It
is honourable 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 Honour.
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.
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