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>to of Ceßgrtw saait iner.? ? Do.
h. sacrifice* in regard to domestic h*jpi
he*.r any comparison with thoso of a
vuemher ofiougres* ? Islie *nbject to great
er pecdniiwry sacrifices ? Arc tht duties
r. f his station nUre labo*4tts, or do they
ifquiro greater menial exertions"? tJu*
<i’j ‘Stionabiy not. I spetfc of a Saemoer who
t ossrg.- cupa’ity and disposition suited to
the trust} beeuuxe £ h?we *too taiichionE
t in the intelligence of the people, to
beiievc, they will be represented hy any oth
er. Ido not ignorant, arrogant, ;
polmeal brawlers as trie au hor of thegrond |
jury presenUnent, the object of whose sense-
I ss jargon is prbbftbly a seat in Congress.
Tvj ; as a ctJii *a of Georgia. 2 should think
’ e people had a ®ery hard bargain, to be
iop resen fed by such a tn -.0, for cofsing.
But it is said 44 the n rioa jast emerging
from th'i and an;ora %nd disaster* of b'oorly {
~yr, a gr*at increase of our nitioua* debt
uu*equent thereon ; crtr Balaton* wit’s for
ngnna •■‘specially Exg! .ml, France &
oprin ; the general usp- ct aau disposition
if ke European p >vvers towards es ; the
t te alarming emt*urrasßmi’nt of our tiu
riOad treasury, Aid c-t, in u-opinion, w.s -]
!',nt mi ingrouß? of compensation.” •I.
: houH iui’gine that the members of eon-!
jxrein are at least as Accurate-y idt'ormed on |
t U hose mutters, an the anther of the jpre- j
neritmeat,or time who sighed i^} and yet]
*v*-‘ording tc thfc’.r iafo: untrai upon tho nu •>- ]
je t, our relations with foreigu lifttisus it 1
are pacifi*. The controversy wi;!; j
ftp Jn. about whi it a eorrosooiKUiice took !
pblse during the lasi; winter heweetk t . ;
am! the Secretary of State, wlh i
‘jaro My djusted : but if it is not, wb&t
have v/8 to ttppVi’tend from that power,]
wih h-r meabs of annoyance ? i*ior prov
i# ■§onourfronuer arc. entirely atom inei j
tav ; and &.$ to \ngl.\nd, it is no-t to be pre j
sinmed aftv*- bir xparieo -ft* in the l-de war j
“#i ; h ‘his ecu'!? ?y. she wi’l embark in huo
the-for tbe sake of Spaiu. H w tho fact
yt thoUV ed States flavin - b ea ceqa-ef
in war, and of the Ueos&rj having been bta
fia rasped ■& vavr before. 44 <2d nil warrant
au increase of com pen** ton.'* is ota !y kv
vr-id my cnmor.'hcnsio ‘. -I r.e peopie were
a! : omburreased ; and yet if £ wco to tell a
p’ inter t.H *t “ just et&srging ‘Venn the dap- {
*>>rs rrd disaster *of a ! y war,’* and ibaj
j>ite ! inn-nig ‘irJ**rrasK(neUts ~> of las pri
v* lretsary,” whieh had notnpeiled him J
privations and eV'*V 44 did not-war- |
their r-m iw non’. vh*n his funds are ]
sufr emeuts, and his ;
income unexampled. 1 slruild exyee-* to-paas j
fur an u'e-’’ His reply would be obvious— ]
she war h over und emoartitss* j
ti.entg ,re removed • ~>l have iwcney enough |
to 3.iv aiy debts wich-h are due and. an in-,
came .-nfi ion* to meet, v-n h as fall doe t
ii f>t e • f ie r j w b at therefore has my forn:■ *r I
enharrivssraeDt’’- to do *.urh the present pros- ■
perons giaie of ta} uftairk, ? A reply ot the
a'.tae nature may be m-tdo with respect to]
the i notional treasury.’ Its funds ro ads-.
quateiu amour* lofu.fi! the engagementsot j
tho.n ition, and its Sinar a compotrot to meet j
the demands pgiinst the government as
they btvMUv* p x ble. ‘-'o far fom embar-
Vi i* uo‘ > iV—frern taxing the people co ac
count of the increase of c'iap*‘tsatkio, or to
tlfcfcuv any o‘er expenditure, the state ot
•the * oati. oal vreesury* is to prosperous,
that the same ra-o wh-> are now 8 > much vi
lified, we:a enabled a* the lftst sis son to re
do -e seme of lh“ taxes, end to repeal others.
