The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-01-25


blatant markets, while others took some
-haye in some other less hazardous CON-
ynerc;al adventure. Had they specuiated
nm the necessities Of the soldier, relying
nn the rood faith Of Government, they
would have kept their paper, and thereby
have made much more profitable voyages
This class of purchasers, though they IA
bored for the adoption u the Constitution,
vet did they meet the funding system with
nothing, or nearly nothing, OF this paper in
their possession. This exclusion would
cut off all those officers, comprehended in
This very meritorious class Of purchasers,
from all share in this provision.
Another class OF these men did, with
others, purchase, because they, like Wash
inpton, still held their reliance OH the
rood faith Of the nation. Their capital
gave something like currency to tins pa
per and something like credit to the U.
States. "1hey hoped against hope.' For
although no individual, no company, no ma.
ton, would then have guaranteed the facts
that the United States would ever have
established this national government, and
ever have redeemed their national debt,
vet these men did, from the fulness of
their faith, in the justice of their country,
In some degree, and 10 some extent guar
antee both these facts. Shall, then, "this
faith be accounted to them for" political
righteousness, or shall this clause Of
exclusion mark it down to them for pollti-
cal delinquency?
II is, therefore, hoped, that this bill will
not be rejected, because it does not ex-
cludc from its provisions those who, by
purchasing these certificates, sustained
the credit of the nation, or relieved the
necessities Of the soldier, or because it
does exclude the militia, who cannot re-
ceiye any relief, unless demanded, recciv-
cd, and distributed, by their own States !;
nor because six and eight months men
receive none OF this provision, since they,
though very meritorious,yet generally en-
tered and left the army, before the period
of its greatest perils, losses and sutforings;
nor because it does not extend the nation
nj bounty To the children Of deceased off
GERS and soldiers, forasmuch as this could
not have been done, without rendering
personal merit hereditary, and thereby
subverting the voiy foundation of rcpubli.
can virtue.
Permit nc, then, sir, to request each
gentleman OF this committee to look nj
this provision for the survivors Of this ar.
my, and then TO look at the kind, the a
mount and the manner Of their payment.
In what country or age Of the world, in.
modern times, was ever before this, such
an army kept in the field five years, at n
current expense of little more than 81 COO.
D00 Place over against this sum, in the
fiscal accounts of the nation, the Sl2O,
O0000O expended in the three years war
Of 1912, and in the immense difference Of
these two sums you will be enabled, "A if
aided by a glass, to catch some faint out.
line Of those times, when revolutionary
soldier fought your battles for 90 shillnps
per month, and while travelling home paid
S75 for dinner. Examine the account.
a fearful balance will &c found standing
against the nation in the forum of con
science. Wipe it off, pray OF you, Sir,
by passing the provisions OF this oil To
our credit in that ever during tribuna l.
Suffer not the impartial adiudications ol
history to be there recorded against u.s.
You all must rccollect the self-devotion OF
that young hero Of Palestine, who, though
fