The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-07-31
CONGRESSIONAL.

Sam Smith was for distribution in its strong
est sense. He then said he ought to be
elected from the fact that he would be able
10 exert more influence in favor of securing
grants of land to the Railroads, in which
this district was Interested, than his oppo-
nent could. This was going, in the doctrine
of distribution, far beyond what is claimed to
be constitutional by many of the advocates
Of general distribution. Yet no farther than
the majority of Congress have gone for the
last four years.
During the canvass four years ago, and
the canvass two years ago, Col. Smith said
not word about increasing the pay of Con-
gressmen-not the first word. But when
he gets into Office he forgets all about the
land grants for Railroads, and goes to work
to get money grants .or himself. He finds
that il would not be unconstitutional, indeed,
to give these lands to help in building Rail
roads, but That it would be very mpolilic.-
Yet he was unable to see any impoliey in
taking hundreds of thousands out of the pub
lie treasury to increase his own pay, and the
pay of his Congressmen.-The one measure
he pledged himself to 60 for, the other he
srudiously avoided saying anything about.
But in the first instance he has broken his
pledge to his constituents, and in the second
he has gone might and main for n measure
that his constituents never heard or dreamed
of. He can understand perfectly well that in
case the proceeds of the public lands should
be distributed, that the South would have to
pay two dollars into the Treasury for every
one they get out; but he cannot see but
what the whole country will make money
by this operation of paying the members Of
congress twice as much as they were paid
formerly. He can prove to demonstration
that the common people of Tennessee would
be ruined, should our state get forty millions
to educate her Sons and Daughters and build
her works of internal Improvement but he
can see no logic in an argument in favor OF
paying congressman eight dollars day lit
stead of sixteen or thirty-two. In plain
English, he is against paying to the people
their own money that has and will be accu.
mulaled in the Treasury-money that belongs
to the people and can belong to no body
else; and is in favor of letting it remain there
for Congressman to vote to themselves in
the way of extravagant compensation, and
to squander otherwise in vilainy and cor
ruption.
Are the people of this district going to
support a man who voted TO increase his own
pay from eight dollars to more than thirty
for the short session that adjourned las'
Spring. Are they going to elect a man to
represent them in toe Congress Of the United
States who stipulated to serve them for {
certain price, and then during the term Of
service increased his own pay four fold!-
Would any farmer, Mechanic, Merchant, ol
tradesman of any kind employ man to dc
business for them who had heretofore served
them rs Col. Smith has served his constit
uents, and his countrya Such thing is un'
precedented in the history Of American Leg.
islation. And now Col. Smith boasts of thi:
as one of the proudcst acts Of his life-say'
he has always been for such measure
Why did he not in his former canvass leave
out vast deal of his talk about land grants
to assist our Rniroads-a thing he never in
tended to carry out--and talk to us some
thing about compensation bills, measured
which he was for according to his statement
in the present canvass. The reason is obvi
Gus to every one, he knew that the forme
measure would be popular-would secur
him votes, but the latter be very unpopular
and would most likely cause his defeat If ag
tated. IF Congress thought their pay to-
little, why did they not increase it by pass
ing law to take effect after this term, fo
which they had been elected, was out; ant
then come home and submit to the people
their arguments in favor Of passing such
law, and also their claims for reelection?
No they could not risk this. Some o
them thought that they had already served
their party sufficiently to reach higher seats
to merit more of the spoils than could b'
gained by seat in Congress, and conse
quently they were looking up higher, ant
would likely never have another chance t'
reach their rich reward Of their measures
Others had money bills pressing on them fol
the immense quantity of fine liquors they hae
been enjoying during their sojourn in Wash
ington, hence they must have their hand
into the Treasury, and many no doubt fel
that such measure would probably defen
them in mother canvass, SO they had bette
secure three thousand any how if they coult
not get any more. But from whatever mo
tives congressman voted for this compensa
ton bill, Whether Wing or Democrat, Know
Nothing or Black Republican, they should
be allowed to retire into the shades of pri
vate life and enjoy the sweets Of retiremen
for few years, until they learn to keep thei
contract more sacredly--until they learn Il
put up with the wages for which they un
dertook to work.
This compensation bill for which Col
Smith voted and of which he boasts SO much
changed his own salary, including mieag
to and from Congress, from S4,795,20 10 81,
aah 90 making nm incrense of az nRn Oh