produce more evil than good.
In theory il is very difficult 10 define the
mean between ileS' extremes, bat fOrfu
nately, III practice. The true line Of policy
Is more disiinguishahle. Every case will
obviously dpeud upon a variety of cir
cumsfances peculiar TO itself, among
winch fIle Importance Of The Office. tie
estimation III wliichit is commonly held,
Tie labor OF body or mind attendant upon
", The rareness or frequency Of the talents
required 30 I'll il, The demand Tor those
Talents elsewhere and the rolAnrnsaiou
ihey usually receive. are circumstances
OF great weight III influencing the Judy
meDt. ~. alter considering all these cir
cumstances, there Is Wei doubt existing
ON The subject, il Is, upon the whole, per.
haps, better that we should err on tie
q ie of libera!iy than lis opposite, since
,he public are better able to pay tlie Iri-
fling excess than Individuals 10 suffer The
deficiency and sincea !cw years On con-
sequence Of the gradual depreciation i'm
'hc value OF money will restore the pro-
per level
This leads me 10 observe that The er-