Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-08
RELlGfouS C0NTRoYERSY.

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY
We End our columns accidentally involved IN g :
religious controversy, at time when. we need |
every inch of room for news and politics, Having |
printed one ariicle on each side, we must now IN
sist that the controversy, if continued any Epeis'
ss.aN be prosecuted in more appropriate p@''e'
JOHNSON AND GENTRY IN CONGRESS |
THING FOR WORKING MIN 20 LOON Al
fo Auguet. 1872 Mr. Gentry, of this State.
ot,sr.a az .n,sra,eot to bill then pending in the
e a. 70" y 4ater enacted That all clerks. mes
..'-r~.s 1vstchraen ADD laborers employed at an
snTal salary orin temporary positions IN the ex-
,.r,tve and legislative departments OF the Govern
-, in the city of Washington, whose compensa-
On does not exceed 81 900 per annum shall, in
sidtiou thereto, be allowed the following annual
decrease Of compensation, commencing from the
first day Of the last fiscal year. viz All whose an
mai cofnpensation does not exceed 1920, twenty
ner cent; all whose annual compensation exceeds
81 200 and does not exceed 81 LOCO, an addition
at fifteen per Get: and all whose annual compeu-
sstiou exceeds 81 eco and does not exceed 50 600,
an addition 81 zen Der cent; and that the amount
Of increased compensation provided for ia this see-
ton shall be paid out Of any money an he Treasu-
ny not otherwise approprated-tt q f.1l-a25O
Mr.. GENTRY spoke at some length in supported
this amendment Among other things, be said
Is the United States Government so poor that
We shall starye the employees of this Government
--starve them to death, and allow them to be IN
dehted to the private contributions of the chaTla-
BILE for burial expenses? No man can assume that
there is any extravagance or proiiigacy IN my pro-
position: and if the facts are as have assumed
them TO be, it is meanness not to change this state oil
things And repeat there is no extravaganza or
urofigacv involved in it. 1t is wise economy to
give fair compensation for the governmental EN-
ployees | hope no one will oppose this amend
nent If the law has wisely graduated the salaries
of the different employees of the Government IN
the legislative and executive departments whose
salaries do not exceed 50 Geo. then think the pro-
portionate increase which propose is perhaps Just,
and wise, aud right If the amendment which
offer is adopted clerk who receives 81 GOO per
annum. will ceive 81 200 one who receives
$1,000, will receive 81 $40; one who receives ST.
600 will receive $3.50; and one who receives
$4,000, will receive s., 200. This is very small
increase Of expenditure TO the Government, but 1t
will give vast amount Of relief TO these employees
of the Government.
ANDREW JOHNSON, while not denying that the
expenses of living had been increased, could not
see why clerks who were receiving from So TO Sc
per day, should be remembered, and the mechanics
and laborers, who were receiving only from 81 to
50 per dav, receive 30 consideration. According
ly, we find the following proceedings reported in
the Globe: -...
Mr.. Jouysos, of Tennessee 1 offer the follow
ing amendment TO the amendment:
That tweaty per cent be added to the per diem CT
monthly paw received by all employees OF the Govern
tut who engaged in any branch of mechanics or at
common labor
Mfr Chairman we have witnessed various amend
nents which have been offered here with the view
Of increasing and extending the salary Of every
body connected with the Government, save the
man who laLoEs aud produces. The man who
wear the dmge OF the shop dust OF the field upon
his garments is never thought of or cared for by
this House except uuOn occasions when the Tow
srpnent needs taxes When the Government
needs men to fight its battles, then it calls np0n
this description of persons; but when money Is to
be voted out of the Treasury, without stint and
measure why this class of individuals IS never re-
parded | should like to know why the men who
work in your na7y-yards and forge yonr anchors
why the men who work in yonr navy-ysrds and
bujId your ships-Inen who weld the broad axe,
,hiacl and hammer not only FIVE hours IN the day,
but ten hours at 81 80 and 81 day, should not
nave twenty per cent also added TO their days
yYages2 They have not the time, after working
Ten hours a dav, Ike others who are net employed
five 10 visit this Hall and besiege members OF Con-
.ress with rnportuniles and almost in the attitude
Of supplianis, to increase their pay. They have to
work almost from the rising TO the going down of
the sun; while Others in the employment OF the
Government pet Inu Ia larger salaries, although
their expenses OF living are no more than those Of
the men who work at the anvil or work in your
shops Go for instance to your aTnory. Who
eays anything about increasing the pay Of men who
are 10 protect your country in its hour cf need ?
There Is no twenty per cent for them. When pro-
visions rise when meat and bread advance in price
and il is impossible almost FOX the laborer sup
mort his family where then is the powerful appeal
og nv colleague in behalf Of tins man. his family
and little opcsf
There is no talk then, in pathetic strains, about
tIe funeral train and the charitable contributions
iu colshorers TO secure decent intcTInent Of the
remains of the over worked and lily paid laborer
on no. the laborer has 10 toll on, struggle on,
aud there is no ore TO plead bis cause tefOre this
House and the country. say that It is time,
wien Won commence expendIng-when the door
Of the Treasury is to be thrown wide open, and
when q general invitation IS to be extended to
Government employees TO come in and participate
IN ,his indiecriminate scramble, that the abOrer,
Tho man Of toll. the producing man, the man who
creates rs he consumes, should come mp tor once
sud have chance at the spolS. When l talk
sbout this increase of pay Tor the laborer do not
understand me as going against an increase OF pay
for these clerks. 1t depends entirely upon what
ven do with the amendment / propose. ! say,
that they are equally pneritorous and worthy. While
the sun rises aud sets at the usual hour with this
class. and while they work from the rising TO tie
setting of the sum- there is another Class OF en-
ployees whose sun rises at nine in the morning,
and sets at three in the afternoon; and yet they
are worked to death-their burdens are too heavy
their expenses of living are too high. While a
,o1pnlaint from this over-worked class causes this
hail 10 become vocal in pathetic appeals, the pro-
ducing men, who give potency and character to
your institutions. and constitute the physical pow
Sr Of the Government, may toll on, half paid and
half fed. and they are never thought OF or cared
Tor ~ .... ...
Mr. GENTRY opposed this amendment snd was
defeated.
CONE CUTTERS!
Our letter from Dresden tells OF FORFf-FlFE