Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-15

,le.s who have 70 rsssr ~ he fosasr sspsrvs nSas
Of travel.
l desire to test the question whether majority OF
the Hcus, are favor Of the prncps OF saares or per
diem, and il with that view that make the motion
which have submitted.
Mr.. FOSTER, Of Ala, approved Of the remarks OF
the gentleman from Mss Mr. sSsLrros) 90 far q they
related 10 the great discrepancy 10 the pay OF oceIs
and soldiers and when that question came up he would
be willing 10 take from the pay OF the officers and add
10 that Of the soldiers.
Mr.. B0YCE, Of O., concurred in the general tenor
Of the remarks made by bis colleague, Mr. hILrs he
thought that the representatives Of the people In the
House. and Of the States in the Senate should receive
sufficient amount Of pay to place them beyond the ne
cessty of looking to the President fer anything, and
that their officers should be made desirable than
those Of the heads Of Departments That could not be
done uuless they are we'll compensated.
He however, objected to high salary at this time
This Congress will have devoved upon 1t great mis-
Sion l! may be that in the progress OF this revolution
they may be compelled 10 save the country at all haz-
ards and BY the most startling measures and II would
be necessary in order do that that they should have
the confidence of the people and what would give that
more fully than dsinerestedntss in regard TO money
matters he feared IL they increased their salaries that
thew would diminish that influence which it would be
cessary for them have In order 10 work out this great
mission.
For this reason, and this Alone he was opposed to
granting high salaries. -,
IN In. BnQ ne c0nCurreQ ID many tuiuBs eaiu W
the various gentlemen who had spoken upon this
especially what had fallen from the gentleman from u
who had first spoken Mr.. Mmrs) In regard to the mat
ter of pay the Senate bad adopted the proposition with
singular unanmity and be presumed after full and ma
tare delioeraon. He, Mr. thought that to ignore
that proposition, would be to call In question and dis
credi. the corrslstve department of the Legislative
branch Of the Government
he did not think that the pay proposed BY this bill
would the ordinary expenses OF mem berl IN hcn-
- ELL - In
for IT, IL may be that some OF bis constituents might
condemn him. but he hopsd he never would see the day
when he could bring himself TO regard the votes OF any
snch persons. Toe eject Of fixing the rate oil pay OF
members at low stan lard, would b. TO deter men Of
worth and talent, whose means would NOT Juuy tneh
giving their services to TIE Country without adequate
compensation from king the position OF members OF
Congress.
not bis opinion, meet the ordinary expenses OF living
In Richmond especially in the Of men having wives
AID families He knew his friend from South Carolina
NE BoYCE) had no vile and prospect 30 far as be
(Mr ~ was aware of entering into matrimonial al-
auce at least at present. daughter and, OF course be
was free from the heavy charges which wife aud chill
dren involve. But there were many Others who were
no. in that condition, and who, Of course, required
much larger amount TO meet their expenses than the
gentleman from South Carolina disposed to measure
out.
II It was the desire of members to work for nothing,
he Mr. prepared TO sustain aproposton to that
f.ot he prepared to vote for proposition IL
s,ructing the Committee 10 bring 10 bill that no mem.
Der shall receive any salary during the progress Of the
Wn He was even pre- pared to impose tar upon MEM
bsr to be appropriated as an aid 10 paying the
of the war. he in favor Of such proposition ss
his to providing for small pay, or he would DO viii
ling to amend that proposition 90 IS 10 allow e ntsmen
who were unwilling receive this salary $4,000 from
distrus In their own merits who placed so low an es
innate upon their ability and capacity to serve the
public their present positions to limit their pay 10 pro-
portion to their estimates of themselves. IL may
be that some here would 60 down to $500.
he said he vasin favor Of fair salary or none at all
NrSINGLETON said he rose 10 propose an amend
ment to the proposition OF the gentleman from Ten
nessee (hr. that each man should hI bis own pay
according to the estimate which be made Of bis ability
HIS am ndment was, that other members would be A.
lowed to put al estimate upon the services Of their as
sociates on the floor He thought tha! this would tend
- bring down the value Of the services OF some mem
bsrs to pretty low standard.
Mr. 8. repeated, that whatever might have been the
f.. lngs Of others who saw him receive bis pay as Cap
tain, as referred by the gentleman from South Caro-
ira me MILIs) he himself somewhat conscience
stricken at receiving 90 much, when the poor pvi'e'
sho at home perhaps LIS equaa socially and othef'
wise, received but sil per month.
Mr. F00TE asked II the gentleman was 50 conscience
stricken, whether or not, he divided out MS pay
M. SINGLETON sa;d yes, that he never WAS appeal
ed to by soldier in need whom he did lot relieve it
| was In hia power.
Mr.. FO0rE offered TIE following amendment to the
motion to re-commit, sub ntted by NJ. JOINS
And that the said Com uee be instructed 10 report
bill aboishiug all pay and mileage during the war, or
eauiGz ng the pay with the priyates in our army.
Mr. SINGLETON remarked that the gentleman s
course wss strangely iuconitsnt inasmucn as he advo.
Gated while ago, the slary fixed in the Senate bill.
Mr.. FoorE said his principle was aut Cs'ar, aus nj
hill daughter
| Mr.. SINGLETON remarked the gentleman has been
o.tensr aul mill than 0M Cssar. (Lsughter
He called the question the amendment OF Mr..
FoorE which ordered.
| Mr. GARRETT called for the yeas and nays.
The call was sustained, and the question being put,
| resulted yeas 81, nays 66.
SO the amendment was lost.
TIE amendment then REQUIRED upon the motion sub
mitted by Mr. JONES' Of Tennessee.
Mr. Triple, Of Ca said he voted in the old Congress
for he 49, 900 year salary, and he did it boldly and
met the issue aud not hurt by it. He uouli do 80
again IN der similar circumstances The question was
| one of purely personal consideration, as TO how it
would eject the member voting for this salary, before
bis psople at home or the people a. large This, be
main aimed WAS q time when the wishes, feelings and
priudices of the psopl, should be considered. When
the o. 900 bill passed the old Congress- the times were
| not what they now. They were hush times then,
with Is millions surplus in the eli Federal Treasury
| and this fact could well be sdduced by members to
sustain their action upon questions OF this kind The
people now we're peculiarly sensitive with reference to
the actions Of legislative bodies aud care should b
taken to preserve the popular confidence, We would
our own personal honor, for upon that conhden DC
pends in great measure the efficiency Of our legi'ia
i've action here He said If peac, was declared TO-
morrow he would willingly vote for IS 900 year. and
the same mileage allowed by the old Congress, but At
this time the public mind was peculiarly sensitive upon
the .ct Of pay and the House should be ciutious
to defer to the popular prejudice upon that subject
There was considerable feeling abroad upon the dis
crepsncy 10 the pay of officers and prvates and be was
satisfied that any action here, tending TO make eIrav.
CANT allo for members, would intensity the feel
log already eIstipg upon this subject Of pay.
Mr. SMITH, of Va, called the question upon the mo-
| ton submitted by hr. JOINS
The call was sus aimed aud the question ordered to b