The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-08-01

aud do not now or hereafter intend
70 do, not even TO secure the priyi-
leges Of making 0 race for q seat iu
the 43d Congress. am not iti-
sensible 70 the good opinion Of the
people Of the State Of Oregon, and
especially Of my fellow Democrats.
on tile contrary, have at all times
sought ~ merit It; bat ii the aspi-
ratfons / have had 10 merit and re-
ceiv0 snch good opinion, have ever
sought 70 avoid acting the hypo-
crites and will not now act the
deBagoeue. / challenge tbs most
rigoronS scrutiny into my public acts
and votes. The record is made up;
] am satisfied with IL, and afn viii
ing 70 stand or fall by it. I have
every confidence that 10 every point
il will be most fully vindicated By the
people Of Oregon.
It may be- aniss here to refer TO
tbs action Of Congress in past years
in regard 70 the compensation of ita
members. There has been frequent
Legislation upon this subject aud in
every instance the change has been
made 20 apply to the Congress passing
IL. ! believe there Is not q single
exception 70 this rule. The ray of
members has been several times In
creased and once decreased. By the
act Of August 10th. 1856, the con-
pensation Of Congressmen was raised
from % per day TO $1,000 per year
and was applied 10 that Congress.
dating back to March 4th, 1865, al
most eighteen mouths, and the back
pay was received by every member.
On the 28th, Of Julr, 1866, u . salary
was again raised froln SO 100 % So
600 aud applied 70 taat Congress
dating back 10 March 4tb, 1865. but
the act also provided that ''iIotbing
herein contained shall effect the iniIe-
age account already occurred under
existing laws" The Law also proyi.l.
ed that thereafter mileage should be
20 cents q mile going u aud return.
ing from, the seat OF government.
The mileage accounts which were 30
carefully exempt from the operation
OF this bill, was computed under the
act Of January AL, 1878. and is a.
follows: Eight dollars for every
twenty miles Of estimated divtance
BY the most usual road from his place
Of residence, 10 the seat of Congress.
at the commencement and end oi
every session and meeiing." just
double present mileage. Every SEN
ator and member Of Congress NO far
as know received tteir back pas
and among them Was Hon. George
II. Williams aud J. W. Nesmith oi
Oregon. The mileage OF the entire
Pacific delegation vas then. and uu-
I'll the first session Of the Forty-frsl
Congress. computed by way Of the
iEthmus, making about 5000 OF
over, mileage for each session ol
Congress saying nothing Of construct.
i've mileage then allowed and accept
ed.
In conclusion let me say that ]
owe yon an apology for the apparent
tone Of this letter. It might lie sup.
posed that I considered your letter oI
an uufriendIy character. such j,
not the case. I know that your let
ter was prompted By the most friend.
~ feeling and ! sincerely thank you
for the good will you have manifest
ed toward me in this matter aud alst
for the opportunity Of making tbs
statement herein contained. / was
already advised that this matter was
being indnKtriously worked up by
several parties to my detriment.-
Hoping hat these statements / have
made win furnish all the data my
friaDds may need to counteract aud
defeat the machinatiou of those who
are untriendIy, am very truly yours,
Jas Il. SLATER.