Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-02-06
SUMMIT POINT,
JEFF. Co., w. Va,
January 3lst. 1872.

MIR. Wilson it is who introduced the resolu-
ton that the "Salaries of the Governor and
other State and judicial officers shall not ex>
coed what they now are" and also the resolu
ton t'that legal interest shall be at the rate of
six dollars upon. the hundred dollars for a
year" If it is Col. Ben. Wilson know him;
but be pleased to give him my best regards,
whoever he is, and say to him, that in my
opinion. he has touched two of the most I'M
portant points that will come under the con-
sideration of the Convention.
In insisting on loo salaries for the State
oficials-and, I hope he will add the County
obfciaS he is touching the true science and
philosophy; and safety and purity of popular
and republican government. The Offices of a
Government should never be high or lucrative;
for if they are, men will seek them from
mercenary rather than motives of honor and,
then, the caucasses, and struggles for the
spoils, will insure corruptions and collisions
that from time itnmemorial have led to the
overthrow of States. In regard to the jus
dicial Offices, especially, I prefer the opinion
of Aristotle-who "tauglt the world, MS Dis
raeli says, all it knows of Government"-to
the opinion of Faulkner; for, l see in his
projet in regard to the Judiciary. Mr.. f. goes
for pretty round salaries to the judges, while
Aristotle branded Pericles with the epithet
Demagogue, for assigning pay at all to the
judges. He insisted upon it, that from that
moment, a change was made for the worse /;
and that tribunals became corrupt and venals /:
In regard to the depor.ure, in this respect,
from the old system of unpaid ju~dges-Iik
ours from the old unpaid County Court to the.
now; venal and litigstion- promoting squires
he says, "Dicasteria Misthophora Hates.
stese Pericles'-"Pericles was the first man
who made the tribunals mercenary aud ~venal!"
Aud; just here; | wish you t., show this letter
to MIR. Faulkner. and also to Mr.. Wilson for
| doubt not. that Mr.. Faulkner. for ii monlent
will m,sunderstnnd it or suppose that am
making any side wipe ut him my object ia
to act upon his Judgment; snd tn give hint
The ben Gt ot nuhho,ity !! know he W II respect.
OF Mr. Faulkner. and his ability. and honesty
in all trusts, [ have the higi est opinion ; aud
have openly cx pressed it, aud do now.
| know, very well, what the arguments are
for high salaries That they will command
for the State the highest talent lst: I'd That
they will enable the poor aud talented to hold
office.
These positions are, both, fall.cie., aud
sophistries (:
In regard to the first, "that they will COM
mand the highest talent - The reverse is the
fact and truth The higher the salary, the
higher and greater the caucussing, and corr
ruption, aud bargaining, and intriguing !;
which, tor ever, where such appliances are
used insnres inferiority and corruption and
not only inferiority and corruption in the high
salaried official, but, also, in inferior off cials ;
for. to carry the h!eh-the State obfcial-it
becomes necessary to find good births for the
HtMe great men in the County officials and,
thus. from the State to the County officials,
the State-the people-are taxed. pluckeG,
and plundered. for the meunest men in County
or State
The other argument is, that it will enable
poor talent to hold Office - This is, equally
sophistical and fallaci"us. The Offices belong
to, and. are intended for; neither rich men or
poor men: They belong to the State. and are
or ought to be intended for the common
benefit of the whole State: Now, how few
meu, either rich or poor. can hold the "fices ?
How few, in comparison to the many, who,
never hold Office; or can but who must be
taxed to pay tor all! What we-the many
wants cheap government-and above all
cheap n,oney-loo totee of exchange: And
this brings me to MIR. Wilson's second prop
%osition, that interest shall not exceed six per
cent.
Say to him, for me, if you please, and shew
to him, too, this letter that such a provision
without injoiniug it upon the Legislature to
oeeuiS sum q ""uL'WuW ny pTUpe| peHuttteS,
would be a deceit and delusion he must in
join the forfeiture Of the whole amount for
taking a higher rate, and besides, annex to it
the punishment of felony. upon the finding of
a grand jury, just as he would against a
forgery for such an abuse of the sovereign
power of the people-in the use of money
the public convenience of all the people in their
exchanges.
Say to him further, upon this point of in
terest for the use of money. that whilst he in
joins six per cent. as the maximum rate of in.
terest, he must still leave the Legislature free
to fix a lower rate as 1 have no doubt that
the Legislature of the general Government,
which has by the Constitution of the United
States the money power, will fix a lower rate
that is, will fix the rate of interest to cores
pond, aud to be REGULATED" by the net annual
increase of the labor of the county. that is by
the annual profits of the farmer, the mechanic,
the manufacturer, and the merchant and,
which commissioned Wells in his report fixes
at 81 per cent. Why should an Idler have a
greater profit than a toiler and. especially,
when, if he is not content with what tie toiler
makes; he can buy a farm, or build a factory,
or go into commerce., and with. money at 81
make larger profits. if he can This is equal
ity this is beneft to all and injury to none
There are three other questions, to which.
| desire to draw your ottentinnc
The first, is. Mr.. Faulkner's proposition. in
his prnjet of a constitutions, to give Che vetn
power to the Governor: am opposed TO this
royal erogatiVe! Thomas jefferson has said,
! and wisely and we'll, "from the decision of q