The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-02
CITY OF WASHINGTON, FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 2, l848

classes, class TO be discharged every years He
was glad to such bill brought forward by disn-
gnlshed and influential member as the gentleman from
North Carolina, MIR. MckAY] One principle of the bill
provide for the examination of clerks by board
of competent persons and another to promote those
who faithfully discharged their duties One other prnci-
pie he wished to engrafted the bl-the selection
and appointment of the clerks from the several States,
in proportion TO their population There proprie
ty in conning the appointment to particular localities
Some States had been pensloned on the government
Virginia and Maryland had furnished nearly all the
clerks while Ohio and other great States debaued
from any share in these Offices. Every congressional
district could furnish an adequate number OF competent
persons to fill these positions Ii would be very proper
TO allow citizens of the States remote from this city,
opportunity to send their here, for the acquisition
OF useful information while dschargng their civil du
ties II might he objected, that could not trammel
the President in the selection OF these clerks; but, if
could require regard to locality from the President in
relation to military officers, could also do It in relation
to the civil service. He (Mr j. would also wish that
in these appointments eye should be had TO the farm
ers and mechanics of the country Though these classes
were the most important to the welfare of the commu
nity they enjoyed very little share in public affairs
In our representative bodies, the lawyers were found
in great numbers, to the exclusion of laboring men
Mr. j. very glad to learn that Pennsylvania was
an exception; that in the legislature OF that State
majority OF the members were farmers In this body in
the last Congress- there were only twenty labOrng men
out of two hundred and thirty-eght members
Mr. HUNT. What does the gentleman mean by a
Mr. JOHNSON said that he meant that portion of our
tons OF the country-the men who earn their bread by
the sweat OF their face and not by their wits The law
yes and other professional men were justly called the
aristocracy of this land They gave tone our Iegis-
ation. Our young men, who were put TO the study OF
law at an early age become better acquainted with Eng
sympathy with the body of the people
Mr. EVANS made point OF order. The gentleman
from Tennessee was not speaking to the bill
special pleading and he did not know but, by tech
nicalty he could be ruled out OF order He making
an argument entirely relative to the question. 1t was in
order show that the selection of clerks and other
farmers and mechanics of the countryhe substaum OF
society He proposed to have letter read on this sub
iect from farmer OF the old Bay State The letter
very hatering to him, account of his efforts in behalf
OF the farming and laboring interests; but he could,
without indecacy give it publicity.
VOICE. Did lawyer write it
Mr. JOHNSON. No; but it is we-written letter.
The letter was read and
Mr. JOHNSON, resumng, said that was one OF the
luton which he had offered at this and the late session;
and encouragement from such disnteresed quarters
would induce him to persist in ms course.
There another principle which ought to be lncor-
porated in the b-a principle that was applied to the
Senae-the renovation Of the body, by bringing in new
men every two years This amendment proposed to di-
vide the country into four districts and let one fourth go
out every year, providing that, after eight years, clerk
shall be Ineligible. This would do vast deal OF good.
i would create more Independent spirit in the officer
1t would render him economical in his habits. He
would adopt frugal style of ving-saving enough to
buy little -withouHgoing, every four years, with
their families, and imporng, with tears continuance in
office because they had saved nothing and wanted bread
This principle would serve another purpose: II would
prevent the continuance in Office Of mbece and decrepd
men, merely from motives of charity. Another principle
he would propose engraft the bill to reduce
salaries OF thousand dollars and over, one NTH Alter all
professions of economy and retrenchment, we have
done little towards putting them IN pTactce NOW was
the time while the treasury was burdened with the eX-
pense of foreign war, to practise economy, and adopt
measures for rerenohment Some might say that he was
hard tnk
not He had entire confidence in the strength and
ultimate success Of the principle he had advanced
Mr.. HAMMONS replied, stating that, however II
might be elsewhere far the Legislature OF the State
OF Maine was concerned they were not there under the
domination of lawyers.
Mr. JOHNSON had said he had assumed that the pro
portion OF representation amongst lawyers and farmers,
as distinct classes, was about one hundred to one
Mr.. HAMMONS understood the position perfectly.
ton and nothing else This sort of attack upon lawyers
understood well in Name and sensible was the
gentleman himself that his position not COOL one,
that he felt himself called upon to defend his remarks
from the impuation of demagogusm. If those belonging
to the legal profession were to be denom'nated as the
arstocracy Mr. H. was proud of belonging 10 such an
arslocracy 1t the arisocracy OF Jefferson and
Madison He believed also, that every President of the
United States had time in his life been lawyer
unless, perhaps. Gen. Harrison was an exception.
Mr.. JOHNSON said he spoke not Of the character of
lawyers He merely remarked that lawyers were accus-
toned to WELD the greatest amount of political influence.
Speaking of the character of that professions he had said
he only regretted that ne was not himself ROOu lawyer
He designed to cast not the slightest impuaton against
the gentleman from Maine, Mr. HAMMoNs or his pro-
fesson though he rather thought now, that like himself
upon thorough examination, that gentleman would be
found not to be lawyer enough to hurt him. taught
Mr.. HAMblONS Judged the gentleman from Tennes-
see be i'll qualified to decide whether man was good
LAWYER or a good tailor. A laughthe point lnslnuated
being that Mr.. JOHNSON by his trade tailor.
But if the gentleman would not take Mr. H. to be good
lawyer he free to acknowledge that lie considered
the speech of the gentleman from Tennessee sort OF lee
to the people, telling them whom they should choose
to be their representatives. and II was because he pre-
sumed the people themselves good judges OF that
business the gentleman from tennessee that he had
taken this notice of his attack upon the profession As
an illustration OF the gentemans democracy the mat
ter of reducing the salaries of clerks fifth he referred
to the salary and mileage which the gentleman from Ten
nessee was himself quietly receiving member OF
Congress.
Mr. JOHNSON. proposed no such thing. | ey-
pessy included officers OF government and members OF
Congress.
Mr. HAMMONS admitted, then, that he had not UNI
derstood the gentleman's amendment
Mr. HOLMES, of South Carolina hoped there would
be no case of personal alteration between these gentle
men, since, if they not both good lawyers STILL IN
their respective civil employments, they have both
gagged themselves the business OF making suits. Laugh
ter They brethren at all events, and should not
fall out
Mr.. LANNON'S replied to the pleasantly OF the gen.
teman froa South Carolina, and continued lie re-
minded the gentleman from Tennessee, that democracy
begins at home and desired to suggest to HIM the propey
of his looking to certain class OF his people nearer
home while he was endeavoring 10 show up the Unequal
y OF political rights on the part OF the farmers OF the
north.
IL from ID. xrltr,t,