The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-27

| Ills wealth anu influence descended
10 mr.. | was in the prime of my
day when the aggrcssions and tyran-
nies Of the English ministry gave
birth to the revolution Of the colo
nies. Although my inheritance pia.
ced me high in the aristoeracy OF
Britain, and my fortune pleaded
strongly against the pcris and chan.
ces OF such struggle, did not he
state for a moment. embraced the
righteous cause ardcntl y aud hrml y !;
and from that Instant, ancient ties
were severed. and America was the
land of my allegiance. | became
ono of the leaders of her armies.
NV country WAS then poor, and l
was rich the brave men whom |
commanded were suffering for the
necessarics Of life ; the treasury waa
bankrupt, aud | advanced from my
own purse the means of support 10
my soldiers who would otherwise
have been compelled To dispense.
The events of the revolutionary con
test | need not relate tn YOU. for they
must be familiar to every man be-
tween the Mississippi and the Allan
tic. After lis triumphant terminate
on, "a the fortunes of my country
were Oh the increase. my own were
ON the wane. Ill crowded on i'll, and
that destiny which oycrturns the
hanghiiest and most prudent fami-
lies. dccrccd that mine should lie
PROSTATE in the dust. When the
last and lcadIiest vial Of fate was
poured upon me, and the last leaf Of
my prosperity had Withcrcd. and not
tall then, applied TO my country,
not for charity. but for the repay
mcnt of a sacred obligation. | ask
ed from her abundance return OF
the money had loaned her i'll her
destitution and how, think You,
was paid :"
i" Surely" said |, i" with heartfelt
gratitude and boundlcss liberality."
+" With inhuman neglect and witt
heartless inscnsibility - exclaimed
the aged man d" the men who then
represented the nation, were nnrsed
in prosperity, until their hearts were
hardened, and they scorncd and
neglected the veteran warriors who
had trampled tho harvest Of Eng
lands chilalry to the earth, that
their Sous might be free
j" What" said |, were not such
claims as yours, which stood on the
double foundation Of Justice and gra-
titnde, promptly acknowledged and
checrfnIly cancelled :"
Promptly acknowledged ~ lie
replied with mingled grief aud iro-
ny, /" know You not that an Amrri-
eau congress is delibcrativc body,
Il that deliberation is never prompt
Chccrfully cancelled know you not
that its ruling principle is economy,
and that economy is never cheerful
in parting with its ore ?"
But surely" | intcrposed, " the
nation was just and paid its debts
fully if not with go.d will ?"
" Listen to the sequel, and mar
vel not at national Justice was the
reply =" When | exhibited my &C.
counts against the government, there
were some trilling items not snilIeI-
emily authenticated, which required
examination. This examination was
postponed from time To time E; more
interesting questions arose, ON which
members displayed their rhetorical
abilities congress did not choose
to be hurried in its proceedings ;
the opportunities Of an aged, Tor
lorn and famished man, were consi-
dercd as forward obtrasions. | was
rriendIess and uninlluential. | could
neither uplilt the aspiring nor prop
the falling ; my prayer was az mel
/ fcctnal as that Of the oppressed Is
raclites To the stern Egyptian, and
heaven did not interposc IN my be
half its supernatural Affections to
force them to their duty. A winter
passed. and they left my claims un-
decided another and another rolled
away, and still saw me neglected.
! True, was lingering out a com
fortress old age, obtaining subsiSt-
enrc in summer by the game of the
woods, and inhabiting in winter a
miserable lodging in one Of the par
row alleys of the national mc'ropo-
lis. But what ofthat the men who
were to canvass my claims, Jared
sumptuously and lived in splendor
aud fplf nat thr Wrptc hcdnpss of JUS