The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-22
evening State gaasrmal,
SATURDAY EvEN'G. MARCH %, 1873
A Political "Reminiscences.

The New York Post recalls from the re-
cords of Niles Register the fact that Con-
gress, in 1916, passed what was called a
Compensation BILL" changing the pay of
members from Sc per day while in service,
to 81, 800 per annum, and increasing the
pay of speaker and vice-pres,dent at the
same time. 1t passed b. very decided
vote, but was so distasteful to the country
as to defeat every man who voted for it and
compel the next Congress to defeat it, al
though it made the new act take effect upon
the following Congress. Pay was again
fixed at SO much per day during the ses-
sion, but the amount was raised to IS.
RTE increase voted then amounted to $780,
600.
Henry Clay was among those who had
to run the gauntlet of popular disfavor be-
cause he voted for it. Hence this old Incl
dent:
During the canvass Mr.. Clay met an old
hunter who had previously been his devoted
friend, but was now opposed to him on
the ground of the compensation bill.
slave you good rifle, my friend, )" asked
Mr.. Clay. Eyes" "Does it ever flash ?'
"Once only" "What did you do with it
throw it away ?" mo; picked the flint,
tried it again, and brought down the
game" ''Have ever flashed but by the
compensation bill ?" "No." "Will YOU
throw me away?" "No! NoW quickly
responded the hunter, nearly overwhelmed
by his enthusiastic feelings; II 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 one-armed
man, which gives point to the following bit
of Irish wit:
An Irish barber residing at Lexington
had always gwen Mr.. Clay his vote, and
on all occasions when he was candidate
for office electioneered warmly for him.
His ardent temperament and unrestrained
passionate passions frequently involved
him in scrapes and difficulties, out of which
Mr.. Clay hadgenerally succeeded in extri-
eating him. While the canvass was going
on, after the compensation bill, the barber
did not evince his usual zeal and animation;
on the contrary seemed to be indifferent as
TO the result Of the election. To all inaui-
ries for whom he designed TO vote he an
swered evasively. He was accosted few
days previous to the election by gentle
man for whom he entertained the most
profound regard with the question, " For
whom, Jerry, do you mean to vote ?" Re-
garding his interrogation with an earnest,
shrewd look, he replied, "FaIx an shure,
docthur, name to vote for the man who
can't put more nor one hand 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 ex-
tract from a letter of Thomas Jefferson to
Albert Gallatin, dated June Is, 1917.
He says:
According to the opinion hazarded to
you little before your departure, we have
had almost an entire change in the body of
Congress. The unpopuarity Of the COM
pensation law was completed by the
manner of repeating it, as to all the world
except themselves. In some states, it is
said, every member is changed in all,
many. What opposition there was to the
original law was chiefly from the southern
members. Yet many of those have been
left out because they received the advance
wages. have never known so unani-
nous sentiment o. disapprobation, and
what is remarkable is, that it was sponta-
neous. The newspapers were almost en-
tirely silent, and the people not only UNI
ruled by their leaders but in opposition to
them. confess was highly pleased with
this proof of the innate good sense, the
vigilance, and the determination of the peo-
81 49, 1911 e..