The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-16

scrbing an extract and request the attention of the
reader DR. Franklin opposed large salaries and re-
marked:
Sir there are two passions which have powerful
influence on the affairs Of men. There are ambition
and avarcc; the love of power and the love of money
Separately each of these has great force prompting
men to action but when united in view of the same
object they have in many minds the most violent eff
fects, Place before the eyes of such men post OF
honor that shall be at the time place of profit
and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The
vast number of such such places it il that renders the
British Government SO tempestuous. The struggles
for them the true sources of all those factions,
which arc perpeually dividing the nation, dstracting
its councils hurrying sometimes into fruitcss and
mischevous wars, and often compelling submission
/ dshonorable terms of peace"
"And ofwhat kind the that will strive for this
profitable prominence through all the hustle of cabal
the heat Of contention the infinite mutual abuse Of par
ties tearing TO pieces the best Of characters! II will
not be the wise and moderate the lovers of peace and
good order the men fittest for the trust II will
be the bold and the violent the Of strong passions
and interchangeable activity in their selfish pursuits.
These will thrust themselves into your government
and be your rulers"
Besides these evils though we may set out in the
beginning with moderate salaries we shall find that
such will not be Of long continuance. Reasons will
never be wanting for proposed augmcntations And
there will always be party for giving more to the
rulers, that the rulers may be able in return to give
more 10 tncm f1cnCe ~ MI nlstOfy lnlOrHs us thefs
has been in every State and Kingdom constant kind
Of warfare between the governing and governed the
ono striving to obtain more for its support and the
other pay less And this has alone occasoned great
commissions actual civil wars ending either in de-
thronng Of the princes, cnsaving Of the people
Generally, indeed, the ruling power carries its point
the revenues of princes constantly increasingand we
see that they satisfied but always in want o
more. The more the people dscontented with thu
oppression of taxes the greater need the prince has
money to distribute among his partizans and pay the
troops that suppress all resistance and enable
him to plumber at pleasure. There is scarce King in
an hundred, who would not, if he could, follow the
example of Pharaoh--get first the peoples money
then all their lands, and then make them and thc
children servants for ever 1t will be said that we
don't propose to establish Kings ! know il hui
there is a natural inclination in mankind to kingly
government 1t sometimes relieves them from arsto
cratic domination. They had rather have one tyran
than five hundred 1t gives more of the appearance o
equality among citizens, and that they like am ap
prchcnsve, therefore perhaps too apprehcnsyc tina
the government Of these States may, in future times
end in monarchy"
| The following extract is from the address o.
the General Assembly to the people Of Virginia
| dated January a, l77s: