Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-20
From Die albaag .argus.

From the atbaay Argus.
Mr. BuEL-lreguest,t that through your
useful and extensively circulated paper, a
few reasons may be laid before the public,
in favor of granting to the disbanded Off
GERS of the late American army, the boun-
ty lands proposed in the lase congress,
which subject may probably be revived and
taken upin their session which commences
the fourth of next month.
The reasons in favor of the grant, which
desire to state, are
L. That the officers of the late army, ia
ken collectively, are body of men highly
deserving from their country in every
point of view. If it should be said they
took their commissions without the condi-
tion of their bounty lands, and that proba-
bly, many of them solicited their appoint
ment, it may truly and justly be answered
that the necessary expeuces OF the officers
for clothes, equipments, and badges of Of
fee, with the unavoidable losses they have
sustained, and the high prices they have
had to pay for their subsistence, taken into
consideration, Trey as a body of men have
laid up no money while in the service, and
circumstanced as they were it was not pos-
| sible they should. In saying thisno allow
| ance Is made for extiavagancies. Be-
sides, they have left their other employ
lnents in life to serve their country, are
now generally out of employment, aud pro-
badly many months may pass before they
can again enter into business. Their pa
tience under hardships, their sullerings in
captivity, their engagedness in the cause
OF their country, their faithfulness to their
duty, their courage and bravery in the day
OF battle and danger, all conspire to shew,
that the late proposal in Congress, OF boun-
ty lands to the disbanded officers of the
army, though negatived by small maju-
lrity in one of the Houses of Congress, was
Indeed just and reasonable proposal and
which it is hoped and expected, the con-
lgress which soon begins its session, will
grant without hesitancy.
2. TIE cond reason, is, that the DR. o.
posed grant would greatly promote the set.
Element OF the extensive western territory
/ Our vacant lands are extensive and fertile {;
but being in a wilderness state, are useless.
! The officers, generally speaking, are enter
Uprising men. They would 90 on to these
lands /; they would take their soldiers with
them, and soon turn the wilderness into q
fruitful field. and make the desoate and
tsuiitary places to be glad for them.
5. The third reason is, that it would
!. form the most efectual and powerful bar.
J rler against the savages and their more saw
: age allies, who set them on against our de.
ienceless frcnt.ers-People the country
, land the sasages are gone.
4. She measure here recommended
would carry military knowledge, skill aud
activity into the very part of cur beloved
country where tits most needed.
S. The donation recommended, would
make comfortable provision for the wi
dows and orphan children Of many goot
men, &ho have not loved their lives unit,
1.-The death, but have. generously sacrificed
them for the good of their beloved coultry
dearer TO them than life
T.. e. 1t woaid remnye from our happy
. country, the sting of reproacll, that RepuG
lies are ungratefuI-Kings and .tyrant:
abundantly reward their officers aud mel
for killing, plundering and enslaving man
kind and shall Republics refuse gene
rods reward to the brave men who fight tn,
| battles ofliberty, their country aud the
E rights Of mankind
z. On condition congress should make
the proposed grant, and the subsequent
and immediate settlement of the cOantr'
take place, as mast certainly it would, til,
E remaining wild lands with so much NOR,
: rapid sale, and such an increased price
: that the United States would be the imme
date and abundant gamers by the propos
ed donation. A FRIEND
: ~ tie late .frmy, and to our cOa,mOn,Je
f Loved country.