Year: 1859

Tho Letter of the Senator from Benton

 and Madison.

 Upon first reading the communication of Mir. Douglas, on the subject of pay during the recess, to be found in another part of this paper, we were of the opinion that he intended it as defense of those members who drew their per diem for the time be- tween the first part and the adjourned part of the session. Upon re-reading it, we are in doubt as to whether 1t is or not satire-if the writer does not, good humor- edly, show the inconsistency Of the advo- cates of per diem pay, by setting up sar- castle line of defense Certain portions Of the article as well as the grave character of the writer would seem to be at variance with this idea, but then there are para graphs that were manifestly written in iocular spirit, and perhaps, the whole arti- cle was meant as pleasant satire.

 To the question put to us at the outset, we have to say that we have never affirm ed the contrary, but that some members drew mileage twice and afterwards drew daily pay. Of course, they refunded the amount received for mileage the second time. Their applying for and receiving their mileage the second time is evidence 4hot tba., thnrc.bt ricrbt on1 tba,r refunding it and drawing larger sum, shows that thev-changed their minds

 MT. Douglas hits those members who have published their defense or made speeches and especially raps those who got up the " sedition resolutions and made big speeches thereon, by commenting their " dignifed silence" The stroke though oblique is severe and deserved.

 He then handles the immaterial question of the same session or new session, and seems to take it for granted that per diem or mileage depended upon one or the other. Why not call the reassembling what it really was, an adjourned session or part of a session?

 In a succeeding paragraph the vein of irony becomes so apparent that it almost forces upon us the conclusion that Mr. Doug las intended to be sarcastic. For instance, he asks:

 eff we were not in the service of the State, whose service were we in? Some of us know, very well at whose expense we were at, and that we were doing nothing for ourselves"

 If this refers only to those members who, like Mr. Douglas, were compelled to remain at the capital, or detained here by sickness it is worthy of consideration; but, if he asks the question with reference to all it is a whitening piece of sarcasm when we take into connection the fact, that some went to Tennessee, some to N O., and others to courts, where they were interested as counsel or clients. The phrase that they were doing nothing for themselves is rather severe If the State had to pay four dol lars a day to those persons who do nothing for themselves, she would have long list of pensioners.

 In the same vein, he says that the legis- lature was charged with having " commit ted a great error in deciding this question for themselves" and asks "who else would decide it?" He ntmates that the supreme court would not, and then adds:

 "Then the decision of the question by the legislature was a dernier resort and de- termined upon er necessitate rel

 The humor here is partly concealed un- der the use of foreign and dead lan guage. The decision of the question for themselves was a last resort, because they could get no one else to decide it for them, And what is worse, he says it grew out of the necessity of things. Were the mem bers all fiat broke" and bound to have the money?

 Again, he gives sly hit at those who lay so much stress on the adoption by the Senate, of the report of the committee, by referring to the Senate amendment to the resolution of the House to take a recess.- It will be remembered, that the Senate amended the resolution by providing that no pay should be taken for the days during the proposed recess. This was the first expression of the whole Senate and their refusal to draw the per diem pay was in keeping with it. To have passed such an amendment and then to have taken the mo- ney would not have been Beautifully con sstent''

 Whether intended as satire or not coming from one whose prohity and pa triotism are unquestioned and undoubted the communication deserves and no doubt will receive from all respectful consider aton We have a score of communica- tons on this subject, some of them too so- we're for publication. Let us hear both Si'ltS anu lOJ tOIttull uiltll we dic III DOS- session of all the facts Before publishing list of the amounts drawn by each mem- Der for per diem and mileage, we have been requested publish the vote on the Vaughan resolutions, to show who opposed it. There are a great many facts connected with the matter that should be known at the same time in order that the people may know who really are to blame. There is time enough yet and when all the facts are pre- sented, it will be seen that all this great wrong proceeded from few who wanted to make decisive movement against the Governor.

 In the sweeping condemnation by the people all may be blamed alike when, in truth, some were very little, if any to blame. The people are too much disposed to look upon that as crime which, in some of them, was simply an error. Let us do justice and with all the facts before us, de- eide fairly. As soon as the journals are copied, we shall give the vote and the list n bova rofarrod 4o