Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-26
to the state of Missouri, was read the frs,


consideration of bill to establish the compcn.
sation of officers of the customs, Sc.
On motion of Mr.. HOLMES, of Maine, the
bill was modified by altering the proposed
commission TO be allowed on the collections
at philadelphia and Boston, from one-ffth to
one sixth Of one per cent.
Mr. BRowN, Of Louisiana, moved that the
commission proposed to be allowed to the
Collector of The port of New Orleans be in
creased from one per cent. To one and a half
as at present fixed by law, which motion he
supported by number Of remarks to sheyy
the impropriety and inutility of reducing the
commission.
Mr.. HOLMES, OF Maine, opposed the amend
ment Tor various reasons, but paid a compli-
ment to the extraordinary economy which
had been exercised by the Collector OF that
port III his contingent expenses.
Considerable debate followed onthis amend
ment between Mr.. BRowN and Mr.. HoLMEs,
and Mr.. OTIs, of a character similar to that
which took place on Friday, on the commits.
sion proposed for the collector at New York.
but turning incidentally somewhat on the gen
eral question of reduction in the pay of Col
lectors. The debate resulted in the rejection
of the amendment proposed by Mr.. BRows-
ayes Ii, noes "a.
MIR. VAN DYKE, for sundry reasons which
he offered to the Senate, going to shew the
justice and expediency Of allowing to the Col
lector of Wilmington, in Delaware, a higher
compensation than what the bill proposed,
$780, moved TO raise the sum to 500 dollars
the amount provided for the Collector at
Sackett's Harbor.
Mr. HOLMES, of Maine, entered into a num-
Der of details to shew that the entire emoIu-
ments which the Collector of Wilmington
would probably receive in salary and fees
would amount to about 100 dollars, and that
the motion TO augment the salary ought moi
| to prevail
MIR. VAN DYKE replied at some length IL
shew that the estimate of the emoluments was
| much overrated, and that they could not ex.
coed 500 dollars he also argued against the
unreasonable reduction of the compensation
OF officers of so much trust, spoke of the faith
ful ana upright character of the officer al
Wilmington, the injustice of reducing his al
lowance below that granted to the Collector
| at Sackett's Harbor, sc.
| After some further debate, in which Mr.
| VAN buren, and Mr.. BRowN, of Louisiana,
supported the motion, the question was taken
on Mr.. Van Dykes motion and neeatiyed-
| ayes Ia.
Inc yin section was then read as follows
Sec. 8. ind be ii further enacted, That
whenever the emoluments of any collector oil
the customs of either of the ports Of Boston
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charles
ton, or New Orleans, shall exceed four thou
sand dollars, or the emoluments ofany naval Of
hcer of either of said ports shall exceed three
thousand dollars, or the emouments of any sur.
veyor of either of said ports shall exceed two
thousand five hundred dollars in any one year
after deducting the necessary expenses Incl
denl 10 MS ONCE In the same year, the excess
\ i,,o - -
Treasury, for the use of the United States.
Mr.. Brown, of Lou. although he almos
/ despaired of obtaining the amendment which
he desired and thought just, would neverthe
less move TO strike New Orleans from tn,
section, go as to leave the salary of the Officer
| at that port the same as now provided by law
| viz: five thousand dollars. Mr. b. followed
his motion with number ofremarks to estab
lish the justice of the amendment he propos-
ed. He adverted to the peculiar nature Of The
| duties of theTofiicer in question, who, from th,
| vicinity of the islands, and foreign territory
the facilities for smuggling, and the prevalence
si piracy that quarter, must necessarily al
ways be on the alert, whose presence wa.
every where necessary, and who was liable tc
the most arduous and hazardous duties. Mr.
b. referred also to the extreme unhealthines:
of the city of New Orleans at certain seasons
| whose business confined them there at those
times. 1t seemed to be acquiesced in that tn,
Collectors at Boston, p Philadelphia, and othe
\ large ports, should be reduced to 1000 dol
lars, though Mr.. b. did not assent to the pro
4 prlety OF the reduction; but admitting it, h,
4 commended that an officer, compelled by hi
duties TO brave the horrors and the hazards O
the yellow fever, at New Orleans, was entitled
to something more-some discrimination
some compensation for the risk. There wer
even other reasons for the observation-disclosures
DEAFNESS of the place as regarded the necrs
sares of life, in which, besides the high pric
of subsistence, house for moderate famil,
could not be got for rent OIL less than 500 dol
lars. The government had always considered
these things in fixing the compensation of II
officers at New Orleans, and with iustce-th
Judge of that district received higher salar
than any other in the Union, and the Unite,
States attorney received an additional allow
ance. The state officers there, also, wer
allowed higher salaries than in any other stat
the people Of the state knew that il wa
tight and reasonable that they should
The Governor received a salary of 1900 do
lars, and other officers in proportion eve
the Judges OF the inferior courts Of the stat,
at New Orleans, were paid four thousand do
lars year the people were sensible Of th
justice of these allowances, and Mr.. Y. though
their ideas on the subject, in regard TO the
own officers, were good criterion for IN
general government, in fixing the compeDss
tons of its officers there. Though not much or
cOuraged by the fate of his former motioI
yet he hoped the reasonabIeness of I'M
amendment would obtain for it the favor Z
he Senate.
Mr.. HOMES, VT Maine, replied, that gentl,
men from the North were, from necessity.
ne habit of making pretty close calculation
. money matters, aud therefore large sal;