T*v- direct tax whu-h was perman Pt in iW
liruvisions- is reduced to due h If ito former
ymount* and coot hived for tlm year only.—
The dutv on domestic spirits * repealed.
Vi * r fb.titutiin of an increase on lieecses to
distillers, amounts to !es *hnn one half the
frr-nert x. The duty on retailers is reducerl,
a be duties on manut-stuies.Oß watches,
r->.r. hou.-oho’d fmui.iro, and the additional
<j - o parage, repealed. Boes ll?s look
!,’■ baiT"Ssment in the uational trea
sc; - ■ ; be ■ thir, ,-s are matters of record ;
ii'v- \:> .u >t•* c h fdy war, 1 * <k England,
I-’ n-e “id Sp in,” end 44 ’ate alarming
omb’-rr ssm • its,’ is usost st!le,&i.u most ab*
sud.
O ! e p'iiject of the mode of corn-pen
vj >n. 1 have !Jr -dy atstid (here was, a*
? generally the < as? on mere question of
i aM'y, ad vert it vof opinion in congress
ti j; ■ p:■ letr n fur whom I enleHaio the’
IvvJv.tai,-e*peit, considered the mode </#>- j
i ( t n':b!e : while my own nfiectitn led j
* ; n !o a t-.fier- nt <■ flosinn. \ had seen
'or th ‘fW'l 01 er and over eg in in
the nome \i (<li * me popeis wl.iih
viow ore oms (he • hange) with spending
their tint - in idle debate, ad protruding
t ? , sessions for th 1 degrading purpose m
ro ketir.g Ifco six dollars a d> y. Without
•'. ‘rnitfiog rhe l.’M-s of the allegation, it ap
s)•* ire.! to t:idegrade, while inttriw Log Un
v ■tajuMwtiou. io avoid every thing iik•
trunjda.ion nt that so-t, and remove ever
the ground of i'U“h unworthy imputation*
This is effectually dene by granting an ao
truai sum, which unites interest and duty
*n expediting the public bo#in?M. The in
ndeu;mry cf enn'jjensKtion, a’d length
v s ti, h ‘ssioos requiring’ the continued > h
y n?t* of a nv'snWv t-o long troxh hid domestic
jst.rysertis, were the evilo against which, it
whs important to provide, ’A planter *r
profasticaai mu mty by judioiottri triage*
tueikhi Ihkye |cf a fitfcrfttc,% * fia*r titfe
• but great'-sacrifice, %uile 'h abk nee
months in etub year, would be ruinous to
bis business. W bather or not the change
in the mode of compensat ion will lessen the
duration of tbe sessions, time alone ean de
termine; but.sorb would s> erito be - its ten
dency, and I think it well worthy of experi
ment. SStoold it sti ceed, the advantages
would be IWadold Ist. The greatest ob -
stacle to the continuance in service of such
men as the people it:ty select, would be re
moved ; ttnd-Sd. there would be ft eonsidera
j ble saving vo the nation ia the eentingent ex
peneesof eqr.grass. If by acquiring great
skill., ancThy extraordinary exertions m the
transaction of public bußines 3 that ’oumthl
be done, and pk well dons, in threa or four
iaiutbs, which has occupied
more than five, the laborer is certainly not
the lees entitled to the crenpensatroo on that
a* count. Suppo e a Fanner employs a
number of reapers at sue dollar a day, it be
ing distinctly understood that three acres of
wheat s oe’d be eoheideted & day’s work ;
: ttcd suppose forthsr.t*i£t owing to the skjil
iu reapi g they bail acquired, and un'oifQ
tnou industry, they shouJti perform in one
the work assign’ and tor two 5 would they
not be as inuefc entitled to eamperAatioo for
six scores, Ua others who were v.ccopied ffeio
C-yi in ret-pin.; ffciai qurttuhy ? Tfia reau
■y KQij the Furtn r would both he'd
he t wou)1 save’ one day 5 * board of
she laborer,.and b r a grein would be cer.ar .1
ope day < ttflii-i*. !r {!••* *asc, ,a* in be
rftse f eoßgtrrss, the emplayers-p •*?** h!ie
same means of evisuriog iVithiul werk, end
of punis'.ing deliiiqc< ni, H at they h v* 5 is
whateifer manner the laborers are paid.— j
A ittinstthe measure I perativa BoHeabsi *!i ;, i
tfU objection. Ti charge cf novelty ‘way 1
lif nr ’ >d with equal, force against our &d
----uirable*form of goverctcent; and yet sap- ’
preh'ind no Ameriu'bu patriot is disposed to
f.-jeet it, be,c use it happens to be tint ike Hie j
nthei'governments of the wiirlJ. Aud fee.?
