Middletown transcript., 1874-01-24

What is Il Q consequence of all this un-
American. worldly-wise advice to the
youth of our country. too often followed
by them? They have sought to make
the name of politician discreditable. They
have sought to make attention to public
duties suspicious. And what has been
the result, Senators? Has it not been
lower tone Of public service? Has it not
been degraded tono of public service Z? /
say that to certain degree it has; for l
believe if there should be an increase in
honorable competition between men of in
tellect and character for public position. it
would tend largely to the elevation Of the
tone Of our service and to tho benefit of
the whole country. This Government is
not nm automatic machine. 1t is not to
run itself. 1t calls for the efforts con-
stantly, and oftentimes the self sacrificing
efforts Of the ableat and the purest and
the bravest to guide it on in the right d.
rection, and keep it in the paths of homer
and safety.
Now. Senators. if a large ply would of
itself secure really tho best men, if it would
really fill Congress with statesmen worthy
would be SO bene6cent to the whole peo-
pie? The bsneit to the people of even
one pure. minded. clear headed, patriotic
man in the Congress of the United States,
ia either House, is no, to be weighed in
money; and scarce any sum in reason but
would wisely be paid if that alone would
secure it.. do not say that it would l
do not believe that by money alone such
things are to be accomplished. The thing
is for us to consider upon question so
broad as this. what is the just medium
that will tend to secure the presence here
Of proper men capable Of rendering valua-
BILE service to the country. A proper, re-
spectacle maintenance ought to be secured;
no more. Tho representatives should not
be harassed and embarrassed by constant
pecuniary needs. A man is not to come
here to save or make money by his Office
and position; such man is unfit for the
place, and falls far below proper COM
prehension of its duties and responsibility.
How can you fix any sum which shall
be in every case just to the different mem.
bers of body so large and varied as this
or the other House of Congress-so much
depends upon the character of mans
culture, his tastes and education, as well
as the scale of expenditure to which he
has been accustomed, so much depends
upon the expense which the presence of
his family. large or small, throws upon
him? There are single men iu both
Houses of Congress, men of small fa,ni-
lies, men of large families The natural
expenditures of these are so totally variant
in degree that it is impossible to fix q sum
that shall not be too small in one case and
perhaps too large in another. You are
not to discriminate between members as to
their pay, which must be equal; each
must have the same., An attempt at dis
elimination would not only be odious. in
quisitorial, silly. but. worse than all, it
would be in violation of the spirit and
meaning of the constitutional compact uu-
der which we 6nd ourselves in this Cham
Der as the representatives, each Of sovc-
reign States. ssa..
It is impossible. therefore, to state q
sum which shall in one case be entirely
adequate and reasonable. and yet when
applied to second case may not be found
totally different. Perhaps AZ matter of
comparison it would not be improper for
me to say that. being unwilling when |
came to the Senate Of the United States to
separate myself from my family, brought
them to Washington, and that here live
much as live in my home in Delaware !;
perhaps more sxpensively. but certainly
less comfortably; and yet the pay that
would be ample for single man has been
insufficient for my necessary expenses,
surrounded as am with the responsible
ties of the educntion and maintenance of q
large growing family. Therefore I say.
and without complaint, that the pay that
might be ample for my neighbor would be
insufficient for me !; SO that much more OF
my private money has been paid to sup
port me in this city than | ever have taken
from the Treasury of the United States.
l refer to this fact with hesitation and
only as a matter Of illustration. 1t is al
ways optional for me, if cannot in justice
to myself remain here living on such a
scale as consider right and proper, to
resign my place and 60 home. This is a
privilege always open to mo. 1t is one
that may take advantage of when see
6t, and until do SO make no complaint
whatever that my compensation has not
been larger than it has been. All that l
would ask is that it be equal to that oi
those around me. al l.8nst fais
But. Mr.. President, have not propos.
ed to fix sum. found one ascerta,ned
by law when came here. / knew what
it was before came. never personally
desired and never should have moved to
increase it. shall not move to decrease
it, and l shall not permit, if my vote can
prevent it. the salary and emoluments Of
any other Senator to be decreased from
what they were when ho and l entered
the public service. If there be an advan.
tage from mileage, which does not inure
to my personal benefit, propose that the
recipients shall still retain it, HAi"
! But, sir. the country is poor; the coun.
try is in great pccuniary distress it has
LIZ lo. IL. q.