Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-02-03
Duties OF Government OMcers.



ton city, Star, OF January 29ih 1855.
Duties OF Government Officers,-It 10 well
known that the number Of claims upon Govern
ment Tor all kilds OF services have rapidly null
tiplled within few years pasl; and IL is equal.
y well known that all VINO oppose then al
lowance are held up 10 The people as ''unroa-
so1able," as" hard aud unfeeng" ii not posi-
lively unjust, men. The Hor.. John I.etcier,
having officially to PASS upon many such claims.
has been peculiarly subjected 10 such impula
tons. Now, he Is ii aian as fond oil doing oblig-
ing things 10 his fellow man as any one else,
avitea he thinks thai he can rightfully 10 30; but
he iias honesty enough 10 cay no when duty SO
counsels hin. To ow The reasons whlch GOV.
err his action, and let people see that he does
not REJECT claims from d mere caprice, or whrn,
and also To show his Ideas u he duty OF thu otfi
Gers Of the Uniled States, we publish his report
upon claim ct Joseph D. Wald--an ou, Ialth
tnl and capable cIelk As this claim was the
fl ST of many HAL we're rejected, the principles
which governed III all were fully Set 9th Tor
The consideration u lhe House in The report up.
un this one, and accounts Tor our seec non Of
Ihis par,icu lar report; We may add The further
reason that We consider the clam as one u the
strongest OF The class, aud believe The claimant
is ii gentleman he would not assert cain
which he did mol think just. By the ny, all
Claimants linuk their claims just, and most OF
them ieel wounded iflleir Chains are rejected.
he following Is the report Of Mr. Lecler 10
| which We reIer
| MI. Letcher, from the Committee of Claims, to
whom were referred the petition aud papers
of Joseph D. Ward, made the following re-
pof
! That they have carefully examined the clam
asserted 10y The petitioner, and are OF opinon thai
IL does i'oi rest on principles which they can
sdliotiol.. The petition, Annexed hereto tx
plans the claim.
II is lhe opinion of this Committee that the
officers oil The government ought, on all occd-
slois, to reider The best services, both o body
and mind, oil which they ATE capable. No man
ough 10 be Entrusted with Office by rer gov
erHHeut no viii not honestly and without
reluctance, perform the duties pertaining thereto
wI,h zeal, Industry, ai,d skill, 10 the extern, ut
ls ability. In creating office, The Government
Vi the people CONSIDER The ualir aud extent vi
the labor and SIX requisite TO proper and pune
tual discharge OF ali lis dulles 10th dHet aud
c iel,!al aud fixed salary IN accordance there
With. 1t viii sometimes happen that salaries,
through iHadverlance or Insufficient information,
may be made too large Or too small coinptred
| with the services 10 be 2eriormed When this
occurs, and Is shown, the legislative authority
viii correct The error
Salaries ( Ulcer soush t to be Justly appolon-
ed totte labof, skill, risk, an importance OF The
duties h be performed. They soul! neither be
extfavagant .or Liberal, bo'h extremes being
unilendiy to The genius vi or Institution.
An otiicer is legally and equ.taby entitled
to receive the salary attached 10 the vilice hich
he accepts. II ii Is reduced, or it he fnd- it
Inadequate, the Government, however inconyen
lent niy be the loss of his services, canno, ust
!, complain if he surrenders it, IT, notwith.
sia1!iu7 The reduction or the inadequacy OF The
8 a. the officer choose Tor any public or phi
va,e reason, 10 remain IN The public employ his
decision gives him no legal clam for an adal-
tio,lGl allowance oi money from the public lrea.
sufy. HIS continuance Is wholly optional with
himself.
Bal lake an extreme case OF this kind, where
the iabors aud responsibilities oi an office are
great. the pay small aud tquilabieness Of an
additional allowance OF the highest grade known
% Ills Class Of claims. Would not the esla5-
lioiient o the pfaCtIc' (under any the niaiiy
feiehees sci np 10y lhIs large class vi claimants,
OF pdy,ng government officers sums OF money
ii addition 10 A.eir ,eguiu salaries, lead, in d na-
tioa large It's ouis, 10 great abuses, aad ultimate
~ 10 gross Iavo,ilisma Special laws, To remedy
cases OIL supposed hardship, would gradually con
duet 10 results equally pefnlclous 10 the govern
tnel,t and 10 the people
The conuiiiee recommend to the House that
the salaries oil all offices, legislative, executive,
and Judicial, bs louked iulu aud made just aud
adequate; Tor such salaries will command The
proper services oil men who will administer our
government viii! ciliciency, economy, and iiber-
atisy. But they cannot recommend special AT.
dniouai allowances Of money 10 pubic officers
BY special LAWS. Qate as many would lie
aroH.ialiy omitted by entering npoa The busi-
al al lauts i.it yunll Ne.