It is with Reluctance that I rise to express a Disapprobation of any one Article of the Plan for which we are so much obliged to the honourable Gentleman who laid it before us. From its first Reading I have borne a good Will to it, and in general wish’d it Success. In this Particular of Salaries to the Executive Branch, I happen to differ; and as my Opinion may appear new and chimerical, it is only from a Persuasion that it is right, and from a Sense of Duty that I hazard it. The Committee will judge [of] [my] Reasons when they have heard them, and their Judgment may possibly change mine. I think I see Inconveniencies in the Appointment of Salaries, I see none in refusing them, but on the contrary great Advantages.

Sir, There are two Passions which have a powerful Influence in the Affairs of Men. These are Ambition and Avarice; the Love of Power, and the Love of Money. Separately each of these has great Force in prompting Men to Action; but when united in View of the same Object, they have in many Minds the most violent Effect. Place before the Eyes of such Men a [Post] of Honor that shall at the same time be a Place of Profit, and they will move Heaven and Earth to obtain it. The vast Number of such Places, it is that renders the British Government so tempestuous. The Struggles for them are the true Source of all those Factions which are perpetually dividing the Nation, distracting its Councils, hurrying it sometimes into fruitless, and mischievous Wars, and often compelling a Submission to dishonorable Terms of Peace.

And of what kind are the Men that will strive for this profitable Pre-eminence, thro’ all the Bustle of Cabal, the Heat of Contention, the infinite mutual Abuse of Parties, tearing to Pieces the best of Characters? It will not be the wise and moderate, the Lovers of Peace and good Order, the men fittest for the Trust. It will be the Bold and the Violent, the Men of strong Passions and [in]defatigable Activity in their selfish Pursuits. These will thrust themselves to your Government and be your Rulers. And these too will be mistaken in the expected Happiness of their Situation: For their vanquished Competitors of the same Spirit and from the same Motives will perpetually be endeavoring to distress their Administration, thwart their Measures, and render them odious to the People.

Besides these Evils, Sir, tho’ we may set out in the Beginning with moderate Salaries, we shall find that such will not be of long Continuance. Reasons will never be wanting for propos’d Augmentations. And there will always be a Party for giving more to the Rulers, that the Rulers may be able in Return to give more to them. Hence as all History informs us, there has been in every State and Kingdom a constant kind of Warfare between the Governing and the Governed: the one striving to obtain more for its Support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasion’d great Convulsions, actual civil Wars, ending either in dethroning of the Princes or enslaving of the People. Generally indeed the Ruling Power carries its Point, and we see the Revenues of Princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but always in want of more. The more the People are discontented with the Oppression of Taxes; the greater Need the Prince has of Money to distribute among his Partisans and pay the Troops that are to suppress all Resistance, and enable him to plunder at Pleasure. There is scarce a King in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the Example of Pharoah, get first all the Peoples Money, then all their Lands, and then make them and their Children Servants forever. It will be said, that we don’t propose to establish Kings. I know it. But there is a natural Inclination in Mankind to Kingly Government. It sometimes relieves them from Aristocratic Domination. They had rather have one Tyrant than 500. It gives more of the Appearance of Equality among Citizens; and that they like. I am apprehensive, therefore, perhaps too apprehensive, that the Government of these States, may in future times, end in a Monarchy. But this Catastrophe I think may be long delay’d, if in our propos’d System we do not sow the Seeds of Contention, Faction and Tumult by making our Posts of Honor Places of Profit. If we do, I fear that tho’ we employ at first a Number and not a single Person, the Number will in time be set aside, it will only nourish the Foetus of a King, (as the honourable Gentleman from Virginia very aptly express’d it) and a King will the sooner be set over us.

It may be imagined by some that this is an Utopian Idea, and that we can never find Men to serve us in the Executive Department, without paying them well for their Services. I conceive this to be a Mistake. Some existing Facts present themselves to me, which incline me to a contrary Opinion. The High Sheriff of a County in England is an honorable Office, but it is not a profitable one. It is rather expensive, and therefore not sought for. But yet it is executed, and well executed, and usually by some of the principal Gentlemen of the County. In France, the Office of Counsellor or Member of the judiciary Parliaments, is more honourable. It is therefore purchas’d at a high Price: There are indeed Fees on the Law Proceedings, which are divided among them, but these Fees do not amount to more than three per Cent on the Sum paid for the Plan. Therefore as legal Interest is there at five per Cent they in fact pay two per Cent for being allow’d to do the Judiciary Business of the Nation, which is at the same time entirely exempt from the Burthen of Paying them any Salaries for their Services. I do not however mean to recommend this as an eligible Mode for our judiciary Department. I only bring the Instance to shew that the Pleasure of doing Good and Serving their Country, and the Respect such Conduct entitles them to, are sufficient Motives with some Minds to give up a great Portion of their Time to the Public, without the mean Inducement of pecuniary Satisfaction.

Another Instance is that of a respectable Society, who have made the Experiment, and practis’d it with Success now more than a hundred Years. I mean the Quakers. It is an establish’d Rule with them that they are not to go to Law, but in their Controversies they must apply to their Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly Meetings. Committees of these sit with Patience to hear the Parties, and spend much Time in composing their Differences. In doing this, they are supported by a Sense of Duty; and the Respect paid to Usefulness. It is honorable to be so employ’d, but it was never made profitable by Salaries, Fees, or Perquisites. And indeed in all Cases of public Service, the less the Profit the greater the Honor.

To bring the Matter nearer home, have we not seen the greatest and most important of our Offices, that of General of our Armies, executed for Eight Years together, without the smallest Salary, by a Patriot whom I will not now offend by any other Praise; and this thro’ Fatigues and Distresses in common with the other brave Men his Military Friends and Companions, and the constant Anxieties peculiar to his Station? and shall we doubt finding three or four Men in all the United States, with public Spirit enough to bear Sitting in peaceful Council, for perhaps an equal Term, merely to preside over our civil Concerns, and see that our Laws are duly executed. Sir, I have a better Opinion of our Country. I think we shall never be without a sufficient Number of wise and good Men to undertake and execute well and faithfully the Office in question.

Sir, The Saving of the Salaries, that may at first be propos’d, is not an Object with me. The subsequent Mischief of proposing them are what I apprehend. And therefore it is that I move the Amendment. If it is not seconded or accepted, I must be contented with the Satisfaction of having deliver’d my Opinion frankly, and done my Duty.