Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-06


enters into the account. The commo-
dity. judging from the intrinsic value
to the people. ought to be obtained for
much less money. In these "piping
times" Of war and taxation, something
more than words is looked for.-I
Yet what else has been furnished du-
ring the past month. Not one meas.
ure Of any importance has been adopt
ed. though scores Of them have been
talked at by the hour.
We did suppose that demagogueism
would for the present be laid upon the
shelf, and q spirit Of true patriotism
manifest itself. Never was there a
greater mistake. The breed is more
numerous than ever before, and seems
determined to control both houses
Hobbies long since ridden to death, are
brought out, mounted BY these valiant
Dons and put through their PAGES with
an energy deserving better cause
The old cripple "retrenchment" has
been reyamped "good as new," and
trained to carry any number of riders.
And they aim at no small game either.
Their pop-guns and squirts are fred
at the Governor, Supreme Judges,
State officers, &C., BY way of showing
that they are the watchful guardians
of the peoples rights, and that because
Peter Funk by his mock auction makes
but $500 per annum clear stealing.
the Governor shall be cut off with the
same, and because ]. P. of skunk s
misery receives but $4,000, therefore
the Judges of the Supreme Court Of
the great State Of Ohio shall receive
no more.
Laying all badinage aside, this is the
most contemplate piece of dirty legis-
lation extant, and we are pleased 10
find our member from Gallia county op-
posed to it.
We claim for Ohio the first place in
the front rank of the States of this
Union. She has far outstripped many
of the older States, and is to-day ad-
vancing with rapid strides. In point OF
intelligence her citizens are not sur
passed, and in loyalty and devotion to
the Union she yields to none. Her
sons are found in every battle field, the
''bravest among the brave" Yet the
Fnvernor of this great State receives
put l'8OU PUy annum--a sum -----i-
Jess than is paid 10 very many of our
county Auditors. No man can live in
Columbus upon this salary in style
becoming the chief magistrate of a
great State, unless his private fortune
is sufficient to justify it. This is pat
ent to the eye of any man. not fool or
knave. Yet the contemplate poltroons
and demagogues who, by the Union of
parties, have secured seats in the legis-
lative chambers, they otherwise never
could have attained. are anxious to gain
q little credit with their constituents by
urging reduction of the Governors
salary to $1,000. And this too at
time when the duties of the Office are
thousand fold more arduous than ev-
er before. Even little Rhode Island
does better than this. New York and
Pennsylvania pay $4,000, and furnish
houses for the respective Governors.
And how much would be the saving
in a pecuniary point Of view? The
tax duplicate of 1861, amounted to
nearly s12,0Oo,oOo. Will some of
these political charlatans inform us
what fraction ofthe one hundredth part
of mill upon the dollar of valuation this
reduction would save? So of the Su.
preme Judges and State oficers--all
that could be saved would be but a
drop in the bucket, and has been al
ready neutralized by the amount paid
to these legislative savans for "passing"
about it.
We are heavily taxed now. with
prospect of an additional burden for
expenses of the war. But that fur
nishes no excuse for the unparalleled
meanness of taking away from our
State and Judicial officers. the little pit
tance heretofore allowed them. The
State is disgraced by such sixpenny
efforts at "retfenchment." No honest,
honorable man asks the services of an
efficient officer for any thing less than
fair compensation.
Gentlemen who advocate this meas
ure, commence by "retrenching" on
your own pay. before you attempt it
upon that Of others. Any other course,
is mesnly base and eontemptible.-
Commence with yourselves. and we
shall give you credit for being disinter-
ested and unsel6sh at least. Your
present course reflects as little honor
,snar, vo1fr constituents as voursalv.s