The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-09
PAY or OFFICERS OF rar Army -ITs PROPOSED
INCREASE

Iafsees iss suhect II one NC cautiously approach
becAase journalists merey may not te presumed 10
be- poted In military There il however involved
ia this general principle of which 1 judge and thal
has led 10 The conviction thai Inc pay Of ARM officers
il greatly disEroYoroned 70 the responsibility of their
oces and wholly insufficient for their necrasiiiss and
comfort
This government administered upon the princite that
officers and ssens shall be compensated to
this ey discharge The President the officer hghss
in trust highesi paid The scale graduated min
isiers and ambassadors cabinet officers The Judiciary aoc-
hers 81 Congress- descending the responsibility lessons
include every class Of vi empoFees the dag lAbesr
who carries the bod swings the scyhe ior the govern
From time line the salaries Of fs majority u
all aFl officers and emfogees have been increased
the exigencie u the times have shown their insuconc
The pay Of military officers alone has not in sOeh
changes been increased
When look fer for the failure increase ths
pay 81 this class Of officers none found We thai
good il found u Is that ay be aide 70
find The causes yi AZ these reasons repeat that
there exists for keeping fixed the military sAa-
res while the civil in every department have been in
erased Military officers have political iiasosno
voice or representation IN Congressno rewards or in
dncement for the poltioianno patronage--no money
nc voesnobodys constituency and nobody lnnch
for them.
But we readJust glasses and the pages Of
glory the history Of country will there the
most renowned chapters flied with military Ser
vices loyal disniaressd rrilous and responsbe in
that record, ARE military services
Suppose should attempt calculate the value Of the
territory added republic by the with Mexico
find La Place with calculus that would express
the in numerals? The wealth Of California Is mol 10
be estimated by figures is empire of itself yet we
would he1t the rea magnitude OF that conquest by such
comparison Can any one Calculate iis advantages
commerce It's value 70 civilization, its benefits 10 The
human family progress towards freedom Christianity
and the march OF liberty the end Of the world Time
alone develop what THE mind may not grasp Of the
during blessings that flow the world from the
suits Of ihs war
But whatever thev OF value now aud whatever
e greater yaue lhes max be unborn and the
progress Of freedom they the price OF the blood fde
ty, and valor OF military officers and their brave
These the purchasemone and they Fixed to The
soil as the uncxncelea lien Of righteous mortgage
We throw these considerations this time claim
ing that they original bur with the purpose Of pre-
the military services Of our sma army We may attribute
much Of present prosperity 10 the wealth daily
draw from California Our treasury filed with
gold Our civil officers paid with its gold Our Pres
dent il paid with its gold Our Congress pHd with
rod And vet the officers of the army who fought the
battles tina, won the country vagrant with poverty
though fresh and rich with renown.
Thanks and swords voted to generals are small reward
-
war Ii is their cauae that We sindicate and whose
services il il purpose TO notice most worthy of
reward They get but little of the glory, but Of
the knocks Yet many fields in Mexico the exploits Of
subaterns would have in other armies the golden
cross OF the marshaEs ''faton3
We VIII return however, starting point and
the principle that agents ocegf Of ths govern
eli zhauld be paid according The responsibility Of the
trust and apply this rulr tha military subaern
lie il selected lead forlorn hope Upon the success
81 his re party doomed devoted the tide OF the
battle and the fortune Of The Here certanly
responsible and perious trnss But he is Taught thai
duty paramount to peril and he girds up his
mana with ideas Of fidelity that danger death can
shake lie executes his The breaches are sormed
and carried Supporting columns rush into batteries al
ready senced but filed with the dead Of his desd and
devoted band. But the victory is already won
on his battle Issues Of incalcuias magnitude depend
cd The conduct ard crurasa Of subalrern officer
saay have decided thai issne
We win NOW submit the pain question il this officer
pad for such service by the three dollars per demhe fun
amount he receivasd does Congress feel that that
is full compensation for OF this responsibility
discharged al gnch hazards seh service ware the com
men Ears 81 officers III Nexica and yet they who 30 bore
thssavrs in series Of conflicts unexgmed wars have
been spoken 81 ~ government pauIsersH
We have far only referred The officers case under
the pcrs and chances Of IT. however we view their
the peace establishment arguments ana reasons
not sE potential to he found vnairatHg TIE Proposed
increase of pay Our fapaIiera 80 extended and
art VI esrpriss has gone far into their rerotest
borders Chat hee is literally place for the foot o. the
soldier TO rest The posts Of the army between the cit
izen pioneer and the Indian The officers share all the
hardship Of frontier life and sweep away most Of its
peril They exed from society ARE
as citizcnsher life Is conAuous expatisa have
ns5tsr ts Sorah peiiaious nor political privileges ID
other ctzonsihey deprived Of the suhsanfial
foris e oen Of this peressaries Hardship Toll aud
peril their daily fare and ye their sdelfsy is unirn
paired and their services unccmpaimngiy and willingly
rendered
These not exaggerated details 81 army life We do