Year: 1859

DreW County, March, 1859.

 SIR-The newspaper published at Mon tioello, in this county, having interposed a defence of the action of the members of the legislature in voting themselves pay for services not performed, 1t may be well to say that so far as the writer knows the sen timents of the people of Drew county. they condemn such action Nor does he think that the argument of the Sage of Monti- cello will stand the test. Without design ing or, Tn any manner, intending to be drawn ln any controversy upon the subject he takes the liberty of submitting some few homeiy illustrations In the first place that logic is bad, which, when carried out results in absuriities. It is often the case that by ratiocination we prove, CT think we have proved statement monstrous in itself Schoolboys have syllogisms of this kind one of which will serve as an illustra- tion:

 There are but two sides to the river,

 The other side is side.

 Therefore, this side Is the other side.

 True, this depends upon a play upon the word " other," but if the argument of the friends of the per diem pay is examined, it will be found to be a play upon the words " recess" and adjournment" Now, it is very possible to sit down and prove by a chain of reasoning that the General As sembly was ill session during the recess but all this logic is thrown away when we remember the fact that it was not. l am perfectly willing to listen to the ingenious argument that man was in Little Rock at time when l saw him in Monticello, but l cannot believe 1t. He may prove 1t but still 1t will not be so. And when you go before the people and attempt to show that man was at the capital at the iden- tical moment he was at home some hundred miles distant, they may listen, but cannot be convinced.

 Nor will the construction put upon the recess, being but continuation of the term, and therefore entitling members to pay, be received. Every day experience is against it. Our sheriff is paid for each days attendance upon court. Very often the probate court adjoums over or takes a recess for week; so do other courts. Yet, what sheriff would be bold enough to charge the court for attendance upon it, when 1t was during the recess? 50 of schools. They are often suspended, and recesses taken, but parents would not submit to be charged for the time school was not kept. Legally thing may be right and equitably it may be wrong. This is often the case. He who does a wrong thing because he can do 1t within the pale of the law, is as guilty as he who violates the law The questions the people will ask are not whether 1t was legal or doubtfully so, but whether it was morally right In other words, was it honest?" This action of the legislature has precedent. Once in the early settlement of Yankee land, the people wished to dispos- sess the Indians of some territory without giving a quid pro quo. Thereupon the council met and passed the following reso- lutions:

 . Resolued, That the earth and the fitness thereof belongs to the saints.

 Resolved, That the lands adjoining the settlements are part of the heritage of the saints.

 ResoEoed, That we are the saints.

 So our legislature in different words, said:

 Resolced, That each member is entitled to four dollars day, while the legislature was in session.

 Resoioed, That we were sitting as mem ber8 of the legislature when we Were at home

 Resolged, That we draw the money.

 Yours, TUTOR.