Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-09-02
To the Freemen of the Tenth Congressional
District.

District.
MURPHY, July 25th, 1863
Fellow. CITIZENS Il am again candidate to rep
resent you in the End Congress of the Confederate
States 1t would be impossible for me in short
letter to review all that has been done, or omitted
to be done, IN the present Congress; but deem it
only necessary to notice particular charge made
against me.
have learned with surprise within che last few
days that am charged by some with having voted
against increase of the pay of the soldier and by
others that lodged the vote on that bill. With
thoseowho know me personally, and are well &C
quainted with me, this false and intentional slander
needs no refutatlon but to the stranger l. ain in
duty bound to contradict it.
At the first session of the permanent Congress =
bill passed the House of Representatives increasing
the monthly pay Of the private four dollars per
month for which voted. This bill was sent to tho
Senate, and was there laid upon the table, where it
yetlies
At the second session similar bill was intro
dncedon the first day of the session,-was read
twice sy its title and referred to the Committee
Military Affairs. In few days thereafter favor
able report was made and the bill placed upon the
Calendar
In some ten or fifteen days thereafter, during the
morning hour, when nothing is in order but the in.
PRODUCTION Of bills, resolutions, memorials, &C., and
when there IS always thin attendance of the House.
unless the members generally have this kind of bu
siness to attend to, the Hon. Mr.. Curry ofAlabama,
moved to suspend the usual rules, take this bill
from the Calendar, and put it upon its passage
The bill being very popular one, this motion pro-
vailed. The bill was taken up, put upon its third
and last reading and passed by vote of seventy.
five to six,-about twenty members being absent,
myself among the number, and for the following
reason: Col. B. S. Gather, the Representative
from the Ninth District was sick in his room, and
had sent for me that morning to see him. On get
ting to his room, an old, broken down soldier, by
the name of Matthew'S from the county of Wilkes,
was there, wishing to get furlough and transpor-
taton home Col Gather asked me- as favor to him,
to go with the soldier and get him off home. 1
cheerfully did so. On returning to the Hall of the
House of Representatives, l was informed that the
vote upon the bill in question had been taken with
the result have already stated. at once arose to
question of privilege, and asked leave 10 vote for
the bill saying that had been necessarily absent
at the War Department. Hon. Mr.. Jones objected,
and was prevented from voting. This the journal
will show.
At the third and last session of Congress, (this
last bill also having failed in the Senate) another
bill of the same character was early introduced,
took the same course, and finally came up for con-
sideration. l obtained the floor and moved the
main question, the effect of which motion is to cut
off debate The bill was put upon its passage, and
passed almost unanimously; was sent to the SEN
ate and there shared the fate of its two predeces
sors-was not acted upon. Thus you will observe
there have been nine separate votes on this question
of an increase Of the monthly pay of the soldier
Eight times voted for it. and was once absent for
the reason have stated. Besides, I voted to give
the soldiers five dollars commutation for deficiency
of rations; and also voted for the bill to increase
the Communication of clothing, or for increase of
clothing ITSELF
Now, brief recapituation of my votes will show
you whether have been in favor of an increase of
the pay of the soldier.
The old communication price Of clothing was Gfty
dollars. Now by my vote it is one hundred and
thirty dollars, increase of eighty dollars per an
mum, or little over So CT per month. l voted to
pay for deficiency of rations five dollars per month";
increase of monthly pay four dollars per month
Then if my votes had all prevailed the account would
stand thus:
Monthly pay, $l5
Communication of clothing, nearly IL
Communication of rations, . 5
Which would make the monthly pay per month $al
Thus you will see whether have been faithful
soldier s'properly cared for.
have thought that this much was necessary to
be said to set me right. Remember always that
this charge is made by men who want my position
and who will make loud pretensions to being the
soldiers friend. But my impression is, that the
kind Of friendship he soldier most appreciates is to
take musket and stand by his side in the ranks
and this you wiexpect of all ablebodied men whose
position in public life does, not excuse them from
such service. Your.obt sery's
!ot. - A. 7. DAVIDSON.
POSTSCRIPT.
DAY OF ELECTION. Citizens in the State VOTE on
the 4th day Of November: Soldiers in camp vote on
the 29th of October the vote 10 be returned within
20 days. %. "a
Scarce any virtue in the whole Scriptures has been