Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-10
From shs ". Ygrk Epeuinc pest.

The officers G: the revolutionary army peti-
toned Congress, and stated that the United
States had SOlemniy contracted 10 give TO each
OF them i've years inll pay, al the end of the
war, that instead OF money, they received from
the man appointed TO settle their accounts
ii certificate for this amount aud tor all ar
rearases taDd Heaven knows, if the accounts
had been Justly settled, there was more due
than all tue bad aud depreciatedtraSh which had
been receiVed)-That this certificate did pre.
mise TO pay the debt, and that until it was paid
interest omit should be paid annually at per
cent i hal this certificate was soon fonnd TO
be worth ouly TWO shillIngS in the pound
because the United States had 10 funds-that
those who had starved tllro The war, not 10
continue starving IN peace were obliged TO sell
the certificate aforesaid tor what anv body
would give-Ihey, therefore, pray ed congress
afrer deducting what each actually received
IN cash Tor Tins bit otpsper, 10 make mp 10 tn IN
The petitioners then said: Gentlemen, II YOU
won't make sooti the principal, please TO give
rs the interest you promised, a taTihing OF
which we never received. Congress answer.
ed: fonr Unconstitutional your principal into
the Golfers OF the Spectator No, said the of
fcers, thar il did not. 7 he Speculation bought
the principal SO cheap. that to get ii funded
and ultimately paid at twenty shiliiu-s in the
pound, he sank the six per cent interest into
three per cent, and agreed 10 wait ten wears
for large pant of the principal without anv
interest at all. The United States gained this
great gain from the Spectator IRinedately il
Il true, BAT mediaiely from the orr sil.al owner
from t!IoSe who had worked aud suffered
and fought for il for years-from those who
made your country, and yOu too, gentlemen OF
the congress, what You now are-for, If these
same poor fellows had given iup the contest
which they corried on with halters about their
ueckS, many of your fathers would have been
hanged, gentlemen. and YOU, yourselves, would
have become Icwers OF wood and drawers OF
water, centeOIcD, instead OF being rulers Of
rich and powerful nation. Give US, At least,
SAID the petitioners, this inieTeSt-yOH were al
bat baukrupts when YOU took it, but yon are
rich beyond yOur wishes now-from one source
alone The! Alabama lands, you expect 10 realize
forty millions OF dollars, you know Won do II
you Will not give Us half pay for life, which TO
get rid OF The hue and cTy(Of the citizens chef
ly OF the New England states( agains ~ nsion.
ers, we were forced 70 commute for i've wears
pay, d0WH, as we, ignorant OF every thing but
our duty, were made 10 believe. II YOU will
not, after dedUcting the cash we got for YOUR
bad paper, paw the remainder to tx now, at
least give uS the intel est-it will amount TO
$500 10 captain, for you have kept this three
per cent and deferred gam from 1893 tOthe pre-.
sent day, and $500 would be worth infinitely
more To us and our poor children, than the mi
SCRABBLE monthly pension you talk Of giving
there vii not he IA dozen Of ns TO receive vogr
pension in gears, yon see ihe youngest OF the
petitioners s57 years of age, aud when we die
the SO dies with us.-DO you think, gentle
men, your fellow citizens will he satisfied that
-" h"'N NNht no JudlICtf Ieul OOlEfeSS uiU
not choose to gise principal or interest. The
investigating contracts, the reSettlememt OF
accounts, could not at this late day be gotinto
and above all IL would open door which ne.
ver could he closed. Ii ii was the door JUS
ticT, the petiliuners SAID 1t was pity il c0uid
not be opeucd aud remain open to all eternity.
No, said Congress, we will give you nothing
but pcnslult-and pensioU they lave given
TO the sailor who shared his prize money, to
the private soldier VINO received enormous
bounty to each of them is given a greater
monthly pay than while in actual service din.
ring tire war; and 10 generals Coionels aud MA.
Jors they have given tie half pay CT a c4sta.i!
ana what IS worse, to him who bore tie bur
den and heat Of that most distressful war for
seven long years and to HIN Mo was drilled
and lounged ebout the camp for nine mouths,
the same dOceur is given Doccnr, believe.
means SweetncI---t enty dOilafs month 10 a
field oincer OF sixty years of age while lie
shall iive,H II IS sweet at all, partakes large.
iy Of the natUre Of that frat called q bitter
sweet.
AN OLD OFFICER