Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-07-21
SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE DIFF

The Sheboygan Mercury assumes to have found
an exttavagant over estimate in what we gave
few weeks since, as our opinion of the amount oil
General Taylors pay. The editor states, positive
ly, that Major Generals salary is only 1916 per
month. And then brings evidence, from docu-
ment dating as far back the year 1871, appar-
emily for the purpose of showing that General lay
lor has never received one cent of pay beyond his
salary and ratons To this, we reply, that, if it
be as he has stated it, General Taylors case is
most extraordinary exception TO the usage of the
department.
There has been scarcely an officer OF the line,
ranking as high captain, since our army was
first organized who has served as long as two
years, without receiving more than the nominal
amount Of pay and rations assigned to that rank.
We have lived at military garrison, the officer in
command of which received over $500 per month
and ranked no higher than Breyet BrigadeI Gene
lal. But this going back seven years, and more
to see how the account stood at the war depart
ment with General Taylor prior TO lS4l, is curl
Gus mode of getting at the amount OF his receipts
during the two last years. 1t would have been
about as pertinent 10 the case in hand, il the argu-
ment had been: General Taylor has never received
a cent beyond his nominal salary and ratlons, be-
cause he owns white horse" We now say posi-
lively, and defy contradiction, that General Tayors
nominal salary of 1876 per month, if it be as low
as that which we do not believe, is only very
small part of what has passed into his hands from
the national treasury since he has been in Mexico.
Congressional documents, dating back to the time
when he leading his Cuban blood hounds in
Florida, are nimsy proof in the matter
The correspondent of the Phladel phia North
American, which our contemporary quotes so ex-
ultingly, undoubtedly making OFT a case TO
suit HIMSELF and lin exploring the intricate labyr-
nths of official darkness he exhumed," we have
no doubt, as much and as little, as he wished
We would not give penny whistle for his testlmo'
nv in such circumstances even t. it were relevant
to the
Our friend up north there will not be disturbed,
we trlst; if We ag,in 'inljct uPon" his attentlo
our opinion set forth in the former article, viz =
That military officers of high rank have, most
of the time, very easy life, high living, and enor
nous pay. And furthermore. that the real merit
of the victories of the American armies in Mex
leo belongs TO a considerable number of other Off
GERS as much as to General Taylor, and to some
others much more than to him. But, If it all
belonged to him, itwould not prove that he is qua
lifted to fill the executive chair
Our friend at Sheboygan makes Gen. Cass about
L IL
General are correct, they fully substantate the
main position which we assumed in our former ar
tcle. They read as follows:
From the same source we are enabled
to give our readers few of the 'perquIsites
and emolumcnts which the democratic
! Gen. Cass has taken unto himself in the
/ period of twenty nine years, during which
| he has held Office by executive appoint
ment. During this period he has drawn
/ from the Treasury of the United States, in
/ pay, and extra allowances, i'll addition to
| his large salary the sum of 1929, co., equal
| to an annual income from the government
| of nearly $S,000-or So, 46S more than the
annual salary of Gen. Taylor. And dur
ing the time he was receiving $500 as
/ Governor of Michigan, and Superintendent
! of Indian Affairs, he also received for al
| legged services, extra allowance to the enOr-
nous sum of over seventy thousand dollars!
! And this same democratic Gen. Cass, who
! for 20 years has been receiving from the
| public treasury the average sum OF $2l per
! day, cndeavored, in the United States Sen
! ate, to reduce the pay of the soldier who
was fighting the battles of his government,
exposing his life amid, the innumcrable pri-
valions and hardships of an inhospitable
climate, under the scorching rays of trO-
pical sun, and in the heart Of an ehemy's
country. With spirit of ungrateluI parsl-
monv, and greedy selishnsss worthy Of
shylock. he gru"ged the poor soldier his
scantv pitance OF IS per month, while his
immaculate self was gormandizing on trea-
sury pap at The rate of 5000 per month, and
still crying for more.
TREATMENT OF TIE VOLUNTEERS.
Wehlve read narrowing and revolving accounts Of
the legion forms Of hardship. and death undergone
by soldiers. As for example, our revolutionary
patriots in the depth ofthe ses erest winter. desi-
tute o food and clothing; the French, dying with
heat and thirst, an dst the desert wds of Africa
or falling and stifening among the SHOWS of Russia
or crow ded in hospitals of sick and wounded who
were dispatched, to rid the army Of the incum.
brance which they might occasion; of whole regl-
ments who had surrendered themselves prisoners of
war being barbarously murdered Of the horrid
suierings undergone in the crowded holds of prison
ships, and the like But never had it occurred TO
us that the worst enemies, the most remorseess
tyrants. the most blrblrous and wanton murderers,
of patriotic soldiery, in some cases may be, and
are, their own officers.
From accounts which we have seen in the Chi
-cago papers. and one of which have copied this
week il appears that Mexican armies and Mexican
climate, and Mexican diseases are less murderous,
by far; than some ofour own chivarous blacklegs
who strut with tler i'll gotten military commits
sions. Our readers will see, by carefully examin-
ing the statements which we have copied, the fol-
lowing among tie facts testified 10 by the survivors
Of the lst regiment of Michigan Volunteers
First More than half The men at first compos
ing the regimen, dead; and large part of the re-
mainder not likely to live And this without their
having seen battle or been carried off bv any dis