The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-05-30
For the Spirit of Democracy.
TO THE PEOPLE OF MONROE COUNTY.
TcoNCLUDED.1

.sE ICoNCLUDED.
Yes and we had glowing annual reports and tales
from set of men, who were engaged in strenu-
Gus idleness IN such language and style as if they
were comforting upon US first rate benefits. And
The very spectators, who then Iobbsd and plum
dered US, now laugh and snigger at US for our
CREDULITR. This is a fact to my wn personal
knowledge; yes and they are ready to repeat the
GAME as soon as the awakened attention and in
dignation of the people shall so far slumber, to
make the experiment safe. Yet this is the time
chosen for grave proposition to the federal gov
ernment to increase the pressure of our taxation.
1t is poking sticks into an old sore. Do you ina
gine thar no attention, Of the people themselves,
demanded with regard to our national monetary af-
fairs Let the following facts speak for themselves.
The compensation Of members of Congress IS eight
dollars per day for each days attendance, and eight
dollars for every twenty miles going to and return
ing from their sessions besides the franking prvl
ege. Many of our western senators and represen-
tatiyes live as much as twelve hundred and fifty
miles lby our lines of traveD from Washington,
Of course the mileage for going and coming would
be one thousand dollars for each. As the railroad
cars will run from twenty to thirty miles per hour,
the stage coaches from eight to ten and the steam
boats from ten to twenty, this rate of compensation
would seem to be liberal. The senate has various
executive functions TO perform, such as to concur
with the President in the appointment of officers,
the ratification of treaties, &c.. &C. The President
10 therefore in the habit Of calling executive ses
sions OF the senate, which generally commence on
the next day after the legislative session of the two
houses, is concluded, sometimes perhaps on the
same day. An executive session is always called
at the Inauguration Of every new president Now
IN contemplation of latO an executive session of
the senate is not the same as legislative session
of the two houses the senator's have therefore fall
len into the habit of charging mileage as for con-
structive journey home and back between the ter
mination of the legislative and the commencement
of the executive session. This is very convenient
for the individual. A senator from Arkansas Or
Louisiana wakes up at his lodgings, on the Penn
sylvania Avenue on the morning OF the fifth of
March, ready to attend the executive session and
Cuffee comes in, with his boots all shining black
and his coat all busted clean and trims his fire and
enquiries his will The gentleman himself arises
not weary or traveworn, makes his toilet, drinks
his coffee and then walks to the treasury with a
draft for thousand dollars MILEAGE in his pock-
ct; when In fact his only journeyings have been
from the capitol to hislodgngs and from his lodg-
ings to the TREASURY BUILDING. Thisis con-
structve journey! When Oregon and Calitor.i
mia get Gnnered, fortunes win be made in night !!
To be serious; II is to be regretted that such
practice ever prevailed among senators. The best
and purest men amongst u.s. believe it to be derog-
atory to the character Of the senate and calculated
TO diminish the moral weight and influence OF that
august body on the national mind, an operation,
which no patriot can observe without anxiety and
alarm. II is due TO the dignity Of the nation and
OF the senate that such practice should be aboI.
ished forthwith. This has been attempted in the
house Of Representatives, bill passed that house
last session to abolish mileage for constructive
journeys It wasno acted upon in the senate A
similar Dill has been introduced into the house the
present session A debate sprung up concerning
II, about two or three weeks ago. Some members
expressed their determination to send the bill 10 the
senate at day so early that, senators would either
have to pass il or take the responsibility Of voting
against It. Mr.. PErrlT, of whom can tell YOU |
nothing except that he is member Of the house |
OF representatives, expressed the utmost contempt
for the bill and Its authors, said il was the cfsprng
Of demagogues and he proclaimed II in the face Of
the nation and of his constituents that he was rea
dy to vote for bill to double the pay Of members
Of congres, e., in plain english he was willing to |
give them sixteen dollars day for attendance and
ttuo thousand dollars night for constructive jour
nsys
Fellow citizens, when such men as this can find |
their way into Congress, as surely as write and |
you read, il Is imperative upon US to pay some at
tention to public affairs. Such men as this, may
give votes that will tell pernlciously upon our in
terests. A mere blind. unhesltaiing confidence in |
our agents. is not demanded by our duties as citi.
zens. Let the principals attend to their own af.
fsirs and not leave every thing 70 their agents