Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-19

20,
an parties who will agree 10 this opinion The fact is
and 1t cannot be controvered) that system attic efforts
nave been made to cry up MIR. Barbour's speeches,
curing this session. brilliant productions and puf
bin into notice. But as Mr.. John Randolph said last
winter OF some others, Mr. b. will scarcely carry home
with him the character which he ough-as ara Ora
tor.
THE EXECUTIVE SALARY
toe late upon contained in tho M
lowing frank appeal citizen who I'm. not IN, "a
hottest interest 10 the question: after having filed one
tho highest sa,oas in tho State, retire to tho shade,
private eWo respectfully tho members of tho
csisla,uc-Wo have another address from "o,v M
THE tho Notwithstanding subject bu,
mainly proposing reduce wages of tho members Of tho
emoy- why should publish III The wages are not too b;0h
I'VE would say that they Why are SO many of on
best members retiring private ' Because they can save mo-
thing OF their and provide for or
their iamilies
To the present General assembly of Yirginia-on
~ the subject Of the Governors Salary.
mere must be something wrong about this matter,
as II now stand, which ought vet TO be remedied nv
the present General Assembly.
IL can be proved to that body, to absolute GER.
tdny as tooufd De required to prove any thing in
eoW. Jusnce mat the present salary OF the Govern
or Is not enough to NEE, his necessary expenses tina,
Is 10 say on the supposi,on that the public expect and
require thai he shoul ive with his family in the Co.
This, presume, is expected ; because that bou.s
for that purpose.
SuPPosc TACT 10 Oe eucn stated land the wr
ter pledges himself to the General Assembly, and to the
people, that II can be so proved would any DOOR but
honest house.keeper and head of family in this An
',est D1nnion' say-either that we must have Gov
orno OIL sumssnt private fortune 10 enable him. for u
sake OF the honor conferred him, to supply suf-
cen' sum from MS private purse to make up this def
cheney or that we must have one, who, unable TO do
'his, out oil too high mind, too proud or vhatey
err else you may please to call it, will run in debt end
involve himself and his family in the downhi of life
u order TO do what is thus expected Of Governor OF
W n wi an1aau
important duties OF his office under those embarrass
ments and in that frame of mini which m,I.t
ny such state of his affairs Or that we must have
one, who mindful Of what is due 10 himself and his
family, shall dsappoint this public expe aton-ouit
the house provided for him, and 20 to private hoard
ing-house and administer the Government under that
a oil eelng-l won't call il of shame; for il is not his
iauit-and under that ipquetude which must ALWAYS
attend one, especially in the decline Of Iife who il o.
ofged 10 live at great distance from his'famiiy
think can with safety say, that there IL not one
man In Virginia, or womao either who will ayree IN
either OF these Alternatives and yet, il the fact l., a..
nave stated II to be- the other of these alterna-
provide otherwise.
Is not important, ,hen, to the HONOR as we'll a, 10
'e OF the State, that this matter should be
Ii may be thought by the people in the country ,b,,
mere mus, be mistake in this matter-Tbat ths
iaet cannot be as have stated. Its most solemnIv
assure them, tmquestonabiy true-No Governor, with
a family, who has lived in the Governmen,-bousa f.,
The last thirty years. has been able to live there On The
salary allowed by law. Many Of them TO avoid goins
IN dsbt have besn obliged to retire To private bo,rd
iog-houses-Tksy could not have been ;us,,fd IN do
ing sos but by this necessity II this be the case the
salary, even thirty years ago. was made ouate and
,ar no mao SO Ignorant as not to know, that dol
Tar now VIII not go az ar-nay not half as far as
dollar would thirty years age. Besides more exnen
sivs habits in society exist now-Every body knows
Is the Governor Of Virginia and his family olo,s n
go back to the habits Of 80 years ago when there ia
no one eise who would not find some difficulty in pro-
ouciDg such revolution In himself and his fa,niIu5-
ms Is asking too much and let him who can do mis-
hinseD ask the Governor TO do il :-But n he doss
ms sun he cannot make dollar worth as much as
was thrty years ago. and that is necessary in order 70
enable him to live as he could thirty We airs ago ON The
same money. ~
- wish to see no splendor nor exravagance in the
uoVerhment-hous' L wish the Governor tbouqb to
i've there with his family, and TO be Supported tbere
a, the public exp.n,e in every thing that is ressona
BILE and fitted TO his station. '""
Inc present salary (S3,333 34) was established nv
law as early as 1796-36 years ago What i, 90 ~
lore, know not. IL then thought not 10 be Too
much and experience, as have before said SOON nrov
ed mat u was not enough.
The act of Assembly of I795 re,a,;va % A. 49,
o 'ne members oil the General Assembly, and subse-
quen' acts on that subject may throw some light on this
matter. The act of 1875, is TO this effect:
Sou t @S PoG gs to Ct for them the
Se doraysd defeating me public e time and
should not be- ana that tho
W. be deferred from entering by the
must necessarily incur enacted That the allowances 70 neg
members OF tho present and all future assemblies shall he
lars day for attendance eight cents per mile for
Vow srlks out the words " members of HE Gene
RAJ assembly," and put the word Goge,nor,, in .,
''s law, and every word OF its policy applies TO him
except that, think, to require him to give nm tbrae
years OF his time and labour, grdt,tifoitsI ia
100 much although for a few months in the winter il
might not be so as TO the members of Assemble -. I
am not however, going for any compensation Of mi.
knn-Ah ask is a reasonable and decent sunnoyt
rive years after this act-viz in 1900 and thirty
q. anntha 49,
"Wheroas is found by erpsrisues that the ,ano s
eIs me present General Assembly insmFeie5t fr ,5
~ enacted that the shall be- for the present and
sessions three dollars day. travelling az reoCo,
Eight years after this (see Sessions Acts of 1878 Oh
~ and twelve years sgo find another act to this sf
feet: '' W WIS ell
Is found By eperielee tho wages NJ n,o,on,
[ ny Jaw 20 Tho members Of the General Assembly are neon
whereas s unreasonable those ,oho obor a.
We Puotc good should not receive a ilst AMI
ueTeorBe enacted mornbers or Inc no
ana az future General Assemblies shall be entitled m cn,
per DAY Tor attendance and of
oe' TOUT dollars FOR
vel and the Speaker Of the SENATE 10 have sT doIIo,s
u INC speaker OF tho House eight dollars per day." '
, must enurey agree with the reasons assignsd in
thess acts 10 regard TO the members of Assemble snd
have no doubt but that it was necessary to raise ibsi
wages, anu that the same eeessty and propriev oo
exists IN consequences Of which, the present sesson
understand, have established the same aIlow,ncss
but, surely, II II necessary to il must he so
so as 70 the Governor and uce versa IL not
lot the Gov'rnr 1t cannot be so a 10 them.
The Governor receives, say 50 10 per dav IF q,
s no MGR thiD enough fov the subsistence Of nor
DER IN genteel boarding-hous who has no famiI,
70 PROVIDE for and no company to entertain: II &c
per Gay IS not too mush for the support Of Speaker Of
the House. all Of which am free TO 10 admit ia n No.
le, REM mia he