Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-06

inns motion being under consideration
The committee rose and obtained leave to sit
again. and
The House adjourned.
To the Honorable the Senate aud House
IF Representatives of the United States,
Ia Congress assembled.
The Memorial OF Abraham Mark!e, Gid
con Frisbie, and their associates, res
pectiveiy, sheweth-
That your inemoralists, at the COM
mencement Of the late war between the
United States and Great Britain, were in
habitants Of Upper Canada, in the British
dominions, whittier they had previously
migrated from the United States; That at
an early period of the contest they were
called upon to take up arms against their
former cCuntrymen and brethren, who
composed the armyOf the United States :;
That this call they were bound to obey,
while they continued to enjoy the protec-
ton of, and 10 acknowledge allegiance to
the government of Great Britain That
their early prejudices-their native feel
iBgs and affections for the soil ard the
cline that gave them birth, finally deter
mined them to dissolve their connection
with their adopted government That in
fpiredby this determination, General Hull's
Proclamation was the welcome signal for
some, and the subsequent INVASION by Ge-
neral Dearborn for others, of your memo
ralists 20 JOIN the American standard
That In consequence of this their devotion
to the cause Of the United States, their ia
miles, which were left in the enemy's ter
ritory, were long exposed to the most hu-
initiating priyations and distreSses, and
were finally driven out of the province ::
That the property OF your memOrialists was
confiscatcd by the British government,
leaving them destitute of all support but
that which they derived from their pay
In the service of the United States :;
and some OF your memorialists possessed
large and ample estates, with all the means
of enjoyment that could render life happy
and desirable: That the termination of
the war threw them out Ofseryice and en-
Ployment, many of them being entirely de-
stitute of the means of subsistence, save
their industry and enterprise That since
the termination of the war, they have had
and still have to encounter many embar-
rassments, arising out of the. popularity of
their sitOation-a situation more easily felt
than described.
Ia this state Of things, what remains
Tor your memOrialists, but to throw them
selves upon the justice and magnanmity
OF the United States, in Congress assem-
bied. This they have determined to do,
in full confidence that their claims are too
just to be rejected and that they will
find an advocate in the breast of every
member especially when, the induce
apfc hold ouf RI vntfr ,ap,or;OI.a4s h. 81
proclamation of General Hull are recoIlec-
ted--and how powerfully such induce
ments were calculated to seize upon the
feelings of Americans, who tho they chan
ged their government, could not for that
reason sttle the voice of nature, and
steel their hearts to tie ties Of cOnsanguini-
ty, and the irresistible impulse which the
love of country never fails to produce.
Your memorialists pray, therefore, that
IN consideration Of their suferings and
services in your cause, the necessary evil
dencc Of which will be laid before your
honorable body, that your honorable body
would grant them tract of land, in the
INDIANA Territory, lately purchased OF
the Indians by General Harrison, on the
part Of the United States, on which to set
lie for the remainder Of their lives the
grant to be to each applicant in proportion
to his losses.
Your memorialists are aware that with
superficial observers, their conduct in a.
bandOning their adopted for their native
Country, in the late contest may wear
the appearance Of bad faith. But from
every age, both in ancient and modern
history, examples may be derived to
sanction their preference And with
out aiming TO bias the decision Of the re-
pretentatiyes Of free and independent
people, they feel embroidered to say, that
il the loyalists in the American revolution
were munifcently rewarded by the crown
Of Great Britain, for aiding a wicked at.
tempt to enslaye their native country your
nemorislists,- may ..weil claim rcnunera.