which the law had intended should be paid by the per centage on imported articles and the fees of office, and to distribute those fees and this per centage among their retainers and dependants. [H. OF R. And that my colleague ought to have known that the constitution prohibited any such clause; but, if it had not, I would myself have had no disposition to reduce their present compensation. Sir, with my consent, the salary of old Sir, (said Mr. V.,) I know we are gravely told that, Chief Justice Marshall, and his associates, should never unless this section be agreed to, you will leave the col- go below your Secretaries; but, under our present syslectors, surveyors, naval officers, weighers, gaugers, tem, I regret to say, that they are made secondary in markers, and appraisers in debt. How is this result point of compensation, not only to our Secretaries, but to brought about? Why, by these officers keeping in their our weighers, gaugers, and markers of the customs. employ a host of inspectors, clerks, night watch, &c., not these are the gentlemen that my colleague fears to touch, necessary to the public service. For, under your present lest an aristocracy should be brought into existence, and regulations, a collector, with the consent of the Secretary that all the offices of the country should be thrown into of the Treasury, can appoint subordinates without limit. the hands of the rich. How long since my colleague beBy the amendment I have just read for the information came a convert to this doctrine? Did he preach it in of the House, you release the collectors from all necessity 1827, during the canvass that brought him and his party of observing economy in the administration of their de- into power? If he did, all I can say is, his coadjutors in partments. You throw the door of the Treasury open to my part of the State sang to a very different gamut. I them and their principal officers; and you, in effect, say to do not know what was then the opinion of my colleague, them, Distribute your millions accruing from the per but I should much question whether he then held the centage and fees allowed by law (and which was intend-same opinions now expressed. If there is great danger ed to cover the whole expenses of collection) amongst in this thing of raising up an aristocracy by paying low your subordinates and dependants. salaries, my colleague and myself are in imminent danger Sir, (said Mr. V.,) I have no disposition to do injustice of being overwhelmed by it, and we should be up and to any of our public officers; but, from the consideration doing to avert the calamity; for, as I have before stated, I have bestowed on the subject, I am constrained to say, one of these weighers and markers receives more money that great injustice will be done to the tax-paying people for his annual compensation than is paid to the four of this country, by keeping this army of officers any judges of our Supreme Court. Sir, this may all be right, longer in the employ of the Government. Then why but I have great doubts whether the substantial yeomannot at once dismiss them, and permit the regular fees of ry of Ohio can be made to swallow this doctrine, aloffice, and the per centage on imported articles to go, though it may come under the high sanction of Jackwhere it ought to go, to the payment of the regular and sonism. necessary officers, without permitting them to come into! My colleague complains at the attempt to create a bethe Treasury, without restraint, and under an unlimited lief in the country of hard times; a depreciation in the appropriation? price of our products; and distress in the money market. My colleague [Mr. LEAVITT] complains that this He acknowledges that wheat has declined a little, but amendment is too important in its character to go into an says that other articles are selling higher than at former appropriation bill; but, before he concludes, he is dis-periods. posed to censure me because it was not extended still further, and made still more important. He asks why I have not brought the army and navy into this general reduction? Why, sir, the answer is at hand: there is now a bill on your orders to regulate the pay in both these branches of the public service. But why, says my colleague, is not the Judiciary included? This is still a more extraordinary interrogatory; but I should have supposed The naval officer and surveyor of Philadelphia claim extra compensation for 1833; but the amount due them cannot be ascertained from the returns they have made to the Treasury. The naval officer received in 1833, Surveyor, The collector and naval officer of Baltimore claim pensation for 1833; but the amount due them cannot be ed from the returns they have made to the Treasury. The collector received in 1833, Naval officer, The surveyor of Baltimore received extra in 1833, The weigher of Baltimore received extra in 1833, A Will my colleague specify what those other articles are?