North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-07-27

text for extending to them the right Of sun
rage and also social position, and to be IoI-
lowed probably, by the organization OF
considerable body of them into standing ar
my.
INCREASE OF soLDIERS PAY.
The immediate result of this policy Of ne
groism in the war has been to postpone, and
at lat to limit the increase of compensation
to our citizen soldiers. Bills providing such
an increase were permitted to lie unacted up
on in Congress for more than five months of
the present session, and the bill finally adop-
ted for that purpose was inadequate and
made to take effect only from the first Of
May, 1861. 1t increased the pay of prvates
from thirteen to sixteen dollars per month,
{withoat distinction of color, land the pay
of officers in somewhat similar proportpns,-
But the smallnes Of this increase as we'll as
the delay IN enacting it, was occasioned by
the extravagant measures above mentioned
The Treasury, strained by the payment of
enormous sums to negroes by reason Of their
employment in increased numbers and at in
creased rates of expense, could lily respond
to the just demands made upon it in behalf
of our citizen soldiers.
Besides it is instructive to observe that ia
this legislation py Congress, while increased
pay to white troops begins on the first of
May, an in.tease to colored troops dates from
thh first of January. Aud provision con-
tanned in the act of 18th of June authorizes
! the Attorney General of the United States to
inquire whether increased pay under former
| former laws cannot be allowed to negroes
employed in the public service before the be-
ginning of the present year, who were free
on the 18th of April, 1851, and if he deter
mine in favor of such allowance his decision
shall be carried into effrct by orders of the
War Department. The majority in Congress
in pursuing the phantom of negro equality
are as improvident as they are impassioned.
The decision of the War Department Gin &C
cordance with the opinion of its solicitor) as
to the compensation of negroes under former
laws, is to be opened and subjected to review
by the Attorney General, in the hope that
some additional meaning may be wrung out
of the old statutes justifying additional ex
penditure upon favorte object.
1t ought 10 be manifest to every reaso ma
BILE man that negroes in service should be
paid less than white troops, and tha. the
increase of their pay from ten to sixteen dol.
gate. The market value of their labor is
known to be less than that Of citizens, and
it is equally clear services are much less val
| liable in the army.
We have but to add under this head that
additional pay to our citizen soldiers in ser.
vice is but just and reasonable, and
ought long since to have been provided
The great depreciation in he value of the
currency in which thew are paid, end the
| increased rates Of price in the country affect.
| ing all their purchases and outlays, have de
manded the notice and consideration of the
| Government 1t is upon their exertons that
reliance must be placed for success in the
war, and even for the preservation of the
| Treasury from embarrassment ut and the coun.
| try from pecuniary convulson and whatev
er differences of opinion may exist as tos
measures of Government policy, their merit.
and sacrifices demand recognition and graf
| itude from the whole mass Of their country
! men.
This gigantic scheme for the employment t
of negro troops at full rate of expense is,
| therefore, unwise as regards the prosecution
Of the war, and operates unjustly as to our
citizen soldery in service. In other words
| it is dangerous, profigate, and unjust.
! But limited space requires US to forego
further examination of particular points Of
Administration policy, (however instructive
and useful such examination might be,) and
to confBe ourselves to some general consider
ations which may be more briefly presented
And these will relate to the dangers which
! will threaten US (as results of Adminstra-
tion policy during the war and afterwards.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK