Middletown transcript., 1874-01-24

be . more dangerous admission. there
could not be power more fatal in its re-
suits, if it we're Carried out a. partisans
oftentiMes will exert power. You could
destroy the practical representation Of y
State here by refusing to compensate the
men who come here VI her Representatives;
for that would be the necessary result Of
admitting such principle as is containedA
in the proposition Of the Senator from In,
diana.
The perfect equality of tho States a.
States in this body in all respectfully
numbers, in votes, and in all that goes to
sustain them 10 Numbers and votes-is y
fact fixed by the Constitution, which can-
not be destroyed by tho votes of all the
other States if one alone shosh object to
it. No State shall, without its consent.
by any amendment to the Constitution, b.
deprived Of herequal suffrage in the Sen
ate. And when you say that, you say
this also, that when they are here, they
are to come here in MI respects on su'
equality with all the others; and therefore
| insist that by the very federal nature Of
our Government, by the necessary iateAd+
ment Of the language Of the ConstitutioD,'
it would be totally without the power Of
Congress to say that some members Of
the Senate should receive one compensa-
tion and others less sum. trust that
the Senate will und0r NO circumstances
ever permit such an attempt AZ discrinsi-7
nation to receive their assent.
Why, sir, it would be almost endless to
picture the results of such doctrine. A
dominant and fierce majority might declare
that so long as the political sentiment Of II
State was expressed in opposition to their
wishes the pay Of her Senators should b.
lowered to a mere pitsanse; and that when
the State recan.ed her heresics. improved
in virtue, and came to their way Of think
ing, then the pay should be increased to
tho higher level Of those who we're in ac-
cord with the sentiments Of the majority.
Mr.. President, this is ell have to say
about this bill. The subject is not pleas
ant L. has been rendered especially un-
pleasant by the manner. of its introduction
and discussion, in and outside of Congress.
Charges, gross and unhesitating, have
been made against men who simply differ
in opinion on this subject. / believe as
pure men as this body contains, or ever
did contain, considered that it was f,r the
public interest that the pay should be in
creased. and that it shoues be pail rstru-
actively and yet did not agree with
them as to the retroactive feature Had
it been in my power it never would have
become the law. It brought to me per-
sonal gain, and l exercised my personal
discretion and my personal privilege, with4
out regard to any dictation,, to do what I
thought right with the money. My hesi-
fancy in refusing to return that mouay
chiefly arose from the fact that might By
any implication be held to reflect UPON
those of my fellow-Senators who differed
from me. That was my chief objectioM
to it /; but, nevertheless, l followed My
own opinion and my own conscience, ART
did not retain the money. but paid it back
into the Treasury of the United States
DO not believe that if this question:
were understood by the people Of thi.
country there would be much. if any. OBJ
jsction to the equalization Of saiaries, sy
that those of US who live on the AtlantiJ
coast should receive as much as th,,ss
from greater distance. The question -
to what forms q proper compsnsatian is =
very broad enc, aud do not care to pur-
sue it further at the present time.
believe I have said all I wanted so
say on that subject. and l shall simply
repeat that shall vote agains. the amend
nlent Of the Senator from Indiana on the
grounds that have stated-that it II Nm
utterly impracticable amendment, and it i,
fsrbiddea by the spirit if not the letter Of
the Constitution. shall vote for the re-
peal Of the law of the Sd of March. 1878.
SO that the pay of Congress and the emol-
ument of its members shall stand a. they,
had been ascertained before came inta
Congress and at the time Of my entrances
into this body. believe that will be best
reached by simple clause of repeal Of ths
act. shall oppose the reduction Of the
salary Of the Cabinet officers l am called
upon to express my opinion to my con.
stituents whether the sum of $lO,O0U,,
which the law OF present gives to a Cabi-
net officer, is in excoss Of prspriety and
reason or not l answer that it is not. {
know that it is not, as l have been in
Washington long enough to know the n.-
ture of the requirements made officially
and socially upon them and their families.
Another thing, Mr.. President. This
bill also contains clause repeating our
action of last March in regard to the off,
GERS and employees Of either House Of Com
gress. l object to that. lam quite Will
ing to 60 back to what my salary was
when came into the Senate, and l do not
want any other mans diminished because
he had certain mileage privileges which I
had not. If they are diminished it will
be against my vote; but in fixing the pay
Of the officers and employees of each House
Of Congress am not disposed to think
there was any error 10 the action of Con-
gress last year. l hope they will not bs
reduced ] do not think they are exces-
sive. And, thersfsre. before tho vote is
taken finally on this bin. shall muve to
amend it in two particulars. shall
I,rS. - okrsIv tl.k II. IL