New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-17


He entered Into tho service Of Government,
often relinquishing more profitable situations,
and IN many cases doubtless from considera-
tions of loyal devotion to his country, but be
mono the less became party to contract by
which be was bound to perform military ser.
vice, the Government on the other hand being
equally bound to pay him bis stipulated wages.
If the Government fails to perform it's share
of the contract, tho soldier Is not legally nor
practically released from his. He remains IN
service for the full period Of his enlistment
unless sooner discharged by illness or death.
But he remains there by compulSion, by force
of military discipline. Whatever enthusiasm
once inspired him has vanished with the pro.
tracted failure Of the Government to discharge
its obligations. His only inspiration arises
from a sentiment Of loyalty. How can
no be expected to retain it If the
Government for whose support he olers
his life to the chances of disease and
battle is 80 careless Of its pledged faith and
of his welfare and comfort as TO neglect the
payment of bis wages 1t is obvious enough
that it is for tho interest as it Is for the honor
of. the Government to take care that its sol.
dicrs are punctualy paid. An ill.paid army Is
often mutnous seldom contented, never en-
tbusiastic.
The arrears Of pay now due tho army
amount probably to lot less than between fifty
and sixty millions of dollars. There are many
regiments which have not received dollar Of
pay for three, FIVE, Elk, and even eight months.
Not q few of our defeats might be traced in
some measure to the encouragement, discon.
tent, and general dissatisfaction accustomed by
this unreasonable and inexplicable delay. II
there is any satisfactory reason or excuse, we
have failed to hear it suggested. 1t ought not
to be deemed unreasOnably trncting to require
from the Government an adherence to the
principles of commercial morality which are
recognized among merchants in private life and
which form an unwrtien code for the regulation
Of mercantile affairs. When tie Government
makes O contract, or when it comes into the
market as n borrower, it is not easy to see
Why il ought not TO conform to the rules which
govern individuals in similar relations and ne.
cessities. If then It undertakes TO pay its en-
ployoes, which the soldiers are, certain sun
per month, and fails without adequate excuse,
how shall it expect TO preserve it's credit 1t
was easy 10 calculate how much would be due
10 the army, and what means wero provided
10 pay it. If more money was needed more
should have been raised. II it were not raised
in sessou it il u positive delinquency for which
somebody 10 responsible.
We may congratulate ourselves on the low
rate Of interest at which the public loans have
been obtained. But il should be remembered
that the interest which the Government saves
a class OF ito creditors loses. whose claims are
practically loans 10 the Government just 40
long Us their payment lie deferred. On these
debts no interest viii ever be pad-not even
on the arrears 70 tho soldiers, TO whom the
amount thus due is computed at not less than
a million Of dollars. A much larger item may
be obtained from the debts to contractors, few OF
saom are 90 fortunate os not to know practically
the difficulties in the way OF receiving pay.
ment of the principal OF their claims. There
are scores OF cases in this city where the adj
ustment Of undisputcd claims on accomplished
contracts has been delayed for months without
reason or excuse aud when settlement is
finally made, tho best terms the Government
haI TO offer are One-thrd cash, and the re.
mainder in ak per cent certificates Of in
debtedness, which are worth from 50 to %
cents ON tho dollar. Suppose these interest ec-
counts were added 70 the exhibit OF the
Treasury. What would then be the average
rate
Ii would have been far better for our Ma
tional credit, aud iinmeasurably 80 for Four
National honor, if Government had, from the
outset, fairy estimated its accruing liabilities.
aud sought TO provide for the whole of them
at maturity by well.regnlated measures of
finance, early adopted aud honestly adhered
to. The resolution which has anticipated 30
large an amount Of The loan or note issue to
be finally adopted, was an act Of necessary but
only partial justice. What We need, and what
tie Government ought to announce its deter
minaton to adopt, is somo plan which shall
not merely make late payment of long arrears,
but which shall store its sOlyency and it's
credit by creating belief in it's purpose rs
well as its ability to pay its debts when they
become due.
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