-is it pork, beef, tobacco, or whiskey? These, if I mistake not, are all staples of the district of my colleague, and, if I am not misinformed, have all fallen in price. gentleman, who belongs to the same party with my colleague, from Ohio, now in this city, told me yesterday that such was the fact. And, in addition to this evidence of the decline in the prices of our staple productions in Ohio, I have the testimony of some fourteen or fifteen hundred petitions now on your table, going to sustain every thing that I have said on this subject. My colleague says that I have been here many years $2,450 85 as a member, and alleges that, during that time, the great 1,295 96 staples of Ohio had sold at as low prices as at present, extra com- and asks why nothing had been done heretofore to reduce ascertain-salaries, and benefit the agricultural interests. It is true, as my colleague alleges, that, since my ser$2,968 16 vice bere, prices for the staples of Ohio were equally as 1,842 18 low as at the present time; but that depression was not the result of presidential experiment, but resulted from $257 69 very different causes, most of which have been removed 1,489 14 by the enterprise of our State, in the construction of her canals, and the opening to her citizens new channels of $1,746 83 communication, and different markets in which to vend their productions. But my colleague is much mistaken, if he supposes I was inattentive to the interests of Ohio at the time to which he refers. Sir, the representation of Ohio, at that day, presented on this floor an undivided front in favor of creating a home market for her productions, in which she was successful beyond her most sanguine expectations. $2,206 14 $5,682 27 None of the officers attached to the ports of Charleston and New Orleans have as yet made any claim for extra compensation for 1833. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Sir, I am aware it will be a digression from the subject under consideration, to go into this matter of a home market, but, with the indulgence of the House, I will touch upon it very briefly. To those who have witnessed the early struggles and H. OF R.] The General Appropriation Bill. [MAY 8, 1834. progressive strides of the youthful and vigorous people these articles for your army and navy confined to the (in part represented by my colleague and myself) in Boston brand. No, sir; the ware-houses and wharves of forcing the proceeds of their industry into a market of New England are crowded with these articles of the Cintheir own creation, this recital will not be received with cinnati and Ohio brands, a great portion of which is conindifference and neglect. sumed by her manufacturing population. After these reIt was early seen by the intelligent men of the West, sults, and in the face of these facts, (said Mr. V.,) will that our fine soil and climate would be of little value, un-my colleague say that the delegation of Ohio have been less some permanent market could be obtained for its backward in building up and sustaining the interest and productions. The foreign one, which had given vent to prosperity of their State? our surplus, was fluctuating and insecure, and, at the time of which I now speak, had been entirely cut off by a general peace throughout the civilized world. Sir, (said Mr. V.,) I have no hesitation in saying that Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, have as direct an interest in sustaining the manufacturing labor of New In this situation we were left with our bread-stuffs to England, as if they had a right of property in one-half perish on our hands. What was to be done? was the of her spindles and looms. And, whilst I would never question of all reflecting men. The answer was, Divide consent knowingly to do injustice to any portion of the your labor, throw a portion of it into manufacturing; American people, to add prosperity to another, yet I supply yourselves with mechanics and artisans sufficient never will consent to see this great interest prostrated unto minister to your wants; regulate your own resources der any abstruse and impracticable theories on political and labor in such a way as to give to the great agricultu- economy. ral interests of the country the privilege of feeding the Whilst I am upon this subject (said Mr. V.)I will say man that makes his shoes or weaves his coat. Sir, (said a word or two to the members from Indiana, Illinois, and Mr. V.,) this was the response of the intelligent yeoman- Missouri. One great branch of our business in Ohio is to ry of Ohio; and I need not say to my colleague that, in purchase the stock of the people of these States, and no portion of our State was there a greater unanimity of graze and feed them for the Eastern markets. The Mad sentiment and feeling on this subject, than there was in river and Scioto valleys alone send thousands of dollars his own immediate neighborhood. into those States annually for the purchase of their stock. Sir, (said Mr. V.,) Ohio never supported the tariff of The Bank of the United States has, heretofore, enabled 1824, because she was ready to establish manufactories us to obtain funds that were uniform and secure through-within her limits. No such thing. She gave her sup-out every portion of their territory; but, if that institution port to that interest from a different motive; for it was be put down, what can be done? I say to those members, then as well understood where the manufactories were to Look to it; that's all. be located as it is at this moment. Union. My colleague speaks of a reduction in the expenditures. Ohio wanted a market for her agricultural productions, of some of the departments. I would be glad if he and the only means by which she could obtain that ob- would specify in what particular branch of the service. ject was by diverting a portion of the labor of her sister these reductions are to be found. I have given to him States from agricultural pursuits, and transferring it to day and date, time and place. Here, sir, is the official the manufacturing arts. By this means she would obtain record; point out the error, if any exists, and it shall be the double object of getting rid of rivals, and obtaining corrected. Do not deal in generals, but give us particu