Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-02-08

'to'es "ho, u uHhoIe eHtCtiy 10 agree Will
the old Latin poet in the sentiment, Due
et decorum pro patria uori-it is pleasas
and honorable TO die for ones country
are very willing to adopt the sentiment will
the slight change Of 4 single word, 50 that i
will read: Du ce Ell decorum pro patria riUer
it Is pleasant and honorable to ltu. for one,
country. Hence, Sir. the proposition be-
oIe the Senate Gems 10 me entirely uncall
ed for and supercrogato While the supply
so greatly outruns the demand, cam II
understand the stutesmanship, much ess the
economy, ofsrch proposition. Why, Sir
should man enter shop in this city, and
strangely insist on paying the shopkeeper
fifty per cent. more than his price for Ger.
tain goods, OF which he has a superabandant
suppIy-msre than he can ever sell-he
woult be thought little moopstruch, and u
, candidate for the insane asyun; 1t is not
equally irrational, gratuitous, aud unwise to
propose that the people Of this country, now
bowed down TO the earth by financial embsr.
rassments. should pay their Congressional
servants fifty per centum more than they now
receive for their attendance here, when the
aspirante are already so plentiful and persis-
tent as to be about US clamorcus and annoy.
ing as the bowling hackmcn that infest our
railway stations! 1t the dear people will
only patronze their coaches. theyiwil oe ve-
ry we'll satisfied with forty cents mile for
trave and eight dollars day for service.--
Shall we offer them more, and thus multiply
the number and intensity their ayidity!
have another objection to this bill, which. 20
me, is insurmountable. 1t ignores he ,r,ss
inequality and glaring injustice whah cx'
in the present mil.age Of members o! Con
gress, and admitted by every man wHom
have ever heard exnress his views on The sul-
ject, except the Senator who introduced this
bill. He said, ifI recollect aright, that it is
just, entirely just, as it is. Let Us see how
it operates. Those Congressman from the
remote parts of the country actually receive
some thousands Of dollars more than members
living near, and that merely for few days
extra travel in the public service. For ex-
ample, the Senstol living in the remotest
part of the most distant State receives as
mileage for one session Of Congress $5,4s2,-
40, while the nearest Senator receives but
$3.50. Now, il is well understood that the
actual expense Of the journey in each case is
but pittunce of the suns received so that
the most distant member receives one hun
dred and sixty.three times more as mileage
than the nearest member, and all for few
days, perhaps weeks, Of extra travel. The
same proportion holds good for ul interme-
(iate distances. Thus, by this exorbitant
mileage, established at u time when the ac-
tual expenses of travelling we're very great,
compared with the prsscRi rsdi ccd rates.
were absorbed at the last ssssion Of the proc
ent Congress S45l ,662,s2, the benefits of
which accrued to the members according to
their respective distance from the sea. Of
Government. Now, Sir, if this is justice,
what is injustlce Tne rotten borough sys-
TEN Of Great Britain, of which we heard so
much few years since hardly paraileled the
rotten mileage system Of the United States.
Had there been coupled with the proposition
before US u plan to reduce and cqualizs the
mileage in such a manner as to do justice to
all concerned, it would have beer compara-
lively un Objectionable. Had the distinguish
ed Senator, with the advantages OF his emf
nent abilities and ripe experience in the pub
lie councils, instead of bringing forward this
proposition for the benefit OF Congressman
undertaken to devise some plan for the ale
Walton of the country from it's financial diff
hculties. and brought in bill to help the
pockets Of the people INSTEAD oil those Of Con-
gressmen, il would have evnced patriot
ism and fidelity worthy OF lis distinguished
source, and won the favorable consideration
Of all " no are truly concerned for the public
interests. But the people are little thought
of, except in the matter OF their votes, while
their servants are occupied with schemes to
feather their own nests, and put money into
their pockets. The compensation of Con-
gressmen and of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States is now from one
hundred to four hundred per cent greater than
that of our State Legislators and Judges
It would really seem, Sir, if State legis-
lator cansslive on rom 10 to 81 a day, that
a Congressman might possibly subsist on So
day, with his eXhorbitant mleage,and some
ten or twelve hundred dollars as the value
of Congressional books received for his pri-
vate library, to eke out his expenses; and if
u State Judge can battle famine with the ma
teriai aid OF So 900 or $4,000 year, Uni
ted States Judge might possibly keep the
wolf from the door with the help OF $4,000
or $4,000 year. But il am mistaken in
these suggestions, sure | am, Sir, the direct
and ultimate tendency OF this measure would
be to clo,he this Government with additional
consequence in the eyes Of the country, and
proportionally to beittle and dsparage the
State Government; to rear towering giant
here, and make abject dwarfs there. look
with no complacency upon the aggrandize-
ment of the Federal Government, but with
dread ard dsmay. Its powers and influence
are already iearfully great, and should be di-
a,inisbed rather than increased. Its Execu-
tive branch IS already well nigh absolute,
and is quick to seize upon any sembiance OF
pretext 10 exhibit its mighty powers over
the State, by ordering the m,liury force at
its command to outrage ano drsgoon them in
to submission to its imperious will. Far,iar
be it from me, Sir, to do anything calcula-
ted to clo,hs this oyergrown and menacins
giant with stronger attractions and a might
ier armor, lest he absorb and centralize with-
| in himself all tina, remains Of the aP?ropri-
ate authority and influence Of the States,and