the iiie • th&tj for the purpose of saving the
greatest poitihle portion of the annuel rom
pebsstion, eoogress m y legislate without
and ie deliberatiou—‘tliaiihe affairs of the na
tion- may not he properly considered, or pro
perly ■•ransacled, I am persu/ded, expetj
ente will shew ih fatlaey. Tbe forms of
profeeding will forbid it ; t.hr Iftve of fame,
which is gem rally theVuling passion of men
sleslViogpuhlie favor, and which with otbor
v,orijb> .motives has heretofore* prompted
hem to deliver speeches, at and to display
their taieuts in tin iovestigatimi of lagiala- ’
live questions cannot be extinquisheej by tmy
paltry saving, the preseut comprneaiiun
-ould potimfely afford. ladr.og from thy
aeqiiaiatat!-?e with the'Uiotives of hum o
action,! should think that the tae.-a \m nury
fail to effect what is desir *.?e— 4he’ cuft&ii- ‘
merit of unnecessary debate ; hut’ that it will
never produce less di& ussn a, than is re- ’
q-fiUite iu *he examination of every subject.
But ahibjhl ry opinion i>: thin r-spect be
errooeoris, should the fa 1 s which have been
expressed-, be realized, tbe • orrective will
always t;'e where it ought to be—in the
hands ofthe people, *Aad moreover are
there not, 'at lea& as strong grounds for tbe
suspicion that a eomptasitian by the day
my furnish temptalioii • for the deiay and
p’-otraetiou of the public business'? Ou
eirlmr liant?, as uoftln other proposition* In
general, it is not dii'deult to urge plausible
arguiaeuts or plausible objections 5 hut sore
ly it is uncharitable t.) attribute unworthy
motives to the one opinion, or to the other.
How’ the cfunpensation law is uncongenial
with our Republican institutions,or bow it
i to 44 quickly engender, hutch, ami propa
gate a species of proud, arrogant, and lax
uriaot Ari-toerats : no spurious bri ckl but
(heir own les'itiuiate offspring.*’is probably
beyond tbe discovery of ali except the*k
gadioik individual who is so etrdnently qual
ifu-.cl for an instructor, ‘and to wboin the
:;>>'hlie are so mm h indebted for the very
modest and t:nar.mining gr nd jury instruc
tion. Os this liot‘-h p tch oi’ catiullistic
words thrown tog thcr without sense nr
tneatiing, it may bo truly said—
“ Words are like Laves, and where they
most abound,
a Much fruit of solid senseis seldom found.”
