Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-08-25
Congress and the Army Hill.

TWAS anticipated when the present extra SEES
sion of Congress called that its continuance
would be brief. The omission at the late reg
ular session TO vote the usual and necessary np-
preparations for the Army. the only matter
which led to the prompt call of the extra session
by the President And the duty of voting these
appropriations was so manifest, and the necessi-
Nv for il so urgent, that il believed n snili
cient number of members who had favored the
Kansas proviso were already prepared TO reeede
from it, to secure the speedy passage OF the bill
From the report Of Congressional proceedings
however published under the Geographic head
in our last issue. it seems that this expectation
will no, be realized. The factous minority OF
the House seem determined 10 disregard this
plain duty, no matter what the deiriment TO the
public service the consequences to the country
or the wrong TO the soldier, unless they can con
pie with it violation of the Constitution md
thereby secure an abolition triumph. II is in
vain that they told that TO withhold these aP-
preparations will result in the practical dishond-
ment of the Army, the exposure Of long aud de
fenceless frontier to the incursons of merciless
and savage foes, great aud inevitable waste OF
public treasure. a dreadful sacrifice of human
life and monstrous wrong TO all persons connect.
ed with the military establishment. Neither
these considerations. nor yet the wound to the
public honor. or the dscredit Of their country in
the eyes of the civilized world weighs feather
in the scale against their persistent and trenson
able purpose to save the free soil rebels Of Kan
sas from all responsibility control in the exc
cution OF their lawless schemes TO wrest that ter
ritory from the South. We trust, however, that
their conduct will be marked, and themselvc-
condemned by their constituents and tho eonn
try How eau il be otherwise, even leaving out
of view many of the weighty considerations we
have suggested above, when the Withholding
of pay to the officers and soldiers for their
arduous service, by Congress, is contrast
ed with the promptness with which mem.
bers vote increased and extravagant pay To
themselves. When soldier enters the army he
contracts for laborious service Of indefinite du
ration. During that service he has voice in
the Government and no power to influence the
noun, Of his compensation. This relinqu shment
Of many Of the most cherished privileges of the
sitizen--h his devotion To mn urduous and severe
branch of the public service and HIS necessity Ia
the country well in peace as in war, it would
seem were sufficient considerations to command
for him at oil times, justice at the hands OF Con
gress, if they did not incite to generosity. But
this seems not to be So We have fallen upon
times when this body can deny to tho army their
small pittance from the public treasury und
violate the pligh,ed faith of the Government 10
the soldier,-when they can at the same time
vote increased thousands to themselves, whose
term of service embraced from the first only II
couple of years, and then oomplaeently adjourn
and present themselves before their several con
stituences to demand aplaudi ON their steward
ship. viii any people tolerate representative
W b ose conduct hns been thus selfish and UNJUST
VIII they crafty Congressional greed.and ut the
same time calmly witness the disbandment Of the
army from the denial of its pay VIII they up
bold faction at the sacrifices Of national honor,
justice aud good faithl We believe not, and We
sha II cherish that belief until the upequiyocal
action of the people shall have convinced us 9th.
erwise.