Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-07-14

thousand dollars. To this should be add
ed the amount paid for books under the
old law, being eighty two thousand dol
lars. From these sums deduct the in.
creased amount paid members, of one
hundred and sixty thousand dollars for
the Congress OF two years, and the net
saving under the new law will be more
than four hundred thousand dollars for
each Congress.
l state these data from memory, but
they will be capable of mathematical ex
actness soon as the printing of the jour
nal and other documents shall be com
pleted, and hesitate not to say that my
estimate will fall below the real amount
saved under the new law.
But the demOralizing tendency of the
old law, constituted the great objection
10 it. The morals of the nation consti-
tute the security of its people; 1 forbear
any further reference 10 the immortality
of Congress; it has long been known; and
no rejecting mind could contemplate it
with feelings other than of sorrow. Ev-
cry patriot felt that higher morality
must be attained or even the forms of a
free government must be given up. To
effect this it was necessary to surround
members with the influence OF the fami-
ly, and induce them to industriously en-
gage in the business Of the nation. The
new law was calculated 10 have that eff
feet. With me that object weighed far
above all considerations of dollars and
cents.
l need not say that this effect has
been eminently attained. That in just
such degree as the members have been
more industrious, they have been sober
and temperate; in proportion as they
have devoted their attention to the pub
lie business. they have manifested self
respect. No liquor was found in their
restaurant or committee rooms. No
drunken brawls characterized their even
ing sessions. If there be- one exception
to this remark, will say that intoxica-
ton was imputed 10 one member only,
that the decorum, the quiet progress of
business. the dignity of the present Con-
gress has thus far excelled that of any
Congress of which l have been mem
Der.
Another important feature of tie old
law was that the compensation of mem
bers was far inferior TO that of all the
other officers of government requiring
equal qualifications. Our own clerk,
the clerks who were placed at the heads
of the several bureaus in al the execu
tive departments, received three thou
sand dollars; Cabinet officers eight, dis
tinct Judges, clerks of district Courts,
distinct Attorneys, Collectors of customs,
Registers and Receivers of Land Offices,
Marshalls and many other offices, re-
ceived from three to fifteen thousand;
Foreign Ministers eighteen thousand, and
the President twenty five thousand,
while members of Congress received less
than Two thousand. No man who is not
the peer of the president in all that con-
stitut,s independence of thought, of
speech, Of act; or who feels less devotion
10 his country, to mankind and 10 the
Constitution, is or can be fit TO represent
the people in Congress. yet L have
seen that high functionary purchase
members of Congress like sheep in mark
ct, by the mere promise of a clerkship of
three thousand dollars. The practical
illustration Of this remark may be seen
in the action of former Congress. At
no time for quarter Of a century, has a
Democratic President been defeated in
any executive measure, until the recent
session of Congress. During this session
he carried no executive measure; he was
defeated in them all; members could
support themselves, were independent
of the President. No three thousand
dollar clerkship would purchase a repre-
sentative; the higher offices had Geen
filled, and his FIVE regiment bill, his Le-
compton bill, his Mormon war failed
BILE dared make 40 recommendation for
obtaining Cuba, for war on Hayti, for
territory in Mexico and Central America,
or for restoration Of the African Slave
trade.
Do you say that these reforms are
owing to the Republican movements? l
answer that moral principle is the basis
of Republicanism, and whatever pro-
notes the morality of Congress aids.that
organization. That this act of which
you complain is the only act of Congress
that has aided or carried forward the
Republican cause; chat without that act
the Republican party could not have de-
feated the Mormon war, or the five Reg
iment Bill, or the other matters alluded
to.
Do you say that did not foresee these
results, when 1 voted for the bill? Ire
ply that foresaw that it would secure
attention to the public business, would
shorten our sessions, would save ex-
pense to the Government, and would i'm
prove the moral chasoter of Congress.
That l foretold these results to many
members on tie day of its passage, and
except for the previous question would