In what respect is a compensation by the
j year more tiooooeeniul witi R, puuluaui.ni
i than by the day ? or why is it more so in
reference to members of congress, than to
judges, hettda of departments, and other
onblie servants in y *neral f It does not
make the ter ire of their appoint merits mare
pL-rmanetit, nor dimit isb their >eapot>sibili
y to the people. You have* precisely the
v.me control over them whether they be
!aid by the dry or by the yesr, nnd imty
onlimie or dismiss them according to your
pleasure. Nor are they entitled to therein
>ej!Sdt ion unless they attend to their duties:
lecause the Act provides, that for absence
here shall be a proportionate reduction,
if therefore a tnemuor does not attend at
dll, ho receives no compensation, and lor the
i;ne only tie dues attend, is he compensa*
ied. Xu this respeet the provisions of the
j Vet are tubular to these of lite former law,
| .mi in do respect, is there a difference iu
{ rinciplo.
j’ Wtr'lfer azt she old cc2.acnco ft*
t ip* ration d# ‘ng il 6 >-rc* tnl tor
‘ton tlw 4 h (fc March’ next, wsa a question
of controversy lcg ; siatre, and exei
ted Ointh distusston RiKuiig the ptople
The constiiulicu pm>Td ft * Chet, i4 tbe sena
tors nd reprtseniatiVee shall receive ct ciim
pensetion for therf efyieis, to FMi&cei taint
ed by law, and.paid out of tfce treasury of
the United States ” Tbe authority aril
the duty cf determining from time to time
what i (i a compensation for their services”
are * clear !y del eg;* toil to fcongre*?. It wets
obvious to the Wise framers of the constitu
tion, that whatfulc be n compensation at
one time, would not be a etnpnp;#Bß4ian un
der ditftreai snf. therefore
the whole- subject was conimiUed to the
discretion of the legislature. T apprehend.
it will be admitted by every cnndid man,
that since'the multiplication ofbatks and
the largo iasues of btnk paper, & greater
sum It s beer,me necessary to defray ‘fee <*s
pensts of & resident In,our cities, than'fr r
rrejly. Supposing six doHars a day were
a proper ecrnpensa.'i'‘n when the p*i e of
‘boarding w 8 from 6 to S dollars a ‘v.eek,. 1t
irresistaHy follows, th&t it careot b’* a p?*hi
per cr mpepaatioD now, When bontdiug ha--
, men r ced to from twelve to sixteen d>l*
|?,r* cl week, with an increase of other ex-
Ts IhenlhttiiitreHSe of coaiperrta*
If.iarrbe j'iSt, % e, nßbt^'conceive upon wHt j
| fltntde pri;;eip?c, f wrnid
jbe fflortl ent-itl-.-d to it iban’T-hc’ preset. It
I is not u'nmtua! tor the a,l a legfcla
i tur io rnioft their twn xv-gts. $ tieheve the
’ feg’sh.itttra ot'this Tltate lud ao some years- ;
and 1 imagine tb*r afa none new]
who th r.k th y were rrised lt> high, ij
jm aware that’ iu legmdat’rig no ‘Beh a;
j .’estioß, a Isglc! ‘tor is tic hie in a’ peculiar j
* decree to’ tbe ijnputation of iuicrestcd mc
i’fives. I cm apprized ‘of tbe ohjcet.on, thalj
1 if the legislature is■ permitted to ‘increase
its vru compenßaiteti qnre, they may Onallv j
]tr k'e ixfi the people’s money. 5 but E wouiu ;
enqi'ur , f.ir vV.t purpose was the qnxti-]
tu*‘i’ph'AS.p':b > ;Bioiiic red, if if is never to;
be rvxer . isi df? Os every power granted to
congress, that of regulating the p4y of the
members, appears to me the If st di.-por
ous, the least liable 10 abuse; la the exer
cise of* no other power, will the people *fo
naturally fimrime i e tbe motives of their
public gervaals, however good those motive*
ttiuy be, and however well tl * posed the pen- *
pie theiitselvea c , and therefore, in *c other
case, is the same caution in legialatiag, like
ly to be observed. 1 think this opinion is *
sftpctioniwl Ay post experience, 1 The love
’off line, of poimJarity, inay a temp
tation to absf .iu fnam the use of the pow
er ‘Wen when the welfare of the country
Would be promoted ty its exer'ise, but it’
i* very improbable that a'majority of asiy
congress will ever exercise it improperly.—
Mor i* the plea admissible, tint a power
should not be used, because it may be abused.
