The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-25
viii History Repeat ItseIf?-A Foliti.
- cal "Reminiscences.

The Sew York Post recalls from the
records of Niles's Register the iact,, tnat
Congress in 1915 passed what was called O
/" compensation bill;' changing the pay OF
members from SO per day while IN service
to 81 500 per annum, and increasing tne pay
Of Sneaker and Vice President at the same
time, It passed at q very decided vote. but
was so diStas.efll to the country as to defeat
every man who voted for 1t and compel the
next Congress to defeat It, although II made
the new act take effect upon the following
CONGRESS-. Pay was again fixed at 80 much
per day during the session, but the amount
was raised to g.. The Increase voted then
amounted to $500, 900.
Henry Clay was among those who had to
run the gauntlet Of popular disfayor because
he voted for it. Hence this old incident:
During the canvass Mr.. Clay met an old
hunter who bad previously been his devoted
friend, but was now opposed TO him On the
ground Of the compensation bill. :. Have
YOU good rife, my friend2" asked Mr..
Clay. Yes" '.Docs it ever fash 2 !" "Onoe
only" "What did you do with it-throoW
it away?" "No, picked the flint, tried IL
again, and brought down the game" Have
ever flashed but on the compensation Dill Z.
"No.n "Will you throw me away" "No
mol" quickly responded the hunter, nearly
overwhelmed by his enthusiastic feelings. :"
will pick the flint and try you again?"
John Pope, well known in the politics OF
Kentucky, offered himself as candidate
against Mr.. Clay. He was onearined man,
which gives point to the following bit OF
Irish wit: .s. --. .rE. ;,
An Irish barber residing at Lexington had
always niyer Mr.. Clay his vote, and on all
occasions when he was candidate for office
electioneered warmly for him. His ardent
Temperament and unrestrained passions fire.
~ouently involved him IN scrapes and diff
cuIti.S. out Of which Mr.. Clay had generally
succeeded in extricating him. While the
canvass was going on, after the compensation
bill, the barber did not epince his usual zeal
and animation; on the contrary, seemed to
be Indifferent as to the result of the election.
70 ali inquiries for whom he designed to
vote he answered cyasiveIy. He was &C
costed a few days previous to the election by
gentleman for whom he entertained the
most profound regard with the question.
/" For whom, Jerry. do you mean to vote"
Regarding his interrogator with an earnest,
shrewd look, he replied, " FaiX an shure,
docthur, name 10 vote for the man who
can't put more nor one baud into the threa-
sury."
The Irshman's logic was as good as his
wit. ...... ......,..
But the results of the proceeding are most
fully described in the following extinct from
letter of Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gala
tin. dated June 16. 1917. He says:
According to the opinion hazarded to
you little before your departure, We have
had almost m entire change in the body oil
Congress. The unpopularity of the CON-
pensation law was completed by the manner
Of repeating it. rs t. all the world except
themselves. In some States, it is said, every
member is changed; III ali. many. What op-
position there was TO the original law was
Chiefly from southern members. Yet many
of those have been left out because they re-
ceiycd the advance wages. | have never
known so unanimous sentiment of dlSap-
probation, and what is remarkable is that II
was spontaneous. The newspapers were
almost entirely silent, and the people not
only unruicd by their leaders. but in opposl-
ton to them. I confess was highly pleased
with this proof OF the innate good sense ana
vigilance and the determination OF the peo-
pie to act for tiem:elyes.