Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Mr. Clay's and Johnson's constituents
admit the principle to be just, "that it is
human to err, and divine to forgive." It
must be remembered that colonel Johnson
and Mr. Clay took a very active part in the
Compensation bill. The people of Ken-
tucky consider a political error a venial sin.
when committed by Clay or Johnson: per-
haps Pope would not have experienced the
same lenity. What does Patrick Henry say
on this subject?---One objection to the con-
stitution is, "that the pay of the members
was, by the constitution, to be fixed by
themselves, without limitation or restraint.
They may, therefore, indulge themselves in
the fullest extent; they will make their
compensation as high as they please. I
suppose, if they be good men, their own
delicacy will lead them to be satisfied
with moderate salaries. But there is no se-
curity for this, should they be otherwise in-
clined." Has not the Compensation law
verified this prediction of this great man,
who knew human nature to be so weak and
frail, that honor would never resist self-in-
terest—when they come in collision honor
would be compelled to submit at discretion.
In the name of reason and common sense,
do not the same rules of justice, and pro-
priety, and popularity, apply to one man
as well as to another?--Shall an error of
the head of one, be an act of moral turpi-
tude in another, proceeding from a corrupt
heart? Let political justice and moral in-
tegrity answer the question with candor
and impartiality.--Fiat justitia, si ruat cæ-
lum, perhaps would be the maxim of
ARISTIDES.