Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-20


1snlzec m The resolution has brsn solemnly
decided 10y majority OF the House, aud Il
motion is now made to postpone il 20 the $751;
Of March :!
The House refused. to postpone, ayes 80
noes sc.
The question recurring on the I'd reading OF
the bill,
Mr.. Boiling of r. felt il duty he owed bis
constituents, to call for the ayes and noes ant!
as he was undersome obligations To them. he felt
himself called on to make remarks in favor ol
the bill. lie could not consider the paw and
Mileage allowed To members la the light of n
Pecuniary compensation they were only in.
tended to enable them to pay the necessary
expenses which they were Obliged to incur.
He thought the honor of being elevated 10 the
diSnllied aud exalted station of n representa-
i've OF the people ought to be considered
suihcient recompepse. This was the motive
winch should induce gentlemen to accept seats
IN that House. He thought that next to the
consciousness fhaving done his duty, nothing
could be more agreeable to man OLA patri1
otto and elevated mind, than the appreciation
OF his constituents. What was the object of
young men in coming to the legislature, Mr..
Is. said he would not cnquire-But what sun,
ne asked, could tempt men well situated on
their farms with all the enjoyments and COM
lies at the most inclement season of the year.
and for three long months TO he mmured
within the clay-cold walls ofthat gloomy and
uncomfortable mansion ? Mr.. b. said il mo-
ney had been his object, he would not have
come to the legislature for twice the sum now
allowed by law. But money was not his OBJ
Ject Nor could he suppose the representa-
tves of the people were actuated by such mo-
tves. He had rather, on the contrary, ascribe
their conduct TO nobler cause, the love of
country. He was aware that there was no
question in politics more delicate, or difficult
IN practice, than TO determine the amount of
pay for ones self. In no other branch or
officer of the government was such trust re-
posed. The legislature are the guardians of
the liberty, property and the lives of their
constituents, and above all, are entrusted with
the higher discretionary powerof fixing their
own pay. Under these circumstances, he
thought that the Legislature ought to display
that patriotism and disinterested nobleness of
conduct which had so long distinguished the
character OF the Virginia Legislature He said
the pay was increased when every thing bore
a much higher price than at present, that the
increase was acquiesced in, and asked if the
legislature, now that things had come down
to their old prices, would show themselves
iess liberal than those who raised the paw
He hoped that the bill would be read second
time, and that the sense of the House would
he taken by'a fair vote. He hoped that they
would show themselves the sons ofthat glorious
republic which had set such bright examples
of masnanimity and patriotism to the rest of
the world-of that republic which had excited
the admiration and emulation of Eurnpe, and
even shed ITS light on the benighted shores Of
Africa.
The question on the Cd reading of the bill
was decided in the aiiirmative-aycs SO, noes
81.
On the motion of Mr.. Hooe of r. VIM. the
bill was committed
MIR. SherrGrd then moved the following re-
solution:
RESOLVED, That the Committee of Finance he in
Sirncied to unite the bill ordered in relation redu
cihs the salaries oil all officers of the government
whose salaries can he constiiutioaay reduced to the
bi TINS day committed TO the said committee, entitled
bill to reduce the pay and mileage of the mem
bers OF the General Assembly"
Mr.. CfumP moved to lay this. resolution on
the table where he hoped it would remain as
uncurrent IN the House. 1t was not his wish
ever TO refer again to the dsgracefu occur
rences of the last year. 1t would be recol-
lected, he said, that when the pay of the mem
hers was moved, the reduction of the pay of
all { officers of the governElent was imme-
diately tackled to the measure. Gentlemen
came forward with the muster roll of the
whole government and they had succeed
ed, every officer of talents or responsibility
would have been driven from Office, except
the Judges who, fortunately, were not within
their clutches. He asked if it ever was ex-
pected that bill embracing thirty different
questions would unite the support of the
House He was not for forestalling enquiry,
but was willing the pay of the officers should
come before the House. Any gentleman
might bring forward the question as to them,
or any one of them, if he thought proper.
But he objected to evading the effect of the
vote of the SO members who had Just decided
1T expedient to reduce their pay. The reso-
luton under consideration was intended to
defeat that vote.
The Speaker remarked, it was out of order
to reflect on the motive of any member of the
House.
Mr.. Crimp discaimed such an intention
He knew, and respected the mover of the
resolution too well to ascribe to him improper
motives. That gentleman was opposed to
the bill, and had right TO defeat it in any way
he could. Mr.. c. only alluded to the effect
of the resolution. He called on the 90 mem
bers to nail the resolution TO the table until
the committee had reported on the bill.
Mr.. Hooe of p. w. said, as the House had
ueter'iiineu upon lle PToPTlety Oi retrenchlng
the other officers of the government, he
thought the attention of the Committee of FL
nance should be drawn to the subject that
they might unite it with the pay of the mem
bers.
Mr.. C1mP remarked that the vote of the
House had decided, and it would be the duty
of the Committee of Finance to bring in a
separate bill as TO the officers. They had al
ready reported the bill respecting the mem
bers' pay which had passed the cd reading,and
having gotten the start, would try to keep it.