customers. This was the object she had in view, and it lars. My colleague names the navy as a branch in which has done more to build up her prosperity than every there had been a reduction under the present administraother act of legislation since she became a member of the tion; but appears to me that this will not better bis case: for the curtailment in building up this arm of our Sir, (said Mr. V.,) permit me to give you a few prac- national defence has only left a large sum to be thrown tical illustrations on this subject. Some twenty years into the hands of the administration, to be lavished upon ago, Ohio first turned her attention to the feeding of cat- favorites and partisans, instead of being employed, as tle. At that time she had to compete with prejudices heretofore, in the laudable object of increasing our navy. that were almost insuperable. The distance from the But my colleague says, there has been so much money market, even of Baltimore, was thought to be so great expended in making treaties with, and removing the Inas to render the beef of her cattle unfit to use after so dians; and, to aid in filling up, my colleague has brought long a drive. At that time, (said Mr. V.,) we had but a in the pension act. It is true that, in the Indian departsmall portion of the Baltimore market, and that against ment, there has necessarily been some million and a half the cattle from the South Branch of the Potomac--the of money expended more than there was under the forcharacter and quality of which kept ours at very reduced mer administration, but this is not six millions, nor eight prices. But our march was onward, and the perse- millions, which is the difference between the four years verance of our feeders has at length enabled us to com- of the last, and the four first years of the present adminispete with the cattle from any portion of the United States, tration. And now permit me to inform my colleague, and in any market south of Boston. that the late pens on act will not bring him out, as the From Baltimore we passed on to Philadelphia, where comparative statement that I have made does not include we had to compete with the feeders from Pennsylvania, appropriations of money under that act, but is only New York, and New England. There we had to encounter the same prejudices, and surmount the same difficulties as before. But they all have been surmounted; and, so far from our cattle being confined to the markets just mentioned, we have now the control of these markets from May to August. We have a heavy interest in the New York market; and some two or three years ago, we pushed some hundreds of our cattle into Boston, the great emporium of New England itself. But this matter does not end here; for we have made the New England States, by building up her manufactories, and giving a different direction to her industry, our best market for our pork and flour. We no longer see your advertisements, by authority, for proposals to furnish brought up to 1832. Sir, it would be better for gentlemen to come out boldly, and acknowledge that they have expended the money to reward partisans. Who that will look into this matter but what can see where the money has gone? Why, every body must know that when you increase offices by hundreds, that you must have money by millions to pay them with. Sir, said Mr. V., my colleague speaks of ephemeral popularity--my standing with my party--that I am spoken of to fill the gubernatorial chair of Ohio, &c. But no insinuations on the part of my colleague: oh! no, nothing of that sort. He only gives historical facts, and leaves our common constituents to make their own inferences. Very well; this, I suppose, is all fair on the part of my MAY 8, 1834.] The General Appropriation Bill. [H. OF R. colleague; and of course I will not complain. But, after their families in this city? So far as his (Mr. W.'s) exall, I should really question the propriety or good taste perience went, these articles, so far from being cheaper of bringing our State politics into a discussion upon this than they were six months ago, many of them were floor upon the reduction of the salary of custom-house twenty-five per cent. dearer; and this, he believed, would and other officers; but as it has been done by my col-be found to be a general complaint throughout this city, league, so it must be. whatever the case might be elsewhere. He repeated, As to my popularity, it is not for me to speak. All that he was convinced that the necessaries of life were will admit that I have had some share of the confidence dearer than they had been; and he called on gentlemen of the people of our State, or I would not be here; and to specify what article of food, of clothing, or any thing I am free to admit that it has been at least equal to my requisite for family consumption, could be procured in merits; but I assure my colleague that I did not think of the city of Washington cheaper at this time, if so cheap, advancing it when I submitted the proposition now under as it could have been formerly. He utterly denied that consideration. It was the least of my thoughts in submit- they could specify a single article; and, therefore, could ting these amendments, whether the act was to raise or not receive the assumption of such a reduction in prices lower me in the confidence and affections of the good as any reason to make this indiscriminate reduction of people of our State; and if it will relieve my colleague in thirty-three and a third per cent. in the salaries. Unthe slightest particular in any of his misgivings relative to doubtedly he did