The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-11-26
Work for CONGRESS-


have assembled at Washington for the pur-
pose of looking after the interests of the Ma
ton, and doing such acts Of legislation as the
exigencies of the country and the times de
mand. Never in our history was there time
when every weei; and month was traught with
such momentous consequences to the nation
as at present. The war for the Union has been
carried on for almost three years, with Wig
or and energy never before displayed by ma
ton Of farmers and mechanics who in long
course of peace and prosperity, had almest for
gotten the first rudiments Of war. But the
time has arrived when new and final effort
must be made The rebels are almost con
quered. With one more earnest struggle we
shall throttle the demon of rebellion and Sc
cession, and re-establis the once glorious Union
on a foundation more firm and lasting than
it before stood upon.
The great want of the Government now is
men-soIdiers that at once. Our decl-
mated armies are in the heart Of the would
ed-Confederacy,a and if sustained and re-intorc-
ed, they may close up the job, without again
letting our desperate adversary up for
breathing spell.
Under these circumstances, we presume the
first work of Congress will be to find ways
and means to insure more speedily the requi-
site additions to our armies in the field. The
y :; ,,oa o,,d Conn +c,, ,,,beD
BILE will have come direct from the people,
with pretty general and correct idea of the
views Of the people upon the subject of rails
ing armies They will know to certainty,
that the great majority of the people are in
tensely loyal, and ready to sustain them and
the administration in every earnest, honest eff
fort to put an end to this war by conquering
and crushing the enemies of the Union.
Among the means that might be resorted
to in the present emergency, to increase our
force in the field, successfully we think is that
Of increasing the months pay Of soldiers, both
volunteers and drafted men. AS wages now
are common laborers command almost double
the pay that the Government offers its sol
diers. True there is large bounty, but that
Is mostly in prospect, and thereforefails of act
ing as special inducement, as it would if it
was to be PAID down. Again $500 clears the
conscrpt from further call for three years.
The poorest laborer can raise that amount in
SIX to eight months. Money is plenty, and
rl,c ed l, 10 I
vance the three hundred dollars even though
they nave no resource but their labor to refund
It. Now let Government pay its soldiers, say
Thirty Dollars a month, and this anxiety OF
iaboring men to escape the draft, even though
the enlistments did not prevent the necessity
for adraft at all, would cease. AS times and
prices are now, the $13 month paid the con-
script or the volunteer, will hardly keep his
family from the poor house, not to say any
thing of extra comforts or provisions for him
self on the march, or i'll the camp. Few will
volunteer under such circumstances, to under
60 the dangers and hardships of soldering Or
90 when drafted. Massachusetts has seen
j
passed an act giving to every one Of her sol
ders whether volunteer or conscript, $50 per
month, in addition to their pay from the U.
is. This is right, but it would be better and
more effectual for Congress to pass an act Civ
ing all soldiers whether volunteer or conscript
$50 per month, and bounty to his family of
800 after being mustered into the service,
and we believe the next call would be filled
with real earnest fighting men, before the 9th,
Of January. If our Representatives, i'll Congress
have been among the peope--have enlisted
their constituencies we have they have
heard this idea argued and urged constantly.
Such a law just now would be more popular
and tend more to fill the ranks Of armies, than
any measure that could be devised, unless it
it was to make the pay $40 per month.