The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-15
From the N Y. Express. .'"'
Paying Soldiers and Sailors in
.s -.5tf1 -, - Specie.

Paying Soldiers and Sailors i'm
.s.-f[al ~ @ Specie.
1t is known that the opposition members
of the House of Representatives, on Satur'
day, unanimously adopted resolution
..That the officers, soldiers and sailors in
the army and navy should be paid in gold
and silver or either equivalents..in amount"
The Times not only takes exception to
this resolution, but makes it the occasion
of a great deal of abuse upon the mover,
Mr.. JAMES BROOKS. The reason given for
its introduction, was set forth in the pre-
amble, that
"Gold or silver is paid to our Ministers,
Consuls and Commissioners representing
the nation in foreign countries, and gold and
silver are received from the people at the
Custom Houses in payment of duties; and
the people are taxed to day capitalists their
interest in specie in their investment to the
national debit
The argument against this is such logic as
the following:
'SIhe fact that our Ministers abroad are
paid in gold coin, and that the custom du'
ties are received in gold, and the inter est On
the national debt is paid in gold, is no more
a reason, though it is given as such, for
paving our soldiers in gold, or its equiva-
lent, than for quartering company OF in
fantry in Mr.. Brooks House in Now York.
The argument that the soldiers should be
paid in coin, because the duties are COL
lected and the interest on the national debt
paid in it, is simply bare-faced suggestion
that the Government should commit very
gross fraud.
The nsinuation at the close of the
Brooks preamble, that the public debt has
been incurred for the bene6 of the "capi.
tallists," ana that "the pc ople" are taxed
in order to carry out agres mems in which
they have no interest, bea rs on it the marks
of that detestable demag'o gic INSCRIPTIONS
ness which was long the curse and disgrace
Of American politics. 5hich long made our
system of government the grief and scaD.
dial of all friends of liberty, and which came
very near working orlr ruin
Mixed up with this logic is the usual
amount of personal abuse and impeachment
of motive, which we let pass for what they
are worth. Those who will read the reso'
luton and preamble will see that studied
pains is taken by the Times to pervert the
meaning of both. We submit that sailors,
soldiers, and the officers commanding them,
are as worthy to have their payments made
In specie, OR IT'S EQUIVALENT, as are foreign
ministers or their attaches, or those who
invest their capital to provide money for
carrying on the war. Why not? We sub
NIT also that this mode of payment is much
more economical than the enormous amount
paid by the Federal Government for boun
ties, and for the obvious reason that it would
secure better class of men, and steader
service. We leave out of view now all
questions connected with the increase of
wages in other departments Of service since
the war began, and all questions of the su-
perior claims of those bearing arms for
their country in time of war; hut surely if
any distinction is mace, fav oTing ,ne class
above another, soldiers and ailors are en-
titled to this distinction. So Ear from there
being any demagogueism in this, the offence
lies in the opposite direction. The ques-
lions to be submitted to the house are sim,
ply these: Shall the practical defenders of
the country on sea and la I'D be paid in the
kind of currency, or ITS EQUIVALENT. now
paid to those who are in certain kinds of
civil service, or who are the creditors of
the Government, or shall they be paid thir,
teen dollars month in Treasury paper? -
Is not the plan proposed better aud cheaper
than increased bounties, which are swamp
ing the country, and for which one hundred
million dollSrs additional payments have
been asked from Congress? Let these
questions be discussed upon all their mer-
ITS and not W.. the abusive and partisan
manner starter, by the Times.
No WHERE. TO Go TO CHURcH.-The
Members of Congress here have no where
to 60 church, and hence many of them do