Has Your Congressman Ever Flashed??--Campaigning At Its Best!

This story has roots in the Compensation Act of 1816. The United States Congress began to believe its $6.00 per diem salary was inadequate and needed changing. Yeah, talk about a salary grab!! Well, I can kind of understand since there had been no pay increase since 1789, and by 1816, the average cost of living had doubled. In 1815, a House resolution to inquire about raising the salary was promptly defeated by a vote of 99-8.

This changed on March 4, 1816, when Congressman Richard M. Johnson of Kentucky proposed Congress receive a salary instead of a per diem rate. He said it would be “nothing extravagant, nothing prodigal.” Around March 11, the House voted 81-67 to pay themselves a salary of $1500 instead of the $6.00 per diem. On March 14, the Senate passed the bill 21-11, and President Madison signed it into law on March 19, 1816.

Unfortunately for these elected officials, the populace did not necessarily agree with this “salary grab” as it was being called. Nearly two-thirds of the Fourteenth Congress was not reelected; of the 81 House members who voted for the salary increase, only 15 were returned to serve in the Fifteenth Congress. One of those 15 members was the Honorable Henry Clay of Kentucky, the Speaker of the House.

As the story goes, while out campaigning for his reelection to the House, Henry Clay came upon an old hunter who was very much opposed to Congress’ raise.

“Have you a good rifle, my friend?” asked Mr. Clay.

“Yes.”

“Does it flash?”

“Once only,” he replied.

“What did you do with it-throw it away?”

“No, I picked the flint, tried it again, and brought down the game.”

“Have I ever flashed but on the compensation bill?”

“No.”

“Will you throw me away?”

“No, no.” exclaimed the hunter, with enthusiasm, nearly overpowered by his feelings.

“I will pick the flint, and try you again!” (Epes Sargent’s 1844 Life and Public Services of Henry Clay)

Needless to say, Congress repealed the Compensation Act during its next session and decided on an $8.00 per diem and $8.00 for every twenty miles traveled.