Such a do'trine would Viithhold the dele
gation and the use of any &ud every pbwer,
.because any and every power may be abused.
It would be subversive of principle of
government, beeapse the delegation and ex
ercise of powers are inseperahle from the
existence of government. The truth is,
that if tine trust reposed iu congress of fix
ing their own coalpetisation, lias not been
abused ; (as I humbly concave it has not)
there is no ground for complaint 5 and if it
ever should be abused, the remedy, as for
the alms'* ofothei powers, is with the peo
ple. In the discussion* which were bd
upon the subject, it appeared that some
gentlemen felt a delicacy in voting for the
bill unless the rommen’ emeht of itn opera
tion should be jiostpbucd Until after anoth
er ele tiun, while others relying upon the
fact, that tho ? mount of pay kc.d ceased to
he “ a cdiTipeo*.tion for their services,’’
deemed it as mtofh their fend duty, to
provide for the pr sent, as for the tuiure.
S he !&t\er preva h and, and the Aet was sent
ia its present shape, to (he Senate. So far
a a qutHtion of delicacy was involved, it
could not be applicable to that brumk of
the legislature. The Senators are elected
for six years and therefore, if the measure
had not taken effect until the 4th of March
next, still there would have been the sxtne
ground for scruples of delicacy } because
io either case they most have voted their
own compensatiou. 1 pe<tk of the Senate
as a body, and as such they never can vote,
upon the pay of congress without voting it
to themselves; unless indeed the Act should ,
commence six years afterwards, or it should
provide that each member shall continue to
receive the former compensation until after
he is re-elected. To pass a law ou such a
subject, to begin sis years thereafter, or to
make the compensation of a senator IVom
one Stale more cr less than that of ft Sen
ator from unofher S*ate, {depending on (he
period of his election) would be against the
spirit of the constitution, and an act of ab
surdity probably without a parallel in (be
history of legislative proceedings. Had
the bill come to tie Senate with a provi
| sion postponing its operation until after an
other election for members of the other house
I should us readily and more willingly
have oted for it in that form ; because of
the acaidental circumstance .hat my term
of service is about to expire. But believing
the compensation jast taattnunt, I perceived
no adequate motive for eaterfa?; into aetjp*
V'Hh lae otiterkraceli fsf
ilature, either n thajt point, bron tbe q.:-
| flan whether the increase >f psv feLou.d tv
by tho and vyorin the nrcaent mode.
! Such, fellow eitizens/are the views whieli
] havs directed my judgment 00 the ptt
chajrtgjng (hs compensation of the member?
■'.f tfongres*. It remains that I shodM ex
pose the misrepresentations on otKeij itfb-f
jeets which have been artfuJiv circula(;l
for the purpose of rinpairing your eoikff
denco in those men who have served yot<
faithful ty— that I should present the fact*
and eireutnetanccs in their true aspect—
The wages <f (fee soldier, who hasfonght
the Inttlbs . f his country, are said to bere
duff’d by vnrg*e*s> while they raised their,
own, ami w hi! <■, owing to their negleet, tho
brave defenders of the nation’s rights are
still uqjybid, lam not surprized that suck
should awr -en in every
triot boSoui the sfrbngfeet feeling of relent
ni *Rt. 8u; h feelings, imder uca eiriiaru
staiice*, are HoncHble to human
But arc the cltegaticn* twe ? and if they *
be net true, I. leave yon to determine what
be your feelings towards the eutbora
c< u ‘hunfounded usse ti.ms. tVith them
1 sht 12 have nothing to do ; but I wifi
prove *t> y,-ir satisfaction thot their eh/vrres
are f ils'*. -0a ike 12 hST r?eceihber,
in act Was passed rr'iskig the. pay of- tho
1 soldier ia the rcgt.laf a 1 my from five t’bl-
IShts to eight dejia/s ajK'oiflhj “ daring tl;&
of’ the. war.” On tbe 21 of
Fcbrnaiy, ABI3, j?n iv:t was also passed,
|?ifoVidiirig thar. *‘tieriug tbe ccctmuanee of
t tile prettekt war,” the same increase of
j wage* sl.obW be allowed to. the fniJiiir ~■*,
I The ast*', therefore, expired ijliy their ows*
IlixitatioD et.the coaciuslop of peace; but
!a Jifejral egQstruet&n pf cHeir intent qndl
| meuninf awarded tbe in'ereasc of eotnyieii**
sat ion (o iiii tidier, no: to *he end of iho
! war only, but ;•<?! he was discharged IVoi©
; the service cttiu€ “for the waf.*
j And yet it was never &?ked why v?ere*lhfo
; wages of scldiers raised, ’Without at fhfe
same lime raising the eompeneation cf iha
•jqenjijfeVs of cong'-efs,. ‘and of the ether pub*
li-ffß?Honares:? Congress legislated o&
the subject at the time, as wise m n will al
va;sdo, aeebrding to the particulu? cir*
■ tK ustixiki t* tbe ease.
