The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-02-24

DlNlSlOuS, iIaS pussy" 10 i''h'' 'e"""6s vs. WV
Senate. A resolution authorizing the Comp
troier to refund to all counties any money!
wrongfuly withheld, has also passed.
TwExry.sEcoYD FEBRuARY.-The Ami
versary of Washington's birth day was cclc
hra.cd in Athens, on Wednesday last, b,
the Masons, Odd Fellows and Sons of Tenn
pcrancc, jointly. At half past 10 o'clock thu
different Orders were formed into procession
and marched to the Methodist Church, wher,
they listened to a very interesting Nationa
and Masonic address, by Geo. w. Bridges
Esq. There was n large audience in attend
nncc, and every thing passed off to the entire
satisfaction of all present.
RAISING THE WAGEs.-In all offices Of ar
important and responsible character, we hold
it to be in accordance with good sense and
true economy to provide fair and liberal sala-
rics-liberal enough to secure tho services
Of men possessing the requisite abilities for
competent and wise discharge Of the du.
ties thereof. 1t is VIGOROUSLY true that in
the more prominent offices existing under tho
commonwealth of Tennessee, beginning with
the governor and the judges OF our courts,
the salaries have been altogether inadequate,
md in some cases even niggardlv-a mere
pttance, we may say, upon which the in.
cumlcnts could not snbsist without the ex-
ercise of = degree of parsimony offensive
and disrcputaLle in persons holding high
public stations. Efforts have been made from
time to time to remove this rcproach upon
our State, for such We regard it, but they
have invariably been met by the demagogue
cry, "thc people wont stand it.' "the people
arc fornenst high salarcs!' A greater libel
WAS never uttered upon the people of this
great State, ranking in wealth and talent
among the first in the Union. When mer-
chant wishes to employ a clerk or salesman,
he is willing to pay fair price for one who
understands his busincss-whcn we want a
job Of work done We prefer paying what
may DO called high wages to good mechanic
rather than avail ourselves of the services of
bo.ch ut half price. But when it comes to
filing the highest and most Important offices
we must have the best abilities in the State nt
lust about half what the same abilities could
command in any other line Of business. A
few years ago n proposition was made to in
crease the salary of the Governor from two
to three thousand dollars; and the demn.
gogues, the low salary gentlemen, who are
always on the watch 70, something which
they think will place them prominently be.
fore the public eye, and who never had
thought above their own brooches pockets,
al once raised the cry of extravaganza"
and the shout Of oppression upon the poor
tay.paying pcople!' But tho proposition was
carried and the salary increased; and not ono
word of complaint has been uttered by tho
people on the subject, leaving out the dema.
gogucs, who in point of numbers stand in the
same relation to tho masses nowadays rs
fools to sensible people. Nor do we believe
the people would have complained had tho
salary been increased to five instead of three
thousand dollars. They have too much State
pride, and too high an appreciation Of the re.
sponsibilities of public station to wish to see
the highest offices in the Commonwealth
huckstcred out to the lowest bidder.
We have been led 10 refer to the subject
at this time, by noticing proposition before
the present Legislature to increase the sala-
ries Of Supreme Judges to twenty-five hun.
dred dollars, and of Circuit Judges and
Chanccllors to eighteen hundred-whicl
ought to be passed unanimously, but which
We are afraid will be defeated, us there is n
right sharp sprinkle of those same woolly.
mouthcd demagogues in both branches of
the General Assembly, who would willingly
remain at Nashville until the Asiatic cholera
or some other fearful epidemic frightcns
them oil, but who cannot conscicntiously
vote away a single dollar Of the dear pco-
pies money to any body but themselves. At
ono stage the proceedings assumed quito a
farcical character. One gentleman moved TO
nmend by inserting, instead Of eighteen hun.
drcd, seventeen fifty; another, seventeen
twenty-five, and another seventeen, and so
on, until they got it down to sixteen fifty
pretty much after the manner of an auction.
eer working of bobbcd.tail poney on a
market day, with the exception that the auc-
toneer's labor ranges upward, while that of
the demagogue's runs down. What game
for most grave and reverend Legislators -
We are pleased TO see, however, that the pro.
position to give the Supreme Judges twenty.
five hundred dollars and the Chancellors and
Circuit Judges eighteen hundred, has been
passed upon its second reading; and We
hope when it comes up on its final passage il
will meet with but little opposition. Those
who oppose it and raise the cry that "the
people wont stand such extravagance!r' are
mistaken. The people will stand almost any
thing but being humbugged by seekers after
popular favor, and they are getting reasona.
bly, tired Of that.
The CEssUs OF ls50.-Our acknowlcdp.
men,s are due the Hon. sam. A. SMITH, the
talented representative from this Conpres.