American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-03-10


be entitled to receive, during life, in lieu OF hali.pay
The following allowances, viz: the director OF the
hospital, equal 10 the half pay OF ieutenant.coo-
mel chief physicians and surgeons, purveyor,
apo,hecary, and regimenta surgeons each, equal TO
the half pay OF a captain.
That by a resolution OF Congress, of the 22d OF
March, 1885, it was provided that such officers as
were then in service, and should continue therein
until the end OF the war, should be entitled TO re.
ceye the amount Of FIVE years full pay in money,
or securities ON interest at six per cent per annum.
ss Congress should find most convenient, instead
of the half pay promised for lie, by the resolution
Of the 2lsl OF October, 1880; the said securities
being such as should be given TO the other creditors
OF the United States: provided, it should be at the
option Of the lines of the respective States, and not
officers, Individually, in those lines, to accept or
refuse the same: provided, also, that their election
should be signifed to Congress, through the COM
mander in chief, from the lines under his immedl.
ate command, within two months, and through the
commanding officer of the southern army, from
those under his command, within six months from
the date of the resolution.
That the same communication shall extend TO the
corps moi belonging to the lines OF any particular
State, and who were entitled to halfpsy, as afore
said; the acceptance or refusal to be determined
| by corps, and TO be signihed in the same manner
and within the same time, as above mentioned
That all officers belonging to the hospital depart
ment, who entitled to half pay by the resolu
tion of the 17th of January 1881, might, collective.
ly agree TO accept, refuse the aforesaid commu
taons; signifying the same through the comman
der in chief, within six months That such officers
as had rsired at different periods, entitled to half
pay for life, might, collectively, in each State Of
which they are inhabitants, accept or refuse the
same their acceptance or refusal TO be signlhed
by agents, authorized for that purpose, within six
months. That, with respec, to such retiring offi-
GERS, the commua,ion, il accepted by them, should
| be in lieu Of whatever might then be due TO them
since the time of their retiring from service, as
well as what might hereafter become due and that,
so their acceptance should be slgnlhed, the
superintendent of finance should be, and was there.
! by, authorized to take measures for the settlement
of their accounts accordingly, and to issue to them
certificates, bearing interest at six per cent. That
all officers entitled to half-pay for life not included
in the preceding resolution, might also, collectively,
agree to accept or refuse the aforesaid commuta
ton; sgnifying the same within six months from
the passage Of the said resolution
The petitioners state and the fact is OF too gene.
raj notoriety to be disputed that although they
confidently expected at the time they compel
led from imperious necessity, TO accept the sum in
gross, in lieu OF hafpay for life, that it would be
paid TO them in reality, and not by fresh promise,
without any sufficient guarantee for its due per.
ormance; yet they were compelled TO receive
certificates, which, for want Of any specific prov-
sion Tor the payment Of them, or the interest accru
ing them, were Immediately deprecated 10 five
for one and, by degrees, to ten for one in exchange
Tor money. They, therefore, pray. that half pay
for life, TO commence from the time of the reduc
tlon Of the army, may be granted to them accor-
ding to the solemn stpuations entered into with
them by Congress by the resolutions before refer
red to deducting therefrom the hve years ull pay
received by them, in deprecated paper, by way Of
communication.
! 1t is well known to your committee, and TO the
whole nation, that The far greater part of the off
GERS were compelled, by hard necessity, to dispose
Of their commutation certificates at prices infinitely
below their nominal amount. That this did not
proceed from want of patriotism, of which they
had before given proof most unequivoca, OF want
OF confidence in their government, but, that, alter
having spent the ygor of their manhood in the ser.
vice OF their country they returned TO the walks
OF civil life Cmany Of them MANNED and scarcely
able 10 halt along) ignoran, of what passing,
or likely to pass in the councils of their country.
The gripping hand Of poverty bore hard upon
them, and unacquained, as they necessarily were,
with civil affairs, they fell an easy prey to the wes
OF the artu and insldious specua,or, who lying
in wait TO fatten upon their hard earnings. Under
circumstances like these it would have been strange,
indeed, if they had kept their certificates in their
pockets. No: the thing was impracticabie; go
Isisy h'uot iot whatever Wouiu OllilB, dtu DC
the consequences whatever they might.
Upon the whole, the committee are of opinion
the contract entered into by Congress with the Off
GERS Of the late Revolutionary army, for giving
them half-pay for life, has not been substantially
complied with by our Government: they, there.
fore, recommend the following resolution:
r Reaotced, that the prayer of the petitioners is
reasonable, and ought TO be granted.
II -s---r-r.-<-ss.---~-r--.4-..
The II. OF r. of Massachusetts have after long
discussion by vote of IS to Sc, refused to sustain