80 far, tU<Pj bow reducing the eaHiers 9
• pay,Wek<S raised it; and, upoii the es
pirfliion of the acts of 1812 Bhd FBl3, it eorr*
tinurd prerisi ]jr as if vva* before they were
pi€ ,'d. Arsd should the situation of oar
country again csll for active military ser
vices, it will then he tithe enhgh ta in
quire into the adequacy of the soldiers’ com
petis'afjoo. As fctpesi* the regular traops 9
it cauoot be to recapitulate t2u>
various mndifications of their emoluments, s
which wt*rc suecessixely made during too
war; nor ia it (o be presumed that any
roan of ordinary uoderstund og will ima
glue tli.U uoagress ought to have continued
in time pf peace the uoprseedsnlcd pecu
niary inducemetif* for entisnueiKS in thw
army, which tie iiumioeot dangers of thft
eouuiry, during the continuance of hrsHij**
ties, rendered wise end politic. When,
therefore, the treaty of peace waa
a iaw was pasaed reducing the army <0 &
pea e establishment of ten tfcoasv.nd m?n 9
and leaving the eompeos-vtiop as it had beeta
previou ly fixed for ofd.n&ry times. The*
act which had raised the eompoosetinn*
having expressly de* laredihat it would eS
pir with the war, and (he soldier having
enlisted tinder that provision, there is, oa
hr a part, no just ground of eomplaifit 3 nor
considering the nature of the service at pre
sent, or in aby other view off the subject
with which 1 am acquainted, has any stiff*
ficient reason been dociosod for iucxtastng
it under existing eirc utnelancea.
As respects the militia, no acta were pass
ed during the last session, except for th&
purpose of granting them additional bene*
fils. They have been published; and ia
no respect are they more distinguished tbait
for the liberality of their provisions toward#
the aiiiil’ft They provide that (he family
of every offi er end eoWiDf who, during
tbe iate war, shall have lost hi* life in ib&
service of Lis country, shall be allowed on©
half the monthly pay to which the
woo and have been entitled, lor nod discing,’
the term of five years, and such officers auo
seldiers as were disabled by wounds or oth
erwise in ti e discharge ox their duty, two
placed on the list of pensioners iu the sums
manner us !h officers upd soldiers of tho
I regular army. At the ime time <he rnto
of pension was increased from five lo tight
dollars jitr month. b ull compensation tor
horses lost iu (he,service, an increase of
pay, a pension, and th.?,t raised treat iive
to eight dollars 8. mouth, and provision fiit
the fatuities of tho deeeaa and, 1 suboih to
your determination, wbiilisr these he any
foundation fur a charge of illiberally **
• As the Grand Jury have recommended
circumspection iu voting for cacditialea to
the state Legislature, it army uot be amis*
for the people,to enquire, wtieiher any who
.tre soliciting their uteg, have given enj*
reucy to the falsehood, that the profit
congress ht;d diminished the soliiiers pay
from b to 5 dollars u mouth, and then taaeu
idvantnge of it to purcasse the claims es
he mUiiu, so lw-s Jia* iW*’ r— s vtd**