New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-14
SOLDIERS, PAY.

SOLDIERS PAY.
One Of the first bills introduced at this session
of Congress was to make the pay and allow
ances OF colored troops equal TO those OF white
troops. Had the bill been good one in detail,
it ought TO have been reported from the Com
mittee and passed at once, but in its present
shape its propriety is very questionable. 1t ia
framed to operate only from the time whenit be-
comes O law, and does not, "a il ought take
effect retrospectyely. What Congress is bound
TO do Is TO enact that ell colored soldiers in the
,eryice OF the United States shall be paid from
the dates Of their enlistments the same
amounts and be entitled to the same allow
ances rs white soldiers. Until il does that, 1t
neglects to do an act of manifest justice.
The action of the Government in this matter
hitherto has been discrcditabe. and has been
persisted in with unreasonable obstinacy. Adj
nit, If you please, that the last Congress left the
law in an uncertain state. If there was doubt,
the colored soldier ought 10 have had the benefit
of II. In whatever view. the law was az least
fairly capable of constructions in his favor
But there was really no doubt. IL was con-
clusively shown by Gov. Andrew in his special
message Ia the Massachusetts, Legislature last
Fall that the President was authorized, regard.
less of the acts OF July IL, lS62, touching the
employment of persons of African descent to
accept negroes for both the Regular Army and
'he Volunteer service. The existing laws made
no discrimination between white and black, and
being authorized to accept hs wa of cour'e
equally authorized TO pay. Indeed, it wss only by
forced and strained construction Of the statutes
taking them together-that the opposite con-
cluson was reached. and II was very singular
timdity which led the War Department 10
decide thai colored troops should be organized
aud used under that statute only which limited
their monthly pay TO Sio-and which deducted
from that pittsnce 80 for clothing.
But 1t il useless to 60 back, for it is agreed
OIL all hsnds--the Secretary of War himself
recommending II in his report-that the colorcd
troops shall in future be paid fairly. Wecomplen
now that The bill does not repair the injustice
Of the past. No money indeed, can ever atone
TO those generous and singnlarly mobiles pirted
blacks Of the Massachusetts, 5ith and 55th who
have refused both the inferior wages rendered
them By the1 Government, and the additional
pay which the State Offered expressly on t'r
ground that they were entitled to equality IN
nav with her white volunteers They did not
went the money--or rather they did want IT,,
and refused il notwithstanding their extreme
nece Sites because the would nos have
III supposed they had held oui for
vented and demarded. Sc be- recognized
~ soldier. oi the United State. Whose uniform
they wore under whose Gag they were organ
| ilcd. and for whose existence M f. nation they
were fighting They did not enlist to h,come
| the recipients of Ma achIsetts' charity, and
with manly dignity and rare scli-dcnial they re-
fused IT, The determination was unanimous.
Not man IN either regiment could be induced
10 accept dollar. Had white troop acted with
the same high sense Of honor, the loyal States
would have rung with their praises-and rightly.
|, i, psY--is il not more honorable 30 The blacks
Just in proportion re their position and opporu-
mites hay. been lee
Vol though she money comes tTlily, ii - TIE
last dine Of the colored troops. and they ought
"a have It. They and their families have SUI
Efcd because II has been withheld. We know
of one coored -oldier Who enlisted IN one Of tho
iral colored regiments, fought brsSeiy 1T Fort
Wagner. was wounded, has been discharged from
the service. and is disabled for life. tie lcGt the
army in rag, and with just three dollars in his
pocket. Does the Nation mean to treat its sol
ders in that way' We owe il to ourselves to
pay tho blacks from tho beginning, and to give
them the recognition they desire. IL is mol
decca. u deDy l.. Taey h.7s tough. masUi