Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-12-22
THE REMARKS OF
a. SIDNEY TElsBs, OF Lsudsun,
Upon the Short Session BiU

of The
which feel myself obliged on this question
rh, bill itself is OF peculiar character ltproc-ses to be
measure OF rcuenSlmon and economy, such is called
Tor by the tines y To directly the members OF
this body, by reducing their OF 81 Der day
now allowed by law. the - per day. and after
certain perid o tho session, VIII the 18th OF Febru
airy thats, that the compensation Vt members shall BE- 81
pei day for one part of the session, and half that
another part thereof The measure, therefore, is prcsuu
ed to involve much oil personal delicaey aud responsibility
Ia individual mcnibers; and in my opposition ALSO
lind myself acting with decided minority Such art the
considerations sit, which make unwilling that my vote
should the country without statement OF the prne
pal reasons which defend il.
Among the many objections TO this BILL prominent and
to my mnd conclusive one il, that confined ia
Its operation u the present session. but proposes EN-.
brace all succeeding Legislatures without any regard to
What may be the claims OF the public business upon them
OFT the disabilities imposed by fundamental law ~.
spect TO an increase Of the members
Sec. 9Th VI the I'd article of the amended Constitution
provides that mo law increasing the compensation o the
members shall take effect until end Of the merit an
nnaI session after such lar shall hare been
IL follows therefore, that whatever might the necessity
Tor proraced sessions with the General Assemblies i'm
me did'e to follow this, by law that they either of
them could exact would II be possible the pay of
their members beyond the 81 per dem after the limited
period oi the 18th Of February; and should special SEES
sion be possibly convened, the Of its members would
DC c'nned to the pa 50 allowance for the whole period
oil their session. no allowance whatever made for any
contingency of the public affairs but the law by one
sweeping enactment levels all such exceptions This is to
reirench with vengeance II the policy OF the law be
what II proieSscs--1 temporary retronclment meet
present eNigency,-thcn there should be a CORES
pordng limit to the time OF its operation: il should
be confined 10 ourselves, time leaving il to
those who are TO come after us, decide fo themselves
what might then be the posture OF affairs; that law
even II violated no just principle wholly nconsis
tent with itself, and works manifest injustice. But this
injustice doubly aggravated, when is considered that
the upon its face does deny all the pre-
sent rate OF compensation Is high proposes merely
temporary reduction To cure present evil in ourselves
10 hasten the despatch Of business aud arrest the evils of
long session arr willing, by anticipation, impute To
your successors that shameful default which here con-
les for yourselves Will you extend this visitation Ia
Others, and conound the innocent with the guilty. In
TINS thng merely personal, not guardian stop
with yourselves Truly sir, asonshed this rage
OF retTenchnent which seems Ia know no bounds But
SIR the great aud paramount objection this bill H. that
II bears upon its face an mputntion upon the integrity OF
uls House, ana proposes TO publish the scandal the
world SIR, tins is strong language speak painy-I
have nothing TO do with the motives and views OF Others
speak Tor myself alone, and give my OF
TINS act; aud say thing offensive must declare the
homey ruth US understand il and feel it.
Mr. Speaker, the present compensation fixed by law
Is e''her too hgh or II is mott must be the other
IL II be too much, then reduce H. IL be not much
then let stand. DO gentlemen say is too high il is ex
cessive then say bound by every consideration Of
economy ana Your most solemn duty 10 reduce pro-
per and adequate rate not for this that not for
part OF Tie session only, hat for today and to-mor.
row. Tor the whole time, for this the !, az one
day do hs rnd you will act consistently, will shane
law worthy OF the name aud will go you. Aud i,
IL pretended TOR moment that is tho lust con-
siuction OF this bill, resulting from its very terms,t
leaves the present rate OF compensation members To
stand for certain period OF tire session. and alter that re
duces 1t oneha: here, then, the bill coniesses that the
present compensation high, but on the conary.
but Just and adequate; nevertheless introduces scale of
graduation, giving higher rate period and n lower
TO anothe all AT the same SESSION. now the Constitution
charges with the duty Of fixing the of
members according Just and uniform standard suited 10
the dignity Of body. and the service AZ
follows therefore, that this the business this bill
IS about Tor proposes irregular payments according To-
time, during the session; this bill thrn not content
with the work enoined by the Constitution but proposes
something luther, and enters into and
So what Is thus something further this Interior puposcl All
Sir you can not escape the conclusion What this 50
10 accOmplish: what but lash M he ry ssss
and whip members into doing their duty. Am wrong
then saying that this bill bears upon m very face the r..
cord o proigacy, and publishes itself scandal and
accordingly what have heard upon this floor. Has been
pretended IN oil that We have heard that such the
purpose OF this bill Has been urged or even stated by
single member who has addressed u.s. the present com
pen'atOn too high and ought be reduced No! Sir
not one has 50 stated On the contrary the polessed ad.
vocates OF te measure have its merits upon the A.
vowed ground that will advance the public business and
hasten the close OF the session. Here, then is frank con-
ession OF all that claim and oil that denounce for the
assumes that the members of this body ure gross
y neglcctiu oi teir duties, and found willing 10 pro
tract the session Tor the sake alone OF the einOumcns of
office. This conclusion incyabe for II reduction of
will advance the public business and hasten the session.
It follows, that II is for the sake Of the pay that the session
Is and the calls OF solemn duy cgooted This
IL TO mpute TO the members Ut this BODY base NJ mec.ua
~ motives, most dsparaging 70 their characters aud hum.
bling 10 the dignity Of this House, imputnon which (
for one, neither willing To- rest unde myself nor cast
upon this body. But am told that this measure will certainly
achieve its intended pupr uf fastening tie business aud
shortening the session, and public benefit il To be
conferred must, therefore, needs be adopted To this
answer them that would be the anthor Of this disgrace
wonld not publish u the ord my shame but ruher
m sorrow and in silence keep II myself and find some
other eNpedon more consistent with sefcspoct relieve
the public burdens But may be urged that this measure
will not be viewed by the public in t iasious light hat
will be regarded Joad hde" plan Of very sincere eco
noTy and reform well adapted TO the esgoacy Of the times
and promising very essential relief Sir make no impu
taton upon the real motives O gentlemen here, and only
declaring the construction which think this bill will nssuf
cdly receive, and therefore tell nicmen that they may
explain and cCntrue and and exert themselves
much they please, disabu,c this act of all nydous in
ierprotaon aud present the people an homes. ca
sure OF reform! Yet am much mistaken in tho cIarac ter
and intelligence Of the people they il as the
shallow orhce OF imescrying Pocy,cOncoced to deceive
and presenting but spurious show relief sir they will not
believe yo; they will laugh this thing a miserable
mockory oi legislation; cy will donopnco IT, intended 90 A.
the public mind and popular ar an election
cerg device and they will dcspso Oso who would conc
ate them by such meas Sir IS true, that there com
plants OF the dogcncracy ut this body openly dccnr
ed that has doerOrncd in It's character and hesitate moi
to declare IL my solemn opinion, ~ such attempts
n the present. than oil Others that conduccs Til.
result u you would elevate o character Of ls body and
preserve IL from corruption, hesitate not 10 saw TINT
wOudbo accomplished rather by anncreac than bya reduc
ton OF the pay Of the mcinbe Sir x your ngndly rate
o. allowances put your members upon pay; aud
what them why, sir you would have a mean legislature
you could not adopt certain OF driving from
ms nan 81 legsuon men Of elevated chnructer aud pro.
per qualifications and putting eir place si,h a. are ut
iefy unworthy to I'LL IT, On free 10 declare the opinion
That the present compensation allowed members il not too
much; atcas sir, am unwilling to here Tor loss,-
DEVISE national retrencuncu itnbodyinp
that vitality oi principle md beauty Of consistency with IL
self, which give II NJ least form and comines and will
ho found second 10 none in humble efforts sustain IL
cording Ia its merits. sir and those who act and vote
with me on this question, believe anxious ~
your long sessions reduced the public business advanced
and gid economy introduced into every department Of
the government any members upon this floor but to
do This you must proceed upon the broad plat form Of pn
cipe and not by One-sdcd scheme like the present. which
in ~ vain parade Of rercnchmon pours odum and
tempt upon lie aukOrs-n0 my hand shall not be placed
10 the record my counted for the sacrifice.
know my people well, and think they know me and,
with such sentiments IN my mouth nh not afraid ~ face
them, even In opposition to measure OF prolcsscd
onchmcn' mud economy. These remarks might be much
extended, but having accomplished the simple purpose
with which out, whatever Others might think the
cason slowed unwilling longer 10 dotan the auen.
| lion II this HOUSE.