Year: 1863

MURPHY, July 25th, 1853.


FELLOW CIrIzENs!-I am again candidate 20 rep
resent you in the End Congress Of the Confederate
States. 1t would be impossible for me in short
letter to review all that has been DONE or omitted
to be done, IN the present Congress; but deem It
only necessary to notice one particular charge made
against me-


have learned with surprise within the last few
days that am charged by some with having voted
against an increase of the pay of tne soldier and by
others that lodged the vote on that bill. With
those who know me personally, aud are well ac-
quainted with me- this false and intentional slander
needs no refutatIon but to the stranger am in
duty bound to contradict it, 49, ...
AT the first session of the permanent Congress .
bill passed the House of Representatives increasing
month, for which'I voted This bill was sent to the
Senate, and was there laid upon the table, where it
yet lies


AT the second session similar bill was intro
duced on the first day of the sesSion,7-was read
twice by its title and referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs. In few days thereafter favor
able report was made and the bill placed upon tine
Calendar


n some ten or fifteen days thereafter during the
morning hour, when nothing is in order but the in
PRODUCTION OF bills, resolutions memorials, &c, and
when there IS always thin attendance of the House.
unless the members generally have this kind of bu-
siness to attend to, the Hon. Mr. Curry Of Alabama
moved to suspend the usual rules, take this bill
from the Calendar, and put it upon its passage
The bill being very popular one this motion pre-
vailed The bill was taken up put upon its third
and last reading and passed by SfVote of seventy
live to six,-about twenty members being absent,
myself among the number, and for the following
reason: COL b. s. Gather, the Representative
from the Ninth District was sick in his room, and
had sent for me that morning to see him. On get
ting to his room, an old, broken down soldier, by
the name of Matthews, from the county of Wilkes,
was there, wishing to get furlough and transpor-
tation home COL Gather asked me- as favor to him.
to go with the soldier and get him off home. 1
cheerfully did So On returning to the Hall of the
4ouse of Representatives, was informed that tho
vote upon the bill in question had been taken, with
the result have already stated at once arose to
question of privilege, and asked leave to vote for
the bill, saying that had been necessarily absent
at the War Department. Hon. Mr.. Jones objected,
and was prevented from voting. This the journal
will show.


At the third and last session of Congress, 0his
last bill also having failed in the Senate another
bill of the same character was early introduced,
took the same course, and finally up for con-
sideration. obtained the floor and moved the
main question, the effect of which motion is to cut
off debate. The bill was put upon its passage, and
passed almost unanimously; was sent to the Sem
ate, and there shared the fate of its two predeces
sors-was not acted upon. Thus you will observe
there have been nine separate votes this question
vi IuCISdoe vi TUG ulOHIuly pay Ol Ine SOlueI.
Eight times voted for it. and was once absent for
the reason have stated. Besides, voted to give
the soldiers five dollars Communication for deficiency
of rations and also voted for the bill to increase
the Communication of clothing, or for increase Of
clothing ITSELF


Now, brief recapitulation of my votes will show
you whether have been in favor Of an increase of
the pay of the soldier
The old Communication price oi clothing was fifty
dollars. Now by my vote it is one hundred and
thirty dollars, increase Of eighty dollars per an
mum, or little over So 81 per month. voted to
pay for deficiency Of ratons five dollars per month
increase of monthly pay four dollars per month
Then fmy votes had all prevailed the account would
stand thus:


Monthly pay, $l5
Communication of clothing, nearly IL
Communication Of ratons,
Which would make the monthly pay per month $3l
Thus you will see whether l have been faithful
soldier is properly cared for. ''es .'i0
have thought that this much was necessary to
be said to set me right. Remember always that
this charge is made by men who want my position,
and who will make loud pretenSions as to beng the
soldiers friend. But my impression is that the
kind of friendship the soldier most appreciates is to
take musket and stand by hls side in the ranks,
and this you will expect of all able-boied men whose
position in public life does not exc Use them from
such service. Your ob't serv't


A. 7. DAVIDSON