The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-12-13
COLUMBIA, S. "a.
satnr .ay Morning, Dc osmber IS. 1879.
Mr.. stephens Desence Of tho Back Pay
We have read the telegraphic report

"0 ubSO A00eA sAAo SVbS6A0RoAo ACPoAs
OF the speech of Hon. A. H.. Stephens.
in Congress, on the salary bill, with
pain. We do justice to it's force and
point on some of the propositions laid
down. bat its general SCOPE and effect
are not such as become representative
of the. people. Admitting the legiti
mate iu1aence OF the press, Mr.. Ste
phens objected to the freedom of its
comm, nts on the legislation o. the last
session OF Congress to raise the pay OF
members, aud to make it retroactive.
Now, if the press is really the fourth Is
tate. if it not only colleots the suffrages
OF the people, but largely and bene fl
cially controls public sentiment, it must
be left free to do it as we'll By exposure
and just dennnciasion rs by argument
and array Of facts. It is in the COLI.
sions OF sharp debate that truth and
right are elioited and strengthened. The
press is the modern forum where great
topics arc discussed, and where the
most trying and decisive tests are ap.
piled to dogmas. systems. opinions. con-
duct and every thing which enters into
the public lie Of men. What comes
forth approved in its orucible, is enti-
tied to our respect. In the matter of
the increase of salary of members,
the press Of the country has been
divided in opinion. It may we'll be,
upon such subject. It is generally
agreed that the pay should be liberal
be equal, at least, to the amount
which the members could fairly earn in
professions and in the other pursuits OF
private life. That is practical ques-
,tion. about which differing views have
necessarily been taken.
But when Mr.. Stephens goes further,
and refects upon the press for taking
those members to task who voted them
selves back pay, and in which they
expressed, the we'll settled moral oon-
viotion Of the country, we submit
that he,gpes too far. There was gross
immortality in the act, and the moral
sense OF the people, lowered and de.
based aa it has become. rebelled every
where against' it. Ia faithfully repre-
sentlng,it enormity the press wa, right
and strictly in the line. of its high voca-
ton. Mr.. Stephens has argued in
circle. IF it was wrong for members
to take what the law allowed" he asks,
"where were men to find out the rule of
right and wrong?" Law is not the ex-
preston OF the rule of right ind wrong
always, much less where, as in this case,
the parties whose action Mr.. Stephens
would sustain, themselves passed the
law, notoriously iu order to enable them
to make the grab. The two years term
Was out, and they had received the pay
for it, which the Government and the
law promised when they entered upon
it. Instead OF being content with that,
they made new la,o on tho last day OF
their term of service, which put So, 900
i'll their pockets. And according to
Mr.. Stephens. this law, cooked up for a
purpose. was obligatory as rule Of
right and wrong.
w w wv SoiC ~ tOtIO" AAE. oL6-
phens in his discussion Of the political
aspects of the question. He may
have Q show of right in -exaoting a
very high rem Enumeration for the services
OF public men. We do not conceive,
however. that virtue, intelligence. dis
interestedness. trustworthiness and de-
votion to public duty are likely to be
increased with increase oi pay above
what is liberal and proper. It is not
pay which makes these great qualities.
When members received 81, 500 each,
they were as able and certainly as pure
III character as they are now that re
ceive $500, and complacently pocket
$4,000 additional in two years term,
through the instrumentality OF special
retroactive, legislative Act passed by
themselves. Dnt we 10 not now fee
interest in this branch Of the question.
1t is MIR. Stephens defence OF the mo
rality OF what has appeared to Us as
more than questionable, that we com.
voIoip Of A1noirs1o.