University of Virginia Library

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Pay of Colored Troops

The following is the petition in respect to the arrears of pay due a portion of the colored troops, to which reference was lately made under our telegraphic head.

Petition

To the Honorable Senate & House of Representatives of the U. S., in Congress assembled.

The undersigned respectfully petitions for the repeal of so much of Section IV of the act of Congress making appropriations for the Army & approved July 4, 1864 as makes a distinction, in respect of pay due, between those colored soldiers who were free on or before April 10, 1861., & those who were not free until a later date,

Or, at least, that there may be such legislation as to secure the fulfillment of pledges of full pay from date of enlistment, made by direct authority of the War Department to the colored soldiers of South Carolina, on the faith of which pledges they enlisted.