The Mountaineer. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-17

,Ino DeSt IuIMtMS - ~ N-A 49,
Exsrtions we're made and
raid for 70 make the members Of
ne Assembly comparatively comfort
sbls. But thoao things are among the
y-gones.
Would it Be reasonable il Is 10 AK
ihe paying dspaTtnsnts III The big
10 compare the bills rendered
here with the articles and their cost
herep II 50 we will with
draw the request. But, TO speak hon
sstly, We believe that there has been
some trihing degree cf-ve will not
say what going on in these matters.
A mans salary Is one thing, and per-
quisitss another We would like tosee
the balance sheet.
What audacityl Nothing short Of
the combined wrath Of two regiments
Of dragons, two regiments Of cavalry,
ten regiments Of infantry, and one Or
two dozen batteries Of artillery should
be considered proper response 70 our
Well, we could not help ii. The
answer, Of course, might annihilate us;
but the question would be still the
same, and still demand an answer.
we do not now advocate alone the
rights and claims of Utah, but the in
.terests Of oil American citizens. We
have . sort Of half -matured idea that
there IS . class Of men in the Great
Republic who suck the milk Of one
portion Of the nation to give them
strength and sineW to tread on the
necks Of the balance. We would not
for millions say that our most honor
able and high-minded Secretary Is one
Of that class. Tho displayof his ac-
counts current would probably entirely
dispel such an idea. Hence il would
not be amiss TO have those accounts
closely scrutinized; Of course entirely
for the sake Of his reputation. Sub,
sequent to the termination Of the past
session Of the legislature, Mr. Hart
nett's patriotism led him to the as
sumption OF judicial functions. He Id
the most digni6ed manner gave decis-
ion as to the length, breadth, heightb,
md depth Of the term. His decision
D, judgment might perchance have
been as Illegal as ii was nonsensical.
II made no difference. A liberal dis
count was made from the per diems,
Into what public or private Golfer did
that discount go? Such questions, We
hope, will not be boiled up into econ
strnctive treason"
One Of the great arguments used in
favor Of the present system Of Terri
torial Governments, IS their inability to.
sustain themselves and pay their own
expenses. Here is . tolerable fair OPP
portunity Of testing that question. The
rent OF halls costs nothing. Are the
members 50 poor that they could not
dispense with their triaing per-diem2
And how much more would their fnrni-
ture and stationery cost them than they
do now: u. ". II Il. s,i< *. XII
To be sure the salaries Of officials
amount to . considerable item. But
wherein does that enhance the Terri
torial wealth? Does it make one hon
est, hard-working citizen richer; or add
to one acre Of ground
in the Territory? Those skilled in
"mathematics" may answer tho ques-
ton. We decline the honor.
Yet one word in palliation. Ills
Excellency, our very gentlemanly and
esteemed friend Governor Cumming is
left in somewhat Of . dilemma. His
Secretary has abandoned him, and that
in the time Of pressing business. The
abandonment was happy one; and the
happier the sooner it had been effected.
He was3no help to him, and We believe
WAS an enemy to the administration
that gave him his sineeure.
The Governor has been gentlemanly
and fair with the legislature. For the
benefit Of the Territory he has assumed
duties that belonged elsewhere, and has
discharged those duties, according to
our views, as true Jacksonian Demo