believe that there were some officers, the effect that these amendments may hereafter have that he could name in this city, who received more compenupon my political standing in Ohio, I will inform him that sation than ought to be given them. But he could not beit is long since well known in my district that I am not a lieve that the Secretaries of the several departments, alcandidate for re-election; neither am I a candidate for though exercising the most rigid economy, considering the gubernatorial chair. It is true that my name has their style of living, &c. here, could or did lay up any been mentioned in connexion with others, as a candidate money out of their salaries. interest of the State. for that office, but it has been without any solicitation But he ventured to say that if ever these salaries were on my part. Twenty-three years of political life ought to altered at all, a diminution need not be expected; but satisfy the ambition of any man, much less one so humble that, if any thing, they would be increased, and that the as myself. My wish, said Mr. V., is to retire to my farm, very persons who now propose the reduction would be and to spend the remainder of my life in pursuits much the very first to increase them. The simple question bebetter fitted to my early habits and present feelings than fore the House was, whether they would agree to this again to enter into the field of political controversy. amendment. In support of it, the honorable member But whilst this is my wish, it is due in candor to say to from Ohio had gone into a comparative statement of the my colleague, that in my opinion a change in the reign- expenditures of the present and the preceding adminising political dynasty in Ohio is essential to her future trations. So far as this paragraph was concerned, he prosperity and character, and that it will afford me great could not see how this availed, for the compensation paid pleasure to aid in effecting that change in any way that to the officers named in it was the same that was paid by will best meet the wishes of my friends, and subserve the the preceding administration; and yet, because the expenditures of the Government, as the gentleman asserts, Mr. WARDWELL said that, being unwilling to take had increased in other departments under this administraup the time of the House, he had been hitherto a listener tion, a proposition was made to reduce these, which were to the debate. There were, however, so many assertions the same under a former administration. He could not made which, although doubtless believed to be correct understand by what kind of logic the honorable member by honorable members who made them, but which, could reconcile this. He would, however, say that if the nevertheless, were so contrary to truth and to the fact, honorable member would examine into all the offices unthat he was induced to present his views on this amend- der the Government, and if it should be found that there ment. He had no hesitation in saying that, believing were any paid more compensation than they ought to remany of these salaries were too large, whilst others were ceive, then he would be willing to go with him for all too small, if a bill should be brought in making a proper such reductions as should be found necessary or expediscrimination between those offices which were rated too dient. A committee had already been appointed by this high and those which were too moderately compensated, House, of which the honorable gentleman was a member, he would vote for it. But, whilst he acknowledged that to examine into the subject of salaries generally; and he many of these offices could be pointed out as being rated trusted that such would be the investigation of the comwith too high salaries, he considered it a most consum-mittee, as that their report would be approved of not mate piece of folly to vote for the reduction, on that enly by this House, but by the nation. account, of all those which were enumerated in this Mr. LEAVITT said he would offer no apology for obclause. What was the reason given for the proposition truding himself upon the attention of the House, while to reduce all these salaries indiscriminately? The honor- he briefly stated some of the reasons which would govern able member who proposed it acknowledged that, six him in recording his vote against the proposition under months past, he would not have considered them too consideration, and noticed some of the remarks which had large, but that, inasmuch as the Government had, by its fallen from his colleague [Mr. VANCE] in its support. The measures in relation to the Bank of the United States, amendment before the House, said Mr. L., has for its obraised the value of money, and caused a relative reduc-ject an indiscriminate reduction of the compensation now tion in the prices of all the articles of subsistence, the allowed by law to the officers connected with several of compensation which he now proposed to give the several the most important departments of the Government. In officers named in this amendment would be equal to that the first place, I hold the proposition to be highly objecwhich they have heretofore received, and of which this tionable, as being offered to the House in the form of an amendment would deprive them. Was this, however, the amendment to the general appropriation bill. The legitfact? Do gentlemen really believe that the situation of imate province of such a bill is to make provision by law things which they have ascribed as a consequence of the for the application of the public treasure to objects which measures of the Government is as they have stated? He have previously received the requisite legal sanction, and asked this seriously, because, if they said so, he would be any departure from this principle involves a violation of bound to believe them. He asked if there was any re- the soundest rules of legislation. Whatever, therefore, duction in the prices of boarding, or in those articles may be the abstract merits of the pending amendment, which were necessary for the subsistence of clerks and it is clear that this is not its appropriate place. It is not VOL. X.