Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-12

was not a demagogue. There were two kinds
Of demagognes. the sham and genuine. The
genuine demagogue was man who led the
sham demagogue pandered TO the errors and
prejudices OF the people. He was very glad
10 say that the Increase salary-biH was a
measure for which neither political party was
responsible. His opinion, was that the Demo-
cfats, in proportion Of their votes in congress,
were quite rs responsible as the Republicans.
The nTst great thing 70 be learned In this lie,
as taught in the schools Of ancient Greece.
was to discriminate between that which the
multitude thought was right and that which
was right in itself. He claimed that when
congress passed the retroactive law Of last
session it had a constitutional right to do 50.
He was not saying whether II was expedieni
or not, but no blush should rest on the cheek
Of any man, whether he voted for IL or not.
He should have felt that he was AS Justly en-
titled to il as he was to receive dollar a day.
IL was constitutional law, constitutionally
passed, and those who were entitled to pay un-
der it, were as much entitled 30 the whole OF II
as they were to any part received under it. II
any thought it was too much and returned IL,
he (Stephensl would not cast a slur upon him
tor doing so. He was not going to place a
value on his own services as representative; ;
but II he were to state what he thought the
services of representative ought TO be worth,
ii would go far above the figure Of any law
that ever has been passed. He had given 1t as
his opinion, in the last speech he had made in
the mouse, fourteen years ago, that II the sal
aries of congressman were ten thousand dol
lars, senators fifteen thousand, chief justice Of
the supreme court uILE thousand, associate
judges twenty five Thousand and Of President
one hundred thousand dollars, It would be
better for the country at large. He held the
some opinion Still. He certainly should not
vote for the bill reported by the committee.
but he believed that the most unwise action
of last congress was the abolition of the
frankiDg privilege.
were some things he said in his speech, just
delivered, so radically unlike the views en-
tertained by the American people that they
Nasn1
to public positions being held out as prizes
for eInoluInents attached to them. All that
distinguished gentleman had said in regard
to the distinction between the genuine dema-
gogue and the sham -demagogue would be
cordially concurred in by all who heard
him. Public opinion, in some of its
forms, might sometimes, be wrong; but
after all, there was place where
public opinion finally adjusted itself, and
finally gave stamp to what mankind would
usually call right. II this were a world where
the highest power was best paid the gentle.
mans arguments would have been right, bul
exactly the reverse of that rule was true. Re
turning to the practical question before the
house he said that when public opinion held
that the pay which congress had voted to
itself was too high it would be indelicate In
congress TO resist that public opinion. None
views. and yet he was willing TO vote
for several of them il they came
first in order. 1t seemed to him that
the aggregate amount of payments on allow.
anees, including mileage allowed by the old
law, ought to be preserved, only that mileage
ought TO be equalized, and distributed among
all the members. He believed that if there
was fair equalization OF the total payments
under the old law, il would satisfy all the
reasonable demands Of public opinion, and
no unreasonable one ought 70 be satisfied.
Mr.. Randall argued at length az to adequate
and equalization of pay. He was in favor Oi
the repeal of mileage and the substitution oi
actual expenses.
Mr.. Potter hoped the law would be
repealed; that the franking privilege and
mileage would be restored, and that any in
crease beyond five hundred dollars should be
confined to 9 future congress.
Mr.. kasson advocated the substitute re-
ported by the minority of the committee, and
argued that the majority bill would strengthen
that element of personal government which
has grown up 10 a dangerous degree. He
criticised the recommendation of the Presi-
dent in regard 70 erecting mansions in Wash
ington for public officials, and in regard tC
giving the President the right to veto por
ton OF a bill. He wanted no principle to be
established by the action of the house which
would surrender still further legislative
dignity and legislative authority.
Mr.. Dunnell argued that there was but one
way for congress to eXtricate itself from tht
difficulty into which it had got, and that wa.
by reducing all salaries that had been in
/ creased at thelaSt session. The Odense com
mitted in the passage of the law could not b'
50 well atoned for as by a simple, uncondi
tiOnal, unqualified repeal Of the law. He ar
gued that the repeal should be retroactive
He should vote Tor the bill reported by tht
minority of the committee, rather than tina
of the majority.
Mr.. Crossland argued against the repeal o
the salary law. He said he had voted agains
that law, but he had taken back pay under il
He could not return that back pay If b.
would, and he would not if he could. Laugh
teri He satirized Mr.. Cox under his new ap
pellation of the "Dew-Drop," and ridiculet
Mr.. Lawrence for having his picture stamped
on some public documents.
Mr.. Lawrence said that there cOnld not b.
found half a dozen such works. They wert
originally bound up, not for public use, bu
for another purpose. The engraving cost thi
government nothing; 1t was not done at pub
lie expense. Whatever might be said, he be
lIeved that no honest man had questioned nj
integrity, and his constituents would nevel
ask to put in any book a portrait of any on
who had been unfaithfui 10 the government
during the rebellion. The latter remark wa
aimed at his colleague Mr.. LamlSon.l
The discussion was now pretty well ex
hausted, and il being past the usual hour o
| adjournment, Mr. Hale Mel moved this
previous question. On its third reading, IN
| friends of the minority bill, and all who wer
| in favor of a more sweeping measure thai
/ that proposed by the majority bill, in conf junc
/ ton with those who desired to offer an.
| amendments in regard TO the restoration o
/ the franktng privileges, etc, rallied to vot
/ down the previous question. The vote wa
taken by letters, and resulted as follows
| Ayes, 100, hayes, l45; 50 the house refused 4
| second the previous question.
! Mr.. kaSSon who had reported the minOr1t
bill, obtained control OF the subject. ID
yielded to Mr.. Orth, who moved to recommi
! the bill to the select committee. with instruC
| tians TO report bill repeating the whole sal
| airy act of the last congress, so far as the sam
! could be done under the constitution, and {
| ascertain the average amount OF salary, mile
/ age and all other allowances, exclusiv
OF any estimates for the franklin
1 privilege thai were paid TO senator
! representatives and delegates in the the forty
first congress, and to report the bill tC
morrow, liking the compensation at tn
! amount thus aScertained, as nearly as pract
/ cable with tho necessary trQNelInu pXnpnSe
and restoring all other expenses as they weI
before the passing of the act.
The speaker, in answer TO number OF II
quries all over the house, explsine
the parliamentary status of the bill, anC
| without coming to a vote on the proposition
the house adjourned.