The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-08-29
Paw Of Members Of Congress.

The New York Tribune, of the 18th. COM
tainS an article denouncing the members OF Con-
giess who voted for the bill increasing their own
compensation to $4,000. In thIsinstance, that
paper has acted independently of party consd-
erations, and the force of it's condemnation falls
on the heads OF ofGiddings and large number OF
other Black Republicans who voted for the bill.
The Tribune gives the ayes and NAYS on the
passage OF the BILL From the list il appears
that of the members from the slave holding
States, thirty voted for the bill and forty-tbree
voted against il. Seventy free State ElenlberS
voted ior the bill and fifly-five against it. The
entire Massachusetts, delegation voted IN favor
OF it. The Rhode Island delrgation voted for It
in solid column, two deep.l Vermont and
Connecticut gave each one vote against u 10
the delegations Of all the New England States
together, the ball had majority in ITS iavor oil
two 10 one. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, Florida and Virginia gave but one
vote each in favor of the bill Mr. kltchIe, OF
this CITY, voted against the bill. Mr.. PurVi-
auce, who represents the 22d District, as also
MIR. Covode, Of Westmortland, voted IN favor
Of it, Upon fair review Of the vote, we have
no disposition to prevent the Tribune, II we
could do so, from induging IN the following
sfrictures
at was Just forty years ago that the Congress
Of ihat day undertook TO increase the pay OF
members they put il Up to barely 81 300
year, which is about what they now receive,
on the average. at the old charge OF eight dol
lars per dav. We believe they did not make
the rise retrospective, as the new act does.-
Yet this ST 800 year demolished nearly all
who were concerned in it. Henry Clay, who
had net had competitor at the polls Tor some
time previous, barely saved himself from defeat
bv snDerhuman exertionS, uariealed ability on
the slump, by appealing to his great and admit
ted public services, and by virtually oonieSslng
that he Rad done wrong, and promising to do
better Members of moderate Abilities and Or
dinarv services went down before the surge OF
public indignation like dry grass before prairie
fire. The new Congress hastened to repeal the
Compensation Act and go back 10 the eight
dollars per day, which did not look so lnslgnIh-
cant to their constituents at their lonely fire.
sides as TO the dispensers of millions at Washing
ton,
.'But the retrospective feature ofthe new act
is most ndgl+nsblp Every member now in
Congress virtually contracted to serve through
the last term for S72O. Instead of that, ma
ioritv have now voted to take TO thrmsslvr.
$4,000 for that service. This is not exactly
stealing, but it IS a very sharp kind OF convey
ing Serif it does not howl down good many
of those engaged in ii We earnestly advise
all parties not to put up members who voted ioi
this grab in anv OF the close districts. 1t viii
not be SAFE.
"PsopIp of the United States ask your pres
ent OF prospective candidates for Congress wha
they think Of this new Conversation A ct, anC
try t61Iave their answers in black aad white be-
e,gou Yote for any Of them =
IAsGot long since Mr. Greeley congratulated
, the country on having slch gorioas Congress:
as the present. He might have tolerated llttlt
stealing in consideration ofextra services on tht
Kansas question.