Mr. HENDRICKS. The proceedings yesterda misled me. I knew that the Senator had stated to the Senate that he was authorized by his committee to propose the amendment which he did propose, an then when he perceived that that did not meet with the favor of the bodyI understood him to withdraw it of his own motion and propose the amendment now before us. It is a very disagreeable thing to oppose any proposition of this sort, but I cannot see the propriety of selecting one chief clerk of a Dept and giving him a compensation so much above the compensation given to other chief clerks. If $3, 500 is the propersum to give a chief clerk in a Dept as salary, I am in favor of it, but if it is not, I am at a loss to know how we shall estimate the value of the services of an eminent innii. Are we going to pay particular officers because they are so much etter than other officers. orare we goingto have a uniform standard of compensation? If Mr. Hunter goes out of his Office, his successor then is to have another compensation than that now given to him, I presume. We pay the man, an do not aflix the salary to the office. It seems to me that is not right. If his services are very emi nent and you feel it proper to do so, ay 0.sum in gross for them; but do not esta lish that which will be a precedent in other cases. As I said at the last session, I am very earnestly in favor of giving an increased compensation to the clerks in the different Depts. I think they are very ill paid. My knowledge, having been at one time connected with one of the bureaus, justifies me in saying that the compensation given to the clerks of the Depts is not adequate, in view of the talent which is to be found in the Depts, and in view of the expense of supporting families in this city; but I think it isa ver unfortunate mode of arriving at justice to ta e out a particular individual and give him an extraordinary compensation, and say then that all the rest of the starving families of those employed in the Depts shall go without pay. This is to be an argument. against doing justice to the other clerks. I do not think we ought to do it. I think Congress ought to come squafely up and meet the responsibility of the case, and give to the clerical force of the different Depts a proper compensation. 1 shall not vpte for this amendment. for the reasons I have given.