American advocate. (Louisville, Ga.) 1816-????, August 08, 1816, Image 2

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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**