The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-08-05

therein ny tue governments VI VIC States
We beieveit to be certain that this
measure has entaled great expense upon
TIE treasury OF the United States that it
has created unnecessarily large number
of Federal officers, distributed throughout
the country; and that, while it has been
no more efficien, than the System which
required State cooperation, It has been
much less satisfactory.
If a necessity for raising troop. by con-
scription be asserted, then it would follow
that the revolutionary policy of the adj
ministration has alarmed and disguised
the people, and chilled that enthusiasm
which, in the earlier days Of the contest,
filled our patriotic army with brave aud
willing volunteers.
! BoUNTIEs.
What is further TO be mentioned in this
connection is the payment of bounties by
the United States, by the State govern,
mept, and by cities, counties, and other
municipalities. In their payment Etbere
has been great want of uniformity and
system. The policy Of the general gov
eminent has not been the same at all times,
and in the States there has been infinite
diversity. Upon the whole, She system of
bounties has been costly and unequal, the
amount Of Indebtedness created by it is
enormous, and unequal sums have been
paid TO soldiers Of the same grade of ner-
it, Under any. system of local bounties to
avoid CONSUMPTION, the wealthy parts OF
the country enjoy an advantage over 9th
ers, and especially where manufacturing
and other interests find it to their profit
in providing the supplies of the war to re-
tain their laborers at home, substituting
payments of money in their stead, unless
each State shall be firmly required 20 fur
!. nish the substitutes to fill up its quota
from its own citizens. But the general
government has permitted the agents Of
such interests in a State to go into othe>
States, and into the southern country, and
obtain enlistmeHts for bounties, both of
white and black troops, to be credited up
on the quota of the State of the agent. If
it shall happen hereafter that local pays
ments Of bounties, whether by States or
by municipalities within them, be assumed
by the government Of the United States,
the inequalities of the system, and its ex>
travagance in many cases, will become a
matter Of concern to the whole people,
And it is just matter of concern against
those who have held authority in the
Federal government, that by their policy
and want of policy ON this subject, the
burden Of the war has been vastly ihcreas-
ed, and been distributed irregularIy and
unfairly. x x
| NEGRO TROOPS.
But subject which requires particular
notice is. the employment Of negro troops
in the war. TIE address here recaptu>
lates the chief acts of Congress and Pres-
dental prociamations in reference 20 Ne
gro enlistments and continues The
measures above mentioned would estab>
lish the following points in the policy of
the government First-1he employ
men! of black troops generally, both slave
and free; second, the equality of black
troops with white men as to compensation
and supplies; Sand, third, the paymen, to
the loyal master of q slave of bounty of
one hundred dollars when the slave is
drafted icto the service, or of bounty not
exceeding three hundred dollars when he
volunteers.
The practical results of this policy are,
to obtain An inferior quality of troops at
the highest rate of expanse; to impose
upon the treasury the supper, of An enor>
nous number of undisci pIned and ieno-
rant negroes to recognize the principle
;. Of buying negroes from their masters,
whether public interests require i. or not,
and tc incur the risk of breaking down in
the war because of the inefficiencv of the
forces employed in its prosecution be,
sides it is notorious that in pursuing this
policy the negro women and children
must, to great extent, be thrown upon
the government FOR support, or be left t.
perish.
We know no reason for this extrava,
giant, costly and dangerous policy, except
a desire Of The majority in Congress to es>
tablsh Cf indeed their enac,ments could
accomplish such Object, the equality o.
the blnck and white races with each 9th
err. But, doubtless, the employment O
blacks in the wsr is to be made the pre-
, text for extending to them The right O
f suffrage ard also social position. and to be
! followed, probably, BY the organization o
a considerable body of them into stand
ing army.
INCREASE OF SOLDIERS PAY.
f The immediate result of this policy o
Negroism has been to limit the increase O
! pay to our gallant white soldiers, on whose
endurance the result Of the war rests
And yet the majority in Congress (says
, the Address,, have not only equaized the
pay of black and white soldiers, but they
have, for the benefit of the former, enact
J ed thar their increase shall begin from the
, 1ss pof January, and that the Attorney
General of the United States inquire
| whether increase Of pay under former law;
, canno! be allowed to negroes employed in
service from same date. The address il
decidedly in favor OF increase of pay 70,
the white soldiers; and adds: This gil
gautic scheme for the employment of ne
gro troops at full rates of expense is, there
) fore, unwise as regards the prosecution O
the war, and operates unjustly as to our
citizen soldery in service. In other
words, it is dangerous, prohigate and un'
just.
f But limited space requires US to forego