Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-15

wise than wise? Can they be wise? Are
they wise? The two first questions leave
unanswered, and as to the last will only
say that if Solomon had seen our Executive
Council he would have thought twice be-
fore hazarding the remark that in multi
tude of Counsellors there is safety.
And yet these men are not to be blamed
for occupying the easy seats they do. They
are placed in them. by the Legislature.
Every man feels touch of ambition, and is
it then wonderful that you find spark of it
after piercing the dull clods that are thick
spread over the spirituel of Counsellor !?
Almost every man wishes to get out of him.
self-that is, to rise higher than nature de-
signed he should-to go beyond his last.
AS long as the Constitution requires a
Council board, let it be well filled. Place
men in the Office of some weight Of talent
and character; men who have an opinion of
their own, and whose advice and counsel is
worth asking and receiving. 1t would make
the situation of Chief Magistrate far more
comfortable, and he might associate with his
honorable advisers with some degree of
pleasure. The Office of Counsellor was in
tended to be an Office of dignity-the post
Of honour next after the Governor and 1t.
Governor; but now we need men to raise
fba obor of no off ta; d.
man Emperor made his horse consul but
what has that to do with Massachusetts, |?
Let him who chooses to ask the question
seek out his own answer.
In speaking of the Legislative expenses
when began, it occurred to me that our
frugal ancestors managed this thing in a
very economical way, and / would ask you
if it would not be well to turn into the old
path, and support the members of the "Great
and General Court" in every thing except
ing wine, which they say is very expensive
at the Publics in the metropolis, in the same
way that they were entertained in 1854, as
appears by the following extract from the
records of the House of Deputies of Mas
sachusetts. X.
Nov. 1854. "Whereas it is Judged most comely,
convenient, and conducible to the despatch Of pub
Tic service that the Deputies of the General Court
should diet together especially at dinner it is there
fore ordered that the deputies of the General Court
the next ensuing year, viz 1865, shall all according
y dine together, and that Lieut. Phillips, the keeper
of the said tavern snail be paid for the by the
Treasurer for the time being by discounting the
same in the custom Of wine, payable by the said
Phillips and that the treasurer shall be repaid by the
several towns according to the charges of their
pective deputies, with their next country rate by
the same kind of payment; and it is further ordered
for the prevention of unsettledness and other dis
fractions for the future that the deputies of the
General Court shall yearly and every year from time
to time, before the dissolvng of the last session
accordingly take some eectual course in this
case, in such sort as to themselves shall seem best,
that the deputies of the next succeeding Court may
not be occasioned to seek their own settlement in
this and so retard public service and it is further
ordered that the deputies shall give notice hereof to
the deputies that shall be chosen for the succeeding
year, from time to time. This is passed as order
respecting this House of deputies.
An agreement was made with Lieut. Phillips bv
the deputies now assembled in the General Court,
that the deputies of the next Court of elections shall
sit in the new Court Chamber, and be dieted tcith
breakfast, dinner and supper, toih acine and beer
betaceen meals trih fire and beds, at the rate of
three shings per day, many take all their diet
as aforesaid at the said house but such only dine,
and not sup TO pay eighteen pence for their dinners
with wine and beer betwixt meals but by ipine is
intended a cup each man at dinner and supper and
no more"