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

ray Gi WeMUSFS VI tUHgKeSSt
The New York Tribune, Of the 18th, con-
tains an article denouncing the members OF Con-
q ess who voted for the bill increasing their own
compensation TO $4,000. In this instance, that
paper has acted independently of party consd-
erations, and the force of its condemnation falls
on the heads Of Giddings and large number OF
other Black Republicans who voted for the bill.
The Tyabnae gives The ayes and nays on the
passage Of the BILL From the list II appears
that of the members from the slave holding
States, thlrty voted for the bill and forty-three
voted against it. Seventy free State members
voted for the bill and fiiiy-6ye against II. The
entire Massachusetts delegation voted in favor
Of it. The Rhode Island delegation voted for II
in solid column, tive deep) Vermont and
Connecticut gave each one vote against IT, In
the delegations Of all the New England States
together, The bill had majority in its favor OF
two to one. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, Florida and Virginia gave but one
vote each in favor of the bilt. Mr. Rhchie, of
this city, voted against the bill. Mr.. Purvl-
ance, who represents the 22d District, as also
Mr. Covode, of Westmorpland, voted IN favor
of it, Upon fair review of the vote, we have
no disposition to prevent the Tribune, if we
could DO so, from indulging in the following
structures:
sTt was Just forty years ago that the Congress
of that day undertook to increase The pay OF
members They put it up to barely $1,000 a
year, which is about what they now receive
on the average, at the old charge oil eight dol
lars per day. We believe they did not make
the rise retrospective, as the new act does
Yet this s 800 year demolished nearly all
who We're concerned IN it. Henry Clay, who
had not had a competitor at the polls for some
time previous, barely saved himself from defeat
hv supprhunlan exertions unrIvaed ability on
the stump, BY appealing 10 bis great and admit
ted public services, and by virtually contrasting
tha, he had done wrong, and promising TO Go
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 FASTENED to repeal the
Compensation Act and go back to the eight
dollars per day, which did not look 50 insignih-
cant to their constituents at their lonely fire.
sides as to the dispensers OF millions at Washing
ton.
s.But the retrospective feature ofthe new act
is most indefensiblr. Every member now in
Congress virtually contracted to serve through
the last term for S720. Instead Of that, ma
ioritv have now voted to take to themselves
$4,000 for that service. This IS not exactly
stealing, but it is very sharp kind Of convey
ing. See If it does not howl down good many
Of those engaged in it We earnestly advise
all parties not TO put mp members who voted for
this grab in any of the close districts. 1t ~ill
not be SAFE.
'.People of the United States ask your pres
ent or prospective candidates for Congress what
they think Of this new Compensation Act, and
try to have their answers in black and white be-
fore you vote for any of them -
1t is not long since Mr.. Greeley congratulated
the country on having such glorious Congress
as the present. He might have tolerated a little
stealing in consideration of extra services on the
Kansas question