Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1824-12-31

lpOrtdnce ana value oil tie services oil gen.
Lafayette had been ogeneraly known,
that it was unnecessary o report the facts,
in regard to the services of Gen. Lafay-
cite, on which they thdght it cxpedient
to recommend the pass;ge Of the bill now
before the House. The, hoped that the
proceedings of this Hose, when, by an
unanimous vote, at tlielast session, they
acknowledged the valusbf those services,
would have made such report unneces-
sary. By that vote Congress subjected
the country to an ct peuse nearly, if not
quite, equal TO the amount OF the propo-
sed appropriation. by agreeing to send
out ship of the line TO convey General
Lafayette TO this country. The commit
tee did NO calculate, after having Gcee SO
and his declining to put the Unltei'StNtes
to that Charge, there would have he: ~
objection TO remureratng Gen. L;,yete,
in some degree, for his services and sacri-
fees IN ihe cause OF the United States
When, more recently, the Speaker of the
House had been directed by an equally
UNANIMOUS vote, to present the acknow-
lledgmeitS not only of the nation, but OF
this House, of the important services rem
dered o the country by Gen. Lafayette,
the committee would not have supposed
themselves deficient in their duty if they
counts in regard to that distinguished
man. Speaking for myself, said Mir. l..
considered the proposed appropriation not
as an affair of account-not as the pay
ment of debt to Gen. Lafayette, but as
the expression CT a national sentiment,
which would do honor not only TO this
House, but to this People-as an act which
would, as far as it goes, serve to take away
from us the reproach that Republics are
ungrateful. thought il would not be do
ing justice to our constituents, if we made
this award matter OF ya.uation-an af-
| fair of dollars and cents: | thought dit
ferent mode of treating il most respectful
TO the House, most betting the dignity
oil this government. Other gentlemen, it
appears, entertain different views per-
haps they are more correct views. l do
not stanN here TO set up my sentiments a.
gainst those who think the matter ought to
have been treated i'll different way. Some
think, and | have no doubt they very no.
nestiy anu sincerely thinlS, that they have
no power TO express the national gratitude
in the manner proposed, or to vote away
public money in any case TO which claim
to it could not be substantiaied on such
evidence as would establish it in a court
| of Justice. 1t was not fer the want of such
evidence, that the committee did not re-
port it. The evidence in their poss ession
was such as would, if duly weighed, sat
isfy the most scrupulous, of the Justice of
giving not only the amount proposed bv
the committee, but even double that "a
mount.
The services of general Lafayette do.
ring the war Of the revolution, Mr.. L.
SAID, were known to, and must be ac-
iknowledged by, every one. He came to
this country at the commencement of the
revelu;ion. He continued his personal
services until very shortly before the ter
mination OF that war by the treaty of
peace. He ceased those personal exer-
tions here only to render them in the same
cause where, at the time, they were more
useful i1e was, indeed, very instrument
tai in bringing about shat peace so impor-
tant to us. At that time, yet in prosperi-
lty, he would have refused any compensa-
ton for his services and sacrifices, had
they even been greater than they were
| When oppressed by adversely, after the
coniiscation of the remainder of his prin-
cely estates, he accepted from the United
States, what he would never before re-
ceive, the pay of a major general, the
rank which he held during the war. But,
] besides that, he was entitled, upon every
7 principle of strict justice, to the half pay
of Major General for life. Owing to the
civil mission which had been already re-
ferred to, General Lafayette was not in
Service at the close of the war, and had
not legal title to this hslEpay, but his
right to it, on every principle of equity,
could not be questioned. 70 the repre-
senlatives of another distinguished Off
Ger, General HAMLToN,) similarly situat-
ed, Congress granted the amount of half
pay Which would have been due to him,
and that without Communication. The two
cases were nearly parallel. The officers
had generally the option, anti almost if
not quite all availed themselves of it, Of
ireceivlng Communication ia lieu of half
Ipay. General Lafayette had not this OPP
ton, however, from the circumstance, al
ready mentioned, of his absence in Eu-
lrope at the conclusion Of the treaty of
lpeacc. What would be the amount of
half pay for the more than forty years
that have since elapsed, and the long life,
which, Mr.. l.. said, ne trusted this vener-
able man would still live to enjoy? Twcn-