8771. VACATIONS, Public officials and.—
One reason for suggesting the discontinuance
of the daily post was, that it was not kept up by contract, but at the expense of the
United States. But the principal reason was to
avoid giving ground for clamor. The general
idea is, that those who receive annual compensations
should be constantly at their posts. Our
constituents might not in the first moment consider
1st, that we have property to take care of,
which we cannot abandon for temporary salaries;
2nd, that we have health to take care of,
which at this season cannot be preserved at
Washington; 3d, that while at our separate
homes our public duties are fully executed, and
at much greater personal labor than while we
are together when a short conference saves a
long letter.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. v, 181.
Ford ed., ix, 134.
(M.
Sep. 1807)
