The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-03-08
MASSACHUSETTS CLAIM.


We this day publish another letter from
George Sullivan, late Agent of the State, to
Gov. Lincoln, and in our Legislative proceed
ings will be found a Message from the Cover
nor, in relation to the same subject. We have
been favored with pamphlet, containing the
documents accompanying the Message. The
Objectionable proviso contained in the bill, in
troduced into Congress for the adjustment OF
these Claims, is as follows
".4ad PROVIDED further, that the services Of
the said militia, for which compensation may
be asked, were not at variance with the views
of the general government, or in cases where
the troops employed IN the same were not
withheld specifically from the command of an
officer or officers of the general government ap-
plying for the same.''
In the letter of the agent to Gov. Lincoln
of the 4tlfof January, he says
&C Your Excellency will, | think, perceive
hereafter, many reasons to regret the omission
10 call up the subject, and insist on its discus
sion early in the last session. Then strong
disposition to conciate prevailed among the
conflicting interests of the times. Few sub
Jects were pressed upon Congress and ours
would have been regarded with peculiar inter
est, for many and obvious reasons. Once
brought into discussion, it would, have reason
to believe, have been fairly debated; and the
result must have been, the recognition of our
Just rights. II the claim has more difficulties
to encounter now, they must be met with the
more spirit. There are none which union at
home will not conquer abroad"
In Gov. Lincoln's reply of Jan. 9, he thus
concludes:-
g The last proviso in the bill, reported by the
Military Committee, fear, is signal for hos
tility to proper provision for the settlement
of the Claim was unexpected, and is much
to be regretted"
To this letter the agent replied on the 14th,
from which we make the following extracts,
which we believe is all that relates to the mat
ter in controversy.
"This discrimination excluding from allowance
all services which were specifically withheld from
the command of the United States officers, APP
pres to the services at South Boston, and to some
services at Portland; the amount is about two hun.
dred thousan dollars. In the latter case. the
officers and men, III defiance of the State authOr.
ty, refused to put themselves under the command
of the United States officers. The regiment al
luded to did not refuse from any political oppOsi
ton, tor three-tourthS OF them were IN sentiment
with the national administration. The services in
both cases were necessary in defence of the soil
aud our State is 40 less entitled to reimbursement
for these services, than for any other portion oil
the claim. The exclusion OF them is denial OF
our constitutional rights.
"Whstever may have been our former divisions
of opinion on the extent of our right to REIN burse.
ment, the people of Massachusetts will sooner or
Later, understand, and unite in maintaining this
Cardinal proposition That the United States
cannot be absnived from their Constitutional obi
cation to defend each State kgainst invasion, by
any opinions or conduct of State. nor even by
~ act OF Congress. And further. that whenever,
the United States do not provide the necessary
means of defence from their own resources they
must reimburse the State that docs provide them
and beg leave to add our State will hardly OBJ
tain an honorable adjustment OF its claims, until
this proposition is asserted by its Legislature
''On reference to my letter to your Excelency,
Of the Goth May last, it appears the object to be
achieved before the session of Congress. was the
completion of the auditing and investigation of the
ed, and, as your Excellency has observed, in sub.
in YOUR Message of this session. all the facts
material to the discussion of our rights, have been
eff etively established The new provision in the
Bill may render necessary some explanations of
the reasons why troops alluded to were withheld
from the United States officers. These will re-
ceive due attention"
These extracts are all that appear necessa-
~, in addition 10 what has already been pub
lished, to an understanding of tn controver.
sy.