--250 3987 H. OF R.] GALES & SEATON'S REGISTER The General Appropriation Bill. [MAY 8, 1834. supposable that a proposition of such magnitude and in-into and report all the facts necessary to enable this terest can receive the consideration which its importance House to act understandingly and efficiently in relation to demands while it is before the House as an appendage the subject now under consideration, and all others of a to an appropriation bill. The bill to which this amend- kindred character. If the report of the committee shall ment is offered is the one which, of all others, is the satisfy me that any of the officers of Government are in most essential to sustain and keep up the functions of the the receipt of extravagant salaries or compensation, or Government. Its passage has already been delayed to an that any acts of profligacy or corruption have been sancunusually late period of the session; and, when every tioned by the administration, in any department of the consideration connected with the public interests de- Government, I pledge myself to co-operate heartily with manded the prompt action of the House upon it, it was my colleague in the correction of the evils. obstructed in its passage by the introduction of the measure now under consideration. To tolerate such a course of legislation, to permit your appropriation bills to be encumbered and embarrassed by the introduction of original and debatable propositions not connected with, or coming within the province and design of such bills, is to run the hazard, not only of giving an inconsiderate sanction to objectionable principles, but to jeopard the fate of indispensable appropriations. The considerations to which I have thus briefly adverted are amply sufficient, in my view, to justify a negIt assumes as its ative vote on the amendment of my colleague. But there are other grounds of objection to it. basis, that the compensation and salaries of all the officers of Government should be reduced; and yet it stops short of this object. For instance, while it proposes to take from postmasters twenty-five per cent. of the scanty pittance which the larger number of them now receive, it But the inappropriateness of the pending proposition, leaves untouched the liberal salaries and einoluments of considered in the light of an amendment to the general the Judiciary department of the Government, and the appropriation bill, does not constitute the only ground of officers of the army and navy. I apprehend that no satmy opposition. It is objectionable for other reasons. isfactory reason for this exemption can be given. My We are asked to sanction a most material reduction in colleague has said that he does not desire to reduce the the compensation of our public servants, without refer- salaries of the federal judges, and that we are inhibited I am perfectly ence to any fixed principles; without any previous inquiry by the constitution from interfering with their compensainto the facts and considerations pertinent to the subject; tion so as to affect those now in office. and without that light and information essential to the in- aware of the constitutional provision on this subject, but Let it be conceded that take leave to inform the gentleman that it is clearly within telligent action of the House. there are officers whose compensation is too high; yet, our competency to provide for the reduction of the salain order to know who they are, and what the proper re- ries of those hereafter to be appointed. I have noticed duction should be, you must necessarily go into an inquiry this objection to the proposition under consideration, To enable us judiciously to grad- merely to show that it does not carry out the principle on I would not be understood as affirmas to matters of fact. uate the scale of compensation, it is important to know which it is based. the precise duties required of the officer; the degree of ing the expediency of a reduction in the compensation of talent requisite to the faithful and efficient discharge of those officers who are thus exempted from the proposed those duties; the responsibilities which his official station process of retrenchment. Having thus stated some of the objections to the penddevolves upon him; and the expenses to which he neces sarily is subjected. These are matters requiring delib-ing proposition which have occurred to my mind, I cannot erate consideration and investigation, without which no forbear to notice the reasons and motives which my colgentleman, whatever may be his intellectual power and league has informed the House have induced him to offer it for our consideration. He has told us that he felt himendowments, is prepared to act. Sir, I rejoice that the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. self imperiously called upon to make this effort to reduce CLAYTON,] under a conviction, no doubt, of the inappro- the expenditures of the Government, on account of the He says that the value of priateness and impossibility of considering and deciding pervading distress and pecuniary pressure which he althe proposition now pending, in the manner proposed, leges to exist in the country. has submitted a resolution, which has received an almost real estate and the products of the country have been unanimous vote, for the organization of a select commit- greatly depreciated, and especially that wheat, one of the tee to inquire what retrenchments in the expenses of staple productions of Ohio, has fallen to a very low price Government can be safely and judiciously made. This, in the part of the State which he represents, and that he sir, in my view, is the only proper and practicable mode anticipates a still further reduction in the value of that This state of things the gentleman is pleased to of attaining the object which my colleague professes to article. have in view. It is only through the medium of such a attribute to the action of the administration in relation to committee, that a proper basis for the action of this the Bank of the United States; and he thinks there is a House, in relation to the subject under consideration, can peculiar propriety in punishing those who have had an be furnished. I repeat, that I am gratified that this meas-agency in bringing these evils upon the country, by de ure has been adopted. I profess to be sincerely the ad- priving them of a portion of the emoluments of office vocate of all just and proper reforms in the administration now allowed them. It is not my purpose to make up an issue with the gen. of the Government, and all judicious retrenchments in its expenditures; and I hope the committee, in due time, tleman as to the statement he has made in relation to the will afford me an opportunity of testing, by my vote, the situation of the country. Taking the prices of Western And here I produce for the last two or three years as a standard, sincerity of the declarations I have made. Without pretending to take the occasion to congratulate my colleague [Mr. there has been some depression in the value of some artiVANCE] that he has been honored with a place on that cles within the last six months. committee. Henceforth, I trust, the gentleman will have know what may be the state of the markets in the section no reason to allege that the fullest and most ample oppor- of the State from which my colleague comes, I am happy tunity has not been afforded him, and those with whom he is to say that, from the best information I can obtain, with politically associated, to ferret out and drag to light the the exception of the article of wheat, there has been, as imputed profligacy and extravagance of the present ad- yet, in the eastern part of Ohio, no material reduction in ministration. I have no reason to doubt that my colleague the prices of produce. How long this comparatively fa will discharge the important duties which devolve upon vorable state of things is to exist there, is not for me to I freely adinit, however, that the country labors him, as a member of the committee, with promptitude predict. and fidelity. I hope the committee will rigidly inquire under a more than ordinary pressure and pecuniary em. MAY 8, 1834.] The General Appropriation Bill. [II. of R. barrassment. Although it may correspond with the views which found us loaded with an appalling national debt. and purposes of my colleague to charge this state of things Subsequent to that period, we had a succession of years upon the course of the administration in relation to the of depression and gloom, during which the country sufbank, yet I think it has a different origin. In my view it fered under great and serious embarrassment. But duis clearly attributable to another cause. It is no part of ring our whole history, from the meeting of the first my purpose to enter upon the discussion of a subject Congress, under the present constitution, to the present which has already occupied the greater portion of the pres-time, I have not been informed that a proposition was ent session of Congress; but I cannot omit the present ever made to reduce the salary of the President of the opportunity to say that the pressure and embarrassment United States. It seems to have occurred to none of the under which the country has labored for some months many distinguished statesmen who have participated in the past, is justly chargeable upon the action and joint exer- councils of the country, that such a measure was called for tions of certain leading politicians, and of the Bank of by the public interests; nor was any evidence afforded that the United States. Two objects were to be obtained by the compensation affixed to the presidential office was too the parties of this league. The administration was to be high. On the contrary, we have seen at least two of the put down, that another might be raised up on its ruins, eminent patriots and statesmen who have occupied that and the Bank of the United States desired a perpetuation station retiring from it in a state of absolute poverty. of its existence. To create a panic in the community, to The conclusion to which I arrive from these reflections destroy public confidence, to shake the credit of local is, that if, in the dark period of '89, and through all the banks, and to charge these results upon the administra-intervening space to the present time, the salary of the tion, were the readiest means of rendering it odious to President of the United States, then fixed by law, has the people, and inducing them to ask for a recharter of not been deemed too high, it is neither just nor expedient the bank. Sir, in this brief suggestion you have the true now to reduce it. There may explanation of the difficulties under which the country It would, Mr. Speaker, be an unpardonable consumption has labored, and from which it has not yet wholly recov- of the time of the House to enter into a detailed notice ered. And, if I mistake not the signs of the times," of the various reductions of compensation contemplated the period is not far distant when this view will be taken by the amendment before us. If I was desirous of doing by far the greater portion of this community, and the so, I am not in possession of such facts as would enable responsibility of having produced the fearful public evils me to speak profitably upon these matters. which the country has endured will be charged upon its be officers embraced in the amendment whose compensa true authors. But I pass from this subject to inquire of tion ought to be reduced. And at the proper time, and my colleague if he is sincere in taking the position, that when the proper information shall be presented, the genthere is any thing in the present state of the country tleman, my colleague, will find me going with him, in the which of itself demands at our hands a reduction in the work of retrenchment, to the fullest extent that justice salaries and emoluments of our public officers. If, from and expediency shall require. I must be permitted here any cause, there is a present depression in the value of to say, however, that, as it regards the compensation of property and produce, and a scarcity of money, are we our public functionaries, extremes ought most studiously to be called on, from that consideration alone, to change to be avoided. It is clearly unbecoming the republican our system of compensating the officers of Government? simplicity of our Government, and inconsistent with the It is known to all that the value of our products is subject purity and preservation of our institutions, that any public to perpetual changes and fluctuations; and, upon the theory of my colleague, the compensation of our public servants is to be raised and depressed to correspond with these changes. Such a course would present a singular anomaly in the legislation of any country. servant should receive such an amount of pecuniary emolument as would enable him to indulge in habits of extravagance, or minister to a despicable spirit of cupidity. On the other hand, we should avoid, with equal scrupulosity, fixing the rate of compensation to those connectI propose further to test the principle upon which ed with the Government so low as that the poor would alone the proposition of my colleague rests for its sup- not aspire to, and could not afford to accept of, public port, by presenting to the notice of the House some facts stations. The tendency of such a policy is strongly and and considerations connected with the compensation of rankly aristocratic, as it would inevitably throw all the the President of the United States. It is proposed to posts of honor under the Government into the hands of reduce the salary of this officer from $25,000 to $15,000 the wealthy, to the exclusion of those of humbler fortunes per annum, after the expiration of the present presiden- and more limited means. Sir, I have the satisfaction to tial term; and this, too, upon the hypothesis that our believe that this is a principle well understood and propcountry is in a most depressed and calamitous condition! erly appreciated by the American people, and that it is not Let us see what have been the views entertained by our those who clamor most boisterously for low salaries who predecessors on this subject. I find, by a reference to will receive the largest allowance of popular favor, or be our statute-books, that the salary of the President of the esteemed the sincerest friends of republican principles. United States was fixed at $25,000 per annum, by an act But there is another topic, which has been prominentof Congress passed in September, 1789. Our country ly presented by my colleague, in the remarks which he had then but just emerged from that arduous and glorious submitted upon the introduction of his proposition for restruggle which resulted in the achievement of our inde- trenchment. He made it the occasion of a violent and pendence. We came out of that war with a currency unmeasured denunciation of the present administration essentially vicious and deranged, our commerce nearly for its profligacy and extravagance. He has told us that, annihilated, and our manufacturing and agricultural inter- coming into power with the most flattering promises of ests in a state of great depression. Our national re-introducing economy and reform, it has far outstripped sources were exhausted, and the country was laboring the preceding administration in the amount of its expenunder the weight of an immense public debt. It was inditures. This grave and serious allegation requires a such a state of things, and under such circumstances, passing notice. And here, sir, allow me to say, that if I that the patriots and sages of the Congress of '89 estab-believed the charge of a wasteful or corrupt expenditure lished the salary of the Chief Magistrate of the nation at of the public treasure was justly imputable to the Execu$25,000 per annum. Since that period, we have had tive department of the Government, I would not hesitate many mutations-many ebbs and flows in the current of to reprobate and denounce it. But, after an attentive our national prosperity. In our progress onward, we examination of this subject, I am satisfied the charge is have passed through a second war, the termination of not sustainable. |