Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-08-13


from tho first day of May, 1864. 1t in
creased the pay ofprivatcs from thirteen
to sixteen dollars per month, (without dis
tinction Of coIor,l and the pay Of officers
in somewhat similar proportion. But the
smalness of this increase, as well as the
: delay in cnacting it, was occasioned by the
eXtravagant measures ABOVE mentoned.--
The Treasury, strained By the payment Of
enormous sums to negroes by reason of
their employment in increased numbers
aud at increased rates of expense, could
i lily respond TO the just demands made up.
on it in behalf Of our citizen soldiers.
Besides it is instructive to observe that
in this Legislation by Congress, while in-
creased pay to white troops begins on the
first of May, an increase to colored troops
dates from the first Of January. And
provision contained in the act of 18th Of
June authorizes the Attorney General of
the United States to inquire whether in
creased pay under former laws cannot be
allowed to negroes employed in the public
service before the beginning of the present
year, who we're free on the l 9th Of April
1861, and if he determined in favor of
such allowance his decision shall be car
ricd int effect by orders of the War De.
parlmcnt. The majority in Congress, in
pursuing the phantom of negro equality,
are, a4improvident as they are impassoned.
The decision Of the War Department lin
accordance with the opinion of its solici.
tor) as to the compensation Of negroes un-
der former laws, is to be opened and sub
jcctod to review by the Attorney General,
in the hope that some additional meaning
may be wrung out Of the old statutes JUS
tlfylng additional expenditure upon a fa-
'vorito object.
1t ought 10 be manifest 10 every rcas-
enable man that negroes in service should
,, be paid less than white troops, ,and that the
increase OF their pay from ten to sixteen
dollars per month was unnecessary and
protligate. The market value of their Ia
, Dor is known to be less than that of cti.
zcns, and it is equally clear that their ser.
wees are much less valuable in the army
We have but to add under this head
that additional pay to our citizen sol diers
In ser vice is but just and reasonable, and
ought long since to have been provided -
'The greet depreciation in the value Of the
currency IN which they are paid, and tho
increased rates of price in the country af-
fecting all their purchases and outlays,
have demanded the notice and consdera-
ton ofthe Government. 1t is upon their
eXertions that reliance must be placed for
success in the war, and even for the pres.
ervaton Of the Treasury from ombarrass-
ment and the country from pecuuiary con-
vulsion and whatever differences of opin-
ion may exist as 10 measures Of Govern
ment policy, their merits and sacrifices
demand recognition and gratitude from
the whole mass Of their countrymon.
This gigantic scheme for the employ
ment oi negro troops at full rates of ex-
peasc is, therefore, unwise as regards the
prosecution Of the war, and operates in.
justly as to our citizen soldicry in service.
In other words, it is dangerous, prolligato,
and unjust - CongresStouM AdiresS.
A FLANK MoVEMENT.-One Of Sgel's
soldiers gives the following account of Il
loraging adventure he had in Virginia -
"Vell you zee, L goes down to dat old fol-
lows blaze dat has beach orchard, we're
We vas stadhoned, to stheal some breeches,
and ven | gets to de vront gate vat you
dinks | zee ? sees dero pig pull-dog,
and he looks mighty savage. So l dinks
, L frighdons him, and | says, "Look here,
Mr.. Pull-dog, stand back, fights on dis
line all zummer." But the pull.dog, he
d ont carefor dat, so vlanks him -
'How did you do that p
"Vy, goes way arount, so as pc pull,
dog couIdn' see me, and ven get to dc
back gate vat you dinks l zee Wy dere l
see dat same old pull.dog So l slanks
him again"
GLOW did you do that!'
"Vy, | goes way arount again, SO as he
couldn zee me to anoder little beech orch,
ard, and ven gets dere vat you dinks
see Wy dere see dat same old pull-dog!
f So ylanks him again"
"Ilow did you do that ?"
"Vy, says to dat old pull.dog, Look
here Mister Pull-dog, l vlanks you dree
dimes, and every dimes | find you de same
old Pull'dog. Tam your old breeches who
f cares for your old beeches ? My dime is
our next months and de country may 20