Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-07-04


press it would seem that | have made 9
wrong disposition Of NY part Of the So
called Congressional - back pay" If th'
press occupy a higher plane Of action thar
that upon which l have stood. it is M
duty to climb up to it if can; but, while
do not insist that they arc wrong, may
not be allowed to show why ! have been
and remain still. unconscious Of trans
crossing any rule Of morality OF business
propriety2 1t is barely possible that the
important difference between the case Of a
Senator and that Of a Representative ha.
been overlooked. or that the reasons ly
which have been guided have not been
fully presented. or, if they have, that less
weight has been accorded to them by Others
than by myself To be thought right is
well, but to be right, at my time Of life, Is
far better.
The press j. generally none TOO bold in It's
criticisms, and would by no means dui.
its edge. as in its a. sober second thought 80
it is always apt to he Just: but criticism,
to be lastingly effective should not cal.
a shovel a spade when it is really a
shovel, nor brand a whole body OF men as
corrupt when it is very certain that some,
and probably much the larger part. were
absolutely stainless By no means am !
about to appeal from the press to the people.
but may not ask tie press to hear before
Il. l.. Z a.. d. d. O.
queer that the mode ofemptying mypocke5-
of " back pay " should from any cause ap-
pear to excite more comment than Its re-
tention might have done? Certainly,
no notoriety was sought or anticipated,
and there was no near election pending
that would suggest a base object even to an
enemy, GfI have any, or the groyel.ing
work Of propitatiug a constituency by
contribution to their pockets. If the bride
was not large enough to tempt me, it was
TOO small to corrupt whole state with.
Nv only purpose was to satisfy myself,
whether others were satisfied or not, and to
complete the sincerity and symmetry Of my
own record on the question, which was at
every stage distinctly and pointedly adverse
to the passage Of the measure. After its
final passage my purpose not to receive
the back pay" was ayowed, and the
only matter undetermined was, what should
be done with it, and this at last
was determined in accordance with what
to me appeared to be the simple dictate of
duty, and the sternest requirements Of
equity. Being able to trace 50 much Of it,
restored it to those from whence it came
The salary question is undoubtedly grave
one, but one that under the Constitution
always has been and always must be de-
termined by Congress itself. From the
foundation of the government, Congress
has repeatedly exercised this grant Of
power. No other body has jurisdiction Of
the subject. The same prerocatiye is held
and constantly exercised by every Legisla-
tive body Of the country. Its exercise by
Congress was legitimate, and it j. only its
abuse that calls for denunciation. If Con
gressmen err, as I think they have erred,
byputting too high an estimate upon the
value Of their services, the people must
teach them more modesty and retiring
habits. Let those and only those who have
been guilty of any abuse have the fall weight |
Of the penalty.
1t is not disputed that the compensation /
should be enough to command the services |
Of men Of ability and integrity, whether
rich or poor, and whether engaged in pros /
porous business or lucrative professions. !
and this without divorcing them from their /
families; but it should not be so large as
to suggest and support extravaganza in |
style CT living, nor be an equivalent to the |
sudden requirement Of wealth The only |
standard which should govern is nothing
less than the purity and the elevation Of
the service ; and whatever is most likely to
conduce to this end, should be conceded
without reluctance.
My opinions may have been wr0nc--ome
able and spotless men have differed with
me-but nevertheless l have always, a. is
well known. been constrained to oppose any
increase Of the pay Of members and mainly
on two grounds: first, that it was depar-
ton from the simplicity Of the republican
character of our institutions and. second.
that the Office should be SO far esteemed. al
least as to be considered and treated as in it.
self some reward, as title of honor: and.
if some pecuniary sacrifice should be inc
vitality incurred through it, acceptance,
that even then men Of spirit and worth
should still have some ambition for the SER
vice. In other words, that it should not De
merely a commercial transaction. measured
as between the member and his country by
money alone but one leaving some room for
duty and the legitimate honors Of the sta
ton.
With these views hope have been able
to consider the question as one that mainly :
concerned the welfare of our country, and 5
with as little reference to myself as might t
be expected from the average Of mankind.
The naked question of the increase of &.
congressional salaries, is one of expediency a
md sound policy, and however determined. a
an he in no sense a crime. though it nav :,
'e 50 reprehenslble a blunder as to make
t, according to the phrase of Fouche, q
worse than a crime" In this instance
hough it is not my business to defend the A.
ct, 1t is fair to say, that it was claimed by 5,
he advocates Of the measure t. be right on p
ccount Of the high cost Of living at Wash a
ngton, and also on account Of the future r,
urrender ola considerable sum for mile fir
ge, stationery, newspapers and postage Mt
he latter being an incompatible and IN -
nown quantity. Yet it appeared to al
lie wholly wrong in substance. exces- hi
i've in amount, exceedingly inoppor- =
lne, and, though sustained By N
majority of democrats, likely TO be de- W
to the party in power. 1t was 81
lore than the members and the people ex- ~
ected when they were elected. Therefore 81
did what | thought reasonable to defeat pa
he frst amendment, and to defeat the re-
ort OF the committee Of conference. and Il.
nally to defeat the bill upon which the ia
ieasure had been engrafted. 1t is to be re- "a =.
retted that the minority with whom | CO. o Nv
perated had not better success. but the y,
dds were too great. nc
but do not un' 3rstand that | am -
harged with dereliction of duty while the Sc
ieasure was pending. 1t is my awkward III
ianner OF disposing of the back pay
nat Is condemned. BY no greatness or
iult OF mine, the 3" back pay" was law :
ally made my property, thereafter to be
ept or disposed of by me alone. although ho
every step | had voted against it. | ca
eceinted for Il and ,,-o-....l co