The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-03-10

be Passively governed by the greater wis.
dom Of their representatives. In the sec.
ond we find the sophistical soliloquy Of
every spendthrift "I'll buy this. It's but a
dime; and that 'tis but dollar" This
very same mode Of reasoning, and the
actions consequent upon it, has heaped
upon the people of Ohio, their present
enormous taxation.
The committee not only strive to create the
impression that the salary appropriations
are Of no numerical Importance, but con-
sole the tax payers with the pleasing idea
that although they may increase the sala.
ries of all the officers, it does not amount
to as much as they formerly paid. Ifrais.
ing salaries to the highest possible amount,
so that it barely fall below our former OK.
penditures, is now the doctrine OF retrench.
ment. it is high time the people were get.
ting up another reformation, founded on
principles more advantageous to the tax
paying community. But to crown the
whole and put the clinching argument be-
fore the people, the committee compare
salaries paid by other States, with those
paid by Ohio. They tell US that Ohio paws
less than most of the States of the Union
and that it is not becoming the dignity of
''the great State of Ohio to refuse remu.
nerating salaries TO her public servants.
This abstractly may be true, but there
may at the same time exist very different
IDEAS in the minds of the tax payers and
The tax receivers as to what would consti.
ute remunerating salary. And the peo-
'le' with the prospect of paying, may en-.
ertain very dissimilar notions from those
who are now feeling public officers with a
pleasing prospect Of putting the money in
heir own pockets. They have fixed the
'alaries of Supreme Judges at $4,000,
his may not be too large considering the
'eavy expences attending that office; but
he fact that in the same report they fix the
aares of the Judges of Common Pleas
It $1,000, shows pretty clearly, that they
re preparing lucrative situations with the
respect of themselves being the recipients.
But what is the necessity of increasing
hose salaries at all? The duties are not
'ore onerous, nor are the present incum.
ents more able or talented than formerly.
Why not use the decrease in the number
our public officers, for the purpose of
ecreasing our taxes? But the committee
Ill us they are but drop in the bucket.
he people feel very distinctly that those I
rops 60 to make up the ocean of their !
'xation; and if the drops were all lessen. q
little, it would soon make the ocean '
Mailer But from the actions of our rep. >
sentatives, generally, it is feared. the j
sople have little to expect at their hands
the way Of decreased taxation. Too ii
any are legislating for their own interest. c
90 many are probably Lawyers, anxious o
keep up the dignity of their profession. 5
90 many, who ought to feel and know
nat the wishes of the people are, suffer
emselves to be gulled and lead estray
1.-THE guardians of the dignity of the
eat State" Too many have prospec.
e aggrandizements in view. Too many a
e false and treacherous to the people and II
. principles that elected them, while too r r
have the integrity and moral stamina
vote and speak for the good of the peo- =
,. Out of 35 members in the Senate,
ly IA could be found honest enough to
te against the report of the committee, 7
d those we're dp,uOcr1fe HINT i