, 1873-06-27
SENATOR CARPENTERS DEFENSE OF BACK
PAY


Wo present elsewhere, in full, Senator Alatt.
II. Carponters speech on the Baok-pay bill, do
livorod last night to portion Of his oonatitu-
ents ut Janosvllo Wis. 1t nay be accepted as
the ablest defonso Of the Congressional action
in this mattor which can bo made. 1t Is certain
iy IN ingenious and well-conatructed argument,
aud II it will not stand, then tho apologists Of
whnt tho people call tho salary-grab may as
woll givo up their position ns indofcnBiblo.
Wo do not believe that it will stand. We
do not belove that it will convince
dozen people that tho voting Of back
pay WAS not m impertnent outrage. We
do boliovo, on tho contrary, that those who have
expected satisfactory explanation from this
speech will DO disappointed. Tho fundamental
error Of the whole effort is the assumption that,
If 1t can bo demonstrated TINT Congress had con-
stitutional authority for ita net, tho act itaelf
may DO justified. This constitutional authority
has been clearly demonstrated by Senator CIR
pentor But 1t haa novor boon doniod. The
popular condemnation Of tho salary-grab has
been with the full knowledge Of this authority.
To confirm tho authority, therefore, with con-
stitutional argument at this time, is simply
begging tie whole question. 1t fniIs
utterly to meet the criticism Of tho
people. The constitutional authority given to
Congress to ix Its own compensation was
mado in IN ora Of pure patriotism, and with a
confidence fully Justified in the earlier yeara Of
our Government by the conscientious effort Of
Congress to keep down the pay to tho level Of
exact compensation. If 1t had beon suggested,
at tho timo tho Constitution was nlado, that Con-
gress would some day tako advantage Of this
privilege to'vote away the peoples money for
lts own benont, in tho face of great popular
protest, tho suggestion would havo boon put
away as unworthy OF credit and altogether vilo.
II, then, the day has como when Congross
deliberately abusos itH privilege, tho mon who
are Responsible for this abuse arc accountable to
tho people, aud cannot find protection in tho
authority which they have Hubyortod and de-
graded.
Mr. Carpenter claims that Credit Moblier Ia
tho cauBe Of all tho uproar about tho salary
grab. Thero il no doubt that it bus had somo-
thing to do with it. Had thoro not boon oyi-
donces in the Credit Mobilior caso, and In tho
Congressional treatnent Of that casc, and other
matters Of Bpirit OF corruption among our
public men, tho people would have boen moro
inclined to regard the aalary-grab as prompted
by pure motives, and tho reault Of M earnest
conviction Of its Justice. But, back Of al
fo Int 41nA
ary-grab could not have boon passed Ind
1t not boen for the looBe and corrupt ton-
doncies Of ollcial lifo evidenced by tho
Credit Mobilior tranHnctiona. A1r. Carpontor's
recognition OF tho influence which reputation
for unfair dealing in public life has exortod In
securing condemnation Of tho baok-pay bill
las betrayed him into tho error of defending
Crodlt Mobilior, In order to prepare tho way for
juHtifying tho salnry-grab. Ho reyiyos tho old
patriotic talk which was the fashion when tho
building Of the Pacific roads was under conad-
Grafton. IIo recounta ths history OF tho roads,
mud speaks Of "poatponing the non," which il
his way of describing tho sacrifice Of tho Qoy-
ornnent'H security. IIo nays the Government
Inns not boen defraudod, and refers to tho yari-
ous construction contracts whicl, wore oycntu-
ally grouped under Credit Mobilior as mere bus-
neBy arrangements which turned out at 3
profit. But he ignoroB tho evidence Of broact
Of trust on tho part Of those who Ind tho Coy
ornment interests III charge; Of tho donations Of
stock; Of tito fraudulent transactions tint at-
tended tho letting Of contraotai Of the implica-
tion Of mon in high placos; and Of tho taclt
Endorsement OF. all those frauds by tho notion of
CongreBg. It is not necessary to so over tle
ground again. It is obvious that, II tho juatif-
cation Of back-pAy depends upon tho dofcnHo Of
Credit Mobllier, Alr. Carpenter has placed him
self In worse position than he occupied bofore.
A large portion'of the spaoch IL devoted to tho
purpose Of proving that e7,5 500 is fair oompen-
sa.lou for Congressional services, and, - tho