Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-21


pay in coming here but that the honor is the induce
Inent. And then adds, the passage If this bill, will
raise the character OF this House These remarks OF
The genemon worthy of our serious consideration
How will The chara tar Of this body be raised by pass
ing this bll IL can be done in way, according 10
the views OF some, but am not OF The number. BY
lessenng the pay, you prevent any man from coming
here who cannot do SO at his own expense Conse
qnently all OF the poor will be excluded And this bo
dy beng composed of the rich alone, who will have
all the honor OF which the gentleman speaks, the char
acter of the body will be raised Perhaps the gentle
man from Norfolk Borough thinks he is entitled T.
many thanks for This offer the past of the rich le
gislate for the poor gratis.
/ am aware, that the doctrine once held by
some, that the best Government was an aristocracy,
imposed Of the rich and hIghborn. But had sup
nosed that doctrine long since exploded indeed obso
le,e in this State and il ought TO be matter OF sur
prise, that any gentleman would, in support of any
me- before the House of Delegates of Virginia,
urge in its support any argument which had even a
squirting towards the accomplishment Of such Oh
ject The character Of this body is high enough, and,
If not, do not believe it be raised in the
way the gentleman proposes and hope therefore, the
House will reject the bill.
Mr.. BYRD of Frederick said that when the PROPOSE
ton submitted 10 the House few minutes since
to take up this bill out Of its regular turn and pass il
il through its second reading, he had voted in the
negative because be thought, from the character OF
the subject the usual opportunities should he afforded
TO members OF preparing proper amendments, ana HId-
turing the best system of rerenchme nj which could be
devsed-a system which would be durable in its exist
ence and extensively beneficial in lis operation that
being still of that impression, he moved that the bill
and amendments be for the present laid the table
Mr.. Cooke oppcs the laying on the table.
MIR. BYRD Of Frederick withdrew the motion at the
suggestion of Mr.. NJ RAE, who offered as an amend
ment 10 Mr.. Gaahers substitute, "thut The present
session of the General Assembly shall not exceed the
space of seventy five days"
Mr. MRAE then newed the motion TO lay on the
table.
Mr. STEPHENSON hoped the House would mot ell
courage this chds play, but would go on TO vote on
this question
The House, by large vote, refused to lay on the
table.
To an enquiry of Mr. MORGAN, Mr. DANIEL Of P. G
replied that the Joint Committee had other schemes
for the reduction of The expenses Of the Government
bnt had moi them yet prepared. They had commenced
with the Legislative Department.
Mr.. MORGAN said, that us this is the scheme OF the
Committee on Retrenchment he had made up his mnd
to vote for IT. He owed it to himself TO say, thu. he
had come here pledged to vote for such hill, md
had declared his constituents, that he would not ac
cept seat this floor upon the condition OF ped.ing
h,msrlf 10 vote for bill which he had thought cas- I'M
upon the members of this House This Icing
the scheme Of Retrenchment introduced by the COM
mttee, friend Of retrenchment, he would vote Tor
it, and against all amendments. This would pu. MN
| in his proper position.
| Mr. CoorEs said, that he should vote against The
| anne ndmens, either by the gentleman from JEFFERSON
or Eenrico, because he thought it would only embar-
rass The of The House upon this subject being
Of much interest TO The country, as the people ex
pected something TO be done by this Legislature and
he felt anxious and DESTROYS that something should be
done in shortening and rttrenchng The expenses o' the
sessions OF The Legislature He had at the i::t SEES
sion of the legislature after every effort to rrehch
had proved unavallng submitted resolution tochanse
the time of The meeting of the General Assembly TO The
first Monday in January. and that the per dtsn allow
ance should after The ls March In tn" he also
failed and trusting that this Legislature intndeo u
meet The wishes of the people, he hoped thu House
would not suffer the bill, reported by the Chairman
of the Committee on Retrenchment, u fail, b. embar-
RAISING il with amendments tina. would fruslraie the
object of the original bill He hoped the House would
vote down the amendments and pass the bl as u IS,
as amendments of this or any sort will have no other
effect than to jeopardzs the of the MEASURE
Messrs. STEPHENSON, BRoADus and LasiEs opposed
the amendment and sustained the bill.
! Mr.. MCRAE advocated his amendment.
Mr.. GALLAHER called for the ayes and no's on Mr..
McRae anne ndnent, which lost by theioowng
vote:
.7yes-Messrs. Gusts, Aworth, Brown of Abe.
marie, Edm ston, Stanton, Jones of b Shelton. FuS
Byrd of F. Wood, Robins, Creigh, Edmunds. Stovsll,
Miles, Raymond. McRae, Pace, Bowden, Gallaller,
Turner Lewis, Lnmpkn, Wallace, Grubbs, Garter,
'rebbs, Banks of Madison, Nicolson Wade, oferrcll,
VERIFY, Oliver, Edgington, Davis, NlcPherson Wlt;h-
er, Daniel OF Z. e Eastman Daniel of Cav.
Barnes Moore, Cowan, Kane, DenIson, Minor, Heds
man, Warren, Walker, Burwell, Rice of W., ind
Neal-57.
Noes-Messrs ssutsall lspeaser9 Layne, Powell
Bell, Fulton, Van Buren,, Tompkins, Campbell, Sod
erase, Pendeton of b Thompson of Boetourt, asre-
dth, Bl.ck, Bocock, Washington, Marshall of Calr-
lot.e, Broadus, HoOson, Thompson of D., Brown of
L. * w., Grigsby, Keith, Marshall of F, Payne,
Taliaierro, Pende,on of G. * NJ, Leake, Carroll,
Blue, Ward, Winston, Armstrong of H., Hawes Mayo
Bales, Farley, Jackson, Street, Morgan, Pariot
Armstrong of N. Il ,Northington, Hutcheson, 'owl-
by, Hamilton, Cobe Taylor: Tatem, Young, Flee OF
~, Bird OF P, Lanief, Gay, Cooke, Baldwin, bnder-
son, Dey, Brawner, Sturm, White, Marz, (ootes
Sticklcy, Tate, Bowers, Harrison Stephenson food
son. and McComas-69.
Mr. CowAx warmly defended the bill and ured in
dusiry upon the members.
Mr.. ARMSTRONG anxious {, settle this qestIon,
in order 10 meet the cllmorous demands Of thepeope
Mr. TAYLOR moved to amend the bill so as strike
out the provision, which reduces The pay OF The
Speakers.
Mr.. WIrcHxR objected, and Mr.. Taylor withdrew
| his motion.
Mr. TArEM moved an amendment, providing that the
mileage OF members should be reduced from four TO
two doll,rs for every twenty miles.
Mr.. TATEM said offer this amendmen, because
the mileage is not only too high, but because is une
quail and unjust The pay 10 members for rWellng IS
90 dollars for every hundred miles. You an travel
through the State of Virginia at six dollasfor every
hundred miles And you travel at leaslone hun
dred miles day-then each member who raves, re-
ceves fourteen dollars day pay, after having his ex
penses paid And if member receives nileage for
seven hundred and fifty miles in comingto and re-
turning from the Capitol he will fse dollars
day for every day during the session, while those who
do not travel, will only receive four dollars day,
provided the session shall terminate whn this bill
proposes it shall, al the expiration of seveny6ve days
But If the session should extend to nney-fve days,
this member will receive four dollars day or the whole
me while others will serve twenty days atwo dollars
a day. Now, Sir, if make the pay fr travelling
ten dollars for every hundred miles, the be no
inequality in the pay of members-for ech one will
receive six dollars TO pay his expenses, nd four dol
lars his daily paw Therefore, hope tie amendment
will be adopted. Mr.. T. called the ayes md noes
Messrs. TAYLOR, BRoADus, WircuER md Cooke,
opposed the amendment endangerng be b |.
On MIR. Broadus' request, to Withdraw the amend
ment-
Mr.. TATEM said II would give me pl asure 10 obige
my friend from Cupeper, if could win proprety Go
SO. But cannot withdraw my amendnent; for, if a
member only worth 81 day, while 10 hs seat, do
not think it possible that he be weith $14 day,
while travelling.
The amendment of Mr.. Tatsm was list, as follows
| .7ges-Messrs. Gusts. Ailgortb P,well Stanton