Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-12
EOR 2,HE ENQUIRER.
T Ost III E--f Y NIIs1~Ek'
Paw of .,femJers of Congress.

Before the passage Of celebrated law. for which
England is indebted 10 Mr.. Burke, IL vas h. du the
commissioners Of the Treasury 20 pay of all those
plnyed by Government. These commissioners, in
making these payments naturally INDUCED themselves
III -st okips ofeir friends and surely, they did
forget themselves The delays, in other payments
occasionsd constant complaints.
In his efforts at reform, Burke drew up table Of the
different salaries and payments TO be made, prescribing
The order in which preference should he given in the
pa yInents. The commissioners themselves with the
premier, closed the listnor were they permitted TO
touch a shilling, until the most ordinary officer OF Go
vernment had received his uitermost farthng. Nor
this all Until those, whose business it was In
make these payments had performed their duty, they
subject to the entire loss Of their salary pay,
until the Treasury performed it's obligations to those to
whom the nation was indebted Ihiist HE Treasury
rouId mol pay their sa'ary ceased and his by The
mtrf fact that puttic ctccrS remained riom their ducs
No legal process was necessary.
By The Constitution of the United States, Article !,
Section = Congress shall have power to lay and col
lcct taxes 10 pay the debts of the United States-io
borrow money-o coin money-and to make all laws
necessary and proper TO accomplish their objects 1t
constitutional Duty thus devoved on Congress- 10
pay The debts Of the United States. This duty can be
performed by no else.
Now, let US suppose that by the Constitution, or by
law made by Congress, it was declared that all off
GERS Of the United States, and members Of Congress,
shonld be paid off according To table, prescribing the
bers of the Houses of Congress, and the President
OF the United States, should be the last paid ard that
their pay and perqniSitcs should until they had
fulfilled this constitutional duty-let US ask what
would be the consequence
We could not then set Of political brawlers and
whtilers seize the halls of egis!a;ion-crum their
pockets with penknlves end stationery, al The rate OF
nearly 81 $40, Q,476,) for one session, $1,000
Mileage, upon average, say 81 900. In some
cases where they travel, say 500 miles to tie
miles they receive from 81 800 TO 81 5000
An average for all, will be say, l,000
Documents, books, charts, 10 the tune Of 1000
And per diem, amounting on an average, 10 800
Making an aggregate of 50 geo
Besides the privilege of ranking To what excnt this
has been perverted Qhe honorable members OF Par
lament, We know, sell their franks,) by the ho-
norabes Of the American Congress, it would be diff
cult TO tell
That some OF these honorables do stretch their mile
npe line until it il very taughi, TO the seaman
phrase that they do sell their documents and public pa
pers to foreign ministers TO send home, and that at
round price roundy asserted, and confidently beev-
ed land to foreign ministers, why not TO any one who
will buy tbem and ths these honorabes do print e1
lraordinary number of books, and divide them among
the mseves and that these honorabes do make indecent
haste TO appropriate money for their use is matter
of notoriey, which none will deny, and this while
other officers of the Government are without even
shnplaster of their pay; while The sken purses OF the
honorsbes show nothing less than golden sovere'gns,
and Louis d ors, and guineas, and golden eagles
To propose to such tribunal, that they shall pass
law, stopping their pay aud pcrqustes while The lrea.
snry empty, and 10 postpone their dues unti! all
ure paid, would be very idle thing.
But things cannot always go on at this gait. The
reform must be brought about by the voice Of the PEG
pie and seed Of this Sort though slow 10 germina,-,
in opposition to The interests of those in power,
yet mus. finally sprout and bring forth fruit
The Constitution having given Congress the power
to pay the debts of the United States, and having
placed in their hands full power 10 pass all laws proper
and necessary accomplish this, is they who should
have their pay and perquisrs suspended, until they
do that which they have sworn 10 do.
Please, Mr. Editor, present this idea TO your read
ers This is country Of experiment. md the people
will every now and then themselves, and en-
dea yor to am-nd what is wrong II them that these
reflections are prcsented most assuedy not 10 an in.
teresled member of The present Congress. To them,
may apply, in this case, the adnge' OF ".'o"e so
Giind as MoSe ,ehO cont see.
Angus, 3, 1912. ONE OF The fEofLE.