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

and The officers voluntarily and freely entered into
at time when both parties at liberty IN regard
10 the subject of and stipulaing, as the consid
Grafton on the part of the officers. their future ser
vices until the end OF the war, whatever might be
its duration. 1t is not TO be questioned that the
stipulated service rendered, nor that It was EN-.
inently useful. Blu, it deserves to be remembered,
in connection with all which subsequently occurred
that alter the officer had rendered the service ne
had no further reliance but upon the falth and abty
of the government. This was his condition, wheb
the resolve of the 22d March, l7s3, was adopted
The prelmnares of peace had been signed, the ar
nv was about 10 be disbanded, and he to be thrown
into society, there TO seek his livelihood by civil
pursuits, for which the tenor OF his preceding lie
was calculated only to disqualify him. Had he
under the pressure OF circumstances SO urgent, anu
growing out of his previous services, assenied TO
The commutation, his country could scarcely deem
/, a voluntary assent, but rather submission to an
uncomfortable and instant necessity, which admitted
of no delberation or delay But, there is another
reason why this assen, ought not to be considered
as binding. The contract Of 1880 was with the in
divdual oficers, and it is not strictly reconcieable
with Justice, that it should be varied, resclnded, or
released as to any one Of them without his own In
diydusl consent. The commuation, except as 10
certain retired officers, was offered not TO the IN
divduals but to lines and corps thereby subjecting
the individual, as his particular rights, to The
decision of others, and with respect to the younger
and inferior officers, exposing them to be governed
by the overruling influence of superior rank and
years, TO which they were habitually accustomed to
submit.
The committee are aware, that it may be urged,
(and between individuals it may be decisycly urged)
that the subsequent acceptance OF the commuta-
tion certificate, of itself amounted TO assent. II
the officer had been left free to make his choice,
and having made il, the government bad given him
what he freely consented to receive, the argument
would not have been without some force. But, he
was not so free. The resolve oi Congress, an act
Of the Government and law, left him choice
except to abide by the decision of the lines and
corps of the army, wait, whatever might be his
wants, ill more fortunate period should enable
him to approach that body, not with power to en-
force his right, but only for il in the language
of solicitation. 1t may be remarked, though some
what out of order, that this is substantially the
course which these memorialsts are now pursuing.
They have waited till their country is able to do
them justice, and they petition for their right,
Offering to relinquish all they have received.
But, it is also true and furnishes an additional
answer to the ection that the government was
not able to comply with the terms Of the resolve Of
1888. 1t could not pay in money, and did not pay
in what was equivalent to money The commuta-
ton certificate was then, and for some time after,
worth not more than one eighth, perhaps even less
of its nominal value When, at the distance oil
years afterwards, the funding system was establish
ed, it is notorious that, generally speaking, the Ger
thcates no longer remained in the hands of the off
GERS. The restoration Of the public credit came TOO
late for men whose necessities were so imperious
and thus the half pay for life, which had been
emnly stipulated, and most meroriously earned.
dwinded in the hands of the officers without any
fault of lhers TO scarcely than half pay for a
single year.
Under this view Of the case, it seems 10 your
committee Just and reasonable, and becoming the
faith OF the nation, to execute the contract original
ly made, upon the terms proposed by the memo
rlalisis that is TO say, of deducting from the
rears OF the half pay, computed from the cessation
OF hostes to the present time the full nominal
amount Of the commuiation certificate and paying
to the surviving officers the balance and hence
forward, during the remainder of their lives, pay
ing to them the halt pay stipulated by the resolve
OF 1890. For the arrears, the memoriasts are
willing TO receive stock, bearing an interest
In order to define and limit, with much preci-
sion possible, the extent of the demand which
will thus be created upon the Treasury, your com
mIt,ee have thought it right to assume, as basis,
the number Of surviving officers, and the aggregate
of claim, which stated by the memorialists them.
selves; and they recommend, respectfully, that any
provision which may be made, be limited according
| ly, so not to exceed that sum.
In conformity with these suggestions, the com
rnittee herewith report bill.
Report Of a Committee Of the House Of Represen
tatires, February. 1870
The committee, to whom was referred the peti
tons Of sundry surviving officers Of the late reyo
tionary army, in behalf of themselves and others
REPoRT:
That, by resolution of Congress, of the 18th o
] May. l778, all military officers. who then were o.