Article 1, Section 6, Clause 1

Document 9

A Georgian

Art. 1, sect. 6. What advantage can it be to Congress to have the power to pay themselves? and yet it may be very detrimental to the states. May they not do as the members of a certain state assembly did, spend most of the money raised by the taxes in paying themselves? And why is their salary not fixed? for who can say how the senators or representatives may incline to live? perhaps much better than we can afford to pay. Also, is it meant by this section that a member, either of the senate or representatives, is not to account for his acts to his constituents? If so, this is contrary to the idea entertained by freemen who delegate their power for a limited time. That the representative should be called on by his constituents to answer and give his reasons for his measures is one of the firmest barriers to liberty. Therefore I would propose this section to read thus:

"Art. I., sect. 6. The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, not exceeding five dollars per day, during their attendance and going to and coming from Congress, to be paid out of the treasury of their respective states. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during their attendance at the sessions of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same. And for any speech or debate in either house they shall not be questionable in any other place, except when they shall be called upon for that purpose by their constituents."

The Founders' Constitution
Volume 2, Article 1, Section 6, Clause 1, Document 9
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a1_6_1s9.html
The University of Chicago Press

Storing, Herbert J., ed. The Complete Anti-Federalist. 7 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981.

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