Richmond Palladium

PAY OF THE ARMY.

"Congress, it is said has reduced the pay of private volunteers to seven dollars per month. A member of Congress receives Eight dollars per day! Eight dollars and roast beef per day—and seven dollars per month, with fatigue, fever and Black vomit: So much for Mr. Polk and a locofoco Congress."

The above paragraph we clipped from the Palladium of the 2d inst. The editor of that paper knows or ought to know, whether the statement is true or false. He receives the regular proceedings of Congress and of course could easily ascertain whether a law has been passed by Congress reducing the pay of volunteers or not. In the paragraph above quoted he sneakingly endeavors to make the impression that Congress has reduced the pay of volunteers, by saying 'it is said' such a law has passed Congress. No alteration has been made in the pay of volunteers.

They receive the same pay now they ever did

A bill is now before Congress, which will likely pass raising the pay of volunteers to $10 per month. We hope it may pass.—Jeffersonian.

We were surprised to see the above from our neighbor Elder. We will not accuse him of intentional error, and can only suppose his ignorance and zeal in the support of the infamous policy of the administration, induce him to assume so ridiculous a position. It is true we do receive the "regular proceedings of Congress" and it is equally true, that we read them. We say again, positively and unequivocally, that the pay of volunteers is but $7 per month. And the editor of the Jeffersonian would do well to pay some attention to facts before he attempts to denounce others His ignorance is inexcusable, so long as he assumes to be the editor of a newspaper. The correspondent of the Baltimore Patriot, in alluding to this reduction of the wages of soldiers, makes the following remarks which are worthy the consideration of the people; and we commend them to the notice of Mr. Elder in particular.

"There is one important fact that the people all over the country ought to know, which is that while the Whigs in Congress vote to increase the pay of volunteers from $7 to $10 per month, and to give each who serves during the war one hundred and sixty acres of the public land, as an inducement to them to go to the defence of their country, the Locofocos, almost in a body, voted against increasing their pay, or giving them the grant of land! The other day, the House sent to the Senate the "war bill," as it is called, increasing the pay of volunteers to $10 per month. The Senate amended the bill, by substituting $7 for $10, and when the bill was returned to the House, every Locofoco present but eight, voted to agree to the Senate's amendment! They voted that $7 per month was enough, after all, for the volunteers! They were receiving $8 per day themselves; but what of that' They were members of Congress—not mechanics and hard laboring men!

"To-day, Mr. Stewart submitted a resolution directing the committee on military affairs to report a bill increasing the pay of the volunteers to $10 per month, and giving them one hundred and sixty acres each of the public lands, and moved a suspension of the rules that said resolution might be considered. It being an important matter the yeas and nays were ordered—and how think you the vote stood' Why, all the Whigs but four voted to suspend the rules, while all the Locofocos but seventeen voted in the negative: The same party still tacitly voting that $7 per month was sufficient for the poor and brave fellows who volunteer to fight for and protect their country! Who wish to see the war with Mexico brought to a speedy and successful termination, and are willing, and anxious, to put the compensation high enough to make it some inducement for good and substantial men to volunteer'—The Whigs. Who wish to protract the war, and are unwilling to allow the volunteers a grant of land or more than $7 per month for fighting the battles of their country'—The Locofocos, if their acts may give the answer."

We have also a private letter, from a member of Congress, corroborating the above statement of facts.

The Hon. Thos. J. Henley, of Indiana, after inquiries at the office of the Adjutant General at Washington, states the following as the pay of the volunteers: 1st Sergeant $16 per month; 2d, 3d and 4th do. $13 do.; Corporal, $9 do.; Musicians, $8 do., Private, $7 do.

The volunteers will be required to clothe themselves, for which they will receive the following allowances from the government.—Sergeant for one year, $48, Musician do., $48; Corporal and private do., $36.

Mr. Henley is of the opinion that the pay of volunteers serving on foot will be advanced by Congress to $8 per month, the same as allowed to mounted men.

Mr. Elder says he would like to see the price raised to $10. Why then does he defend his party in Congress who are so nearly unanimously opposed to an increase' Is it because he holds an office by the favor of his party, and that base, dog-like servility, is the price he pays for it?