American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-02-28


ton for this grant, and it is universally acknowl-
edged that, by the points of their swords they no
bly, and gallanty won the promised reward.
That the signing OF the preliminary articles OF
peace in November 1882, the war, in effect, was at
an end and on signing the de6ni,ive articles each IN
diyidual officer became vested with perfect right
to half pay for the residue of his e for which the
faith Of the U. States was pledged.
That congress, by way Of an equivalent, on the
22d of March, 1888, " Resolved, That such officers
as are now In service, and shall continue therein TO
the end Of the war; shall be entitled to FIVE years
u pay in money, or in securities, on an interest OF
6 per cent per annum congress shall judge most
convenient instead Of half pay for lite, promised by
the resolution OF the 2lst December 1880; the Sc
curitcs to be such shall be given to other cred
tors, provided it be at the option OF the lines OF the
respective s,a,cs and not Of the oicets individually
in those lines, to accept or refuse the same"
That the value oil this resolve far as It regard.
ed the manifest end Tor which this Communication
was proposed evidently depended on the success OF
certain applications and requisiions, which were TO
be made by congress upon the several states, TO
pay the amount of this commuation in money, or
in securities wherewth these officers might aid
themselves, while passing from military to civil HE,
by means Of this anticipation.
That after the army had been disbanded. by
proclamation of congress, there was delivered with.
out any alternative, to each officer, oeriihcate
bearing date on the 4th day OF November, 1853,
certifying that there was due to him certain sum,
(equa to FIVE years, full pay,) with interest at per
cent per annum.
That il is an historical fact, that he state oil
Rhode Island refused her assent TO grant from the
several states to congress OF power TO lay an I'M
post duty and it is equally known shat the requi-
stons for money also tailed, whereby these ceruh.
Gates became entirely worthless in the hands OF tn.
original holders, unless they disposed of the same
according TO such value as had been stamped upon
them by public opinion, being from ope.eighth to
one-tenth Of the nominal amount, and 1t is under
stood that most OF those officers we're unces such
disagrecable necessity
That it is notorious that no provision was made
for the payment Of these certificates in money, or
securities of any sort, until after the old coDedera
ton had given place TO the present constitution,
when, under an act Of congress, they were funded;
The of interest at per cent and the princi
pal al per cent. with the interest third part
deferred for ten years, then 10 comes and when The
amount OF stock received was scarcely equal in val
ue to half pay from the termination OF the war,
cepting, however so far as regarded the certificates
delivered TO foreign officers, which, under an order
OF congress, were Immediately exchanged Tor GER
tihcates Of registered debt, aud paid in specie, to
The ,fuU amount OF principal and interest
That forty two years have now elapsed since the
termination of the war of independence by which
was achieved all for which il had been carried on,
and for the want of ability OF means in the hen con
gress, the Just expectations Of those officers, who
continued in service till that period, in regard 10
those rewards which were promised while those
services were performing, have as yet never been
realized
That the individual election Of each officer, TO
commute the promise o half pay for liIe under the
act OF 1880, for another promise Of full pay for five
years under the act Of 1898, was not allowed him.
That by this oommuation and the mode OF pro.
yidlng Tor the certificates delivered to the Ameri
can officers, different from that which had been |
adopted in regard to those which were delivered to
the foreign officers, there has been evidently great
gain to the treasury, to the corresponding loss o!
each OF these survivors, respectively, and individual
ly.
That by the course OF nature, the youngest oil
lhcm must be near the age OF 70 years, and the
strength OF their days gone; that is TO be pre-
suined they nre no longer able by any ordinary
course OF business, to provide for themselves com
Portable means Of support, without recurring TO The
representatives Of the people for whose emancipa
ton the vgor OF their youth was devoted.
Your committee, upon review Of the whole |
ground, OF opinion that II is due, as well to ma
tional justice and honor, to this scanty remnant
OF SURVIVORS, that some suitable provision out Of the
exuberant fruits of their hard earnings be now made
in order TO smooth their way to their graves.
Thus will these aged servants Of the republic have
something more, wherewi,h to console themselves |
during their winter Of life. than the naked honor OF
having belonged to that which has been empha,ical
ly denominated- the PATRIOT ARMY, and having
shared in the hardships and suferngs, the tolls and
the dangers Of eecting the most glorious and event
fu of all revolutions OF rescuing millions from the
hand of oppression. and OF laying the foundations
OF this vast and mighty empire.
The report was ordered TO be printed.
- o1pHl
.New London, Con. Jan. IS, 1826.-In The case
OF Bennet Y. Kinunn. Ii was held. thai The cantan