The fear of losing it will in general be more than equivalent to the ordinary temptations held out by illicit gains.
But in the estimation of a man's wants, it is not merely to what is absolutely necessary that our calculation ought to be confined;---Fabricius and Cincinnatus are not the proper standards to be selected; the actual state of society ought to be considered; the average measure of probity must be our rule.Public opinion assigns to every public functionary a certain relative rank; and, whether reasonably or not, expects from him an expenditure nearly equal to that of persons in a similar rank, If he be compelled to act in defiance of public opinion, he degrades and exposes himself to contempt---a punishment so much the more afflictive, in proportion as his rank is elevated.Wants keep pace with dignity.Destitute of the lawful means of supporting his rank, his dignity presents a motive for malversation, and his power furnishes the means.History abounds with crimes, the result of this ill-judged policy.
If a justification be required for the extraordinarily high salaries, which it is customary to pay to the supreme magistrates who are called Kings , it will be found in the principles above laid down.The Americans, by denominating their chief magistrate a President , have thereby made a small salary, compared with what is paid in England to the sovereign, answer every purpose of a large one.Why? Because the dignity Of the president is compared with that of the other officers of the republic, whilst in Europe the dignity of the sovereign is measured by a sort of comparison with that of other kings.If he were unable to maintain a certain pomp amidst the opulence of his courtiers, he would feel himself degraded.Charles Il., to relieve himself from the restrictions imposed upon him by the economy of parliament, sold himself to a foreign potentate, who offered to supply his profusion.The hope of escaping, from the embarrassments into which he had plunged himself, drove him, like an insolvent individual, to criminal resources.This mistaken economy occasioned the expense of two successive wars, terminating in a peace more.disastrous, perhaps, than either of the wars.Our strength was wasted in oppressing a necessary ally, instead of being employed in checking the ambition of a rival, with whom we had afterwards to contend with diminished resources.
Thus the establishment of the Civil List , though its amount may appear large, may be considered as a measure of general security , It is true, that the sum necessary to prevent Charles II.from selling himself, or, in other words, the amount which in this instance would have operated as a moral antiseptic, or preservative, could not have been very accurately calculated.A greater or less portion of this antiseptic must be employed, in proportion as there exists a greater or less proclivity towards corruption, Experience is the touchstone of all calculations in this respect.Provided these abuses are guarded against, a low scale of salaries can never be an evil; it must be a good.If the salary be not a sufficient reward for the service to be performed, the office will not be accepted: if it be sufficient, everything which is added to its amount, is so much lavished in pure waste.
