Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-04-19

Offices and, in filling the offices, regard might
properly he had chiefly, TO fidelity, responsibility
and habits of industry mud diligence, rather !han to
exalted intellectual powers, extensive acquire
iuents or great experience. Could any one say
that six thousand dollars was not an adequate, and
even 4 liberal compensation to district attorney,
marshnl or collector, wherever he might reside
or That postmaster, in any place, deserved TO
have more than five thousand dollars2
Look (said Mr. ~ at the salaries which were
allowed the highest officers, such us the Chief
Magistrate aud the Judges of the Superior Courts,
in one of the richest, largest, and most populous
States in the Union. The Governor of N. York,
an officer of tho first and highest dignity in the
state, subject 10 much expense and great respon-
slblllty, received salary Of four thousand dollars.
The Chancellor and the Chief Justice OF the Stat,
both Offices of the highest trust and responsibility,
requiring eminent TALENTS and profound learning,
with great professional nttLinmcnts and expert
ence and imposing constant labor throughout the
year, Ind each salary Of two thousand five hum
dred dollars. Now, by this hill, district attorney
- or marshal, and, by tho amendment proposed, q
collector, might obtain two thousand dollars more
than was allowed the Governor Of New York,
and three thousand five hundred dollars more
mon WIS slidwed the Chancellor or Chief Jgelice
oil the State. Even Il postmaster, by the hill,
might get ono thousand dollars more Il an the Gov
ernor, and exactly twice as much as the Chanccl-
Tor or Chief Justice.
But extend the comparison to the salaries al
lowed the high officers under the General Gov
ernlnent. district attorney, marshal, or collCc-
tor, under the restrictions proposed TO I've imposed,
might obtain, and some of them would obtain, Il
compensation equal 10 that which was allowed to
the Secretary of State or to the Secretary OF the
Treasury, an office beyond all question the most
laborlous III the Government or TO any of the 9TH
er Heads of Departments /; II compensation great.
er by one thousand dollars than the Chief Justice
OF tile United States received and two thousand
dollars more than was allowed the Attorney Gen
eral of the United States. Even II postmaster
might get, and some Of them would ret, IL com
peilsatlon equal to that Of the Chief Justice, and
one thousand dollars more than that of the Altor-
ney General Could it possibly be that The m-
tations proposed TO be enoccd were unreasonable
or llberaI? Could it he seriously urged by any
gentleman that any of the officers who might be
affected by the proposed regulations were, upon
any Just consideration, or even the most liberal
view OF the MATTER entitled to n higher conpen-
satiOn than the highest officers known TO exist I'm
der this Government Was there any thing in
the nature duties of the offices of d strict attor-
ney marshal, collector, or postmaster, or IN their
comparative dignity or importance, that called for
or would Justify n more bOunliIul rucunlpeiIse for
their services?
The enouments, Mr.. p. said, which VI ere ann
uay received by some oflhe officers of the United
States in large cities has been condemned and de-
nounced, both by the public press and popular o.
pinlon, as extravagant, nnrepublcon, and of an
influence and tendency decidedly uniavonble and
vicious. The sober sense ofthe People would not
tolerate either the hasty accumulation and sudden
laying up of opulent fortunes in the space of
few years by the holders of public office or
what was worse, the prodigal dissipation OF inor.
dnate Official incomes in luxurious indulgonces to
the prejudice of all just tru ality and of all sound
morality in individual and social life. Mr.. p.
xyicb aIt I,,;,, lao, ii Al.
pcity, the purity, and the economy which belong
ed to il in the days of " ashington. He was anX-
ious 10 restoie ii to its primitive, its original cont-
ton in ,hesS respects. tie wanted TO see q lrll-
GAL just, and at the time enlightened and ill.,
era' administration of the Government; such an
administration as characterized the Government
in The early days of the Republic, when merit
real, substantial mert was the passport to public
favor and confidence, and money not eXtnried
from the People To he embezzed by failhess
agents, or wasted away in lavish, useless cxpcndi-
lures. he wanted to see the time when an end
would be pnt TO wasieiu proiuscn and extrava-
gance, and when men would no longer he nppon.
ted to public trusts whose prctensons consisted in
liltel else than iI-judged and noisJ violence, or in
ostentatious devotion 10 the affairs of the Public,
alter proving themselves incapable Of conducting
their own, or having none of their own to attend
to. Bad principles and vicious policy, with mar
row, bigoted and demoralizng party politics, had
had the ascendapcy long enough, and had made
inroads wide and broad enough upon public vir
tue and private morals. But, notwithstanding the
progress of those Influences, and the alarming nd
vance of others of a dsorganizng and destructive
nature, undermining the rights of properly and
threatening the quiet and tranquility of The coun.
try, the People after all, excepting always the in
corrigible agators and ever-reslless dsturbers
with their msled followers were on The side of
order, subordnation, law, liberty, and PEACE and
in favor OF a return 10 those principles which were
the only sure foundation of good government as
well as of free aud civilized society. The PEG
pie had seen the necessity Of reform, were re-
solved 10 have reform, and would be satisfied with
nothing short of real, actual, substantial reform.
Among other reforms, MIR p. said none was
more Obvious or necessary than the rerenchment
OF all extravagance in the expenses OF the Govern
inenl. For one, he meant 10 give all the aid in !
his power 10 the work OF reform, now and at all !
times and he was graticd to witness even AZ so
late day, some symptoms of contrilion in those
who still retained, aud would retain for shor,
time longer, The administration OF public affairs II
was the saying, If he remembered rightly, OF one |
who had improvidently wasted his substance in |
riolous living, and outlived both his fortune and
his health, that no one had sinned with so much
repentance, or repeated with so little amendment
as himself. II was TO he hoRed that the Admins.
traion which was about 10 wind up its affairs, aud
retire from office, mi t he able TO take to itself at
least ms much consolation as this, small as il niiyht
be though the evidence Of repentance, hoSv~~ss-1
deeply repentance might have boon felt it was 10 |
be feared had not been often or very slrikingly
visible to the country. Mr.. p. was glnd, however,
10 see the work commenced with some appear.
ance OF sincerity, even at the eleventh hour; and
he rejoiced that they were favored, lae and I'M
expected as il was, with an opportunity to accom-
pIi,h, under the closing auspices of this Admins
traton, so much good as he believed the enact
menI Of the provisions of this bill into law would
be sure to effect
Mr.. Calhoun said he always listened to the re-
marks oflhe Senator from Vermont (hIr. Prentss)
with great pleasure he had ever found them re-
plete with sound practical sense. On no occasion
however, had he been more highly delighted than
on tho present lie sincerely hoped The course
suggested by the Senator would be carried ou,
by all parties; il was alike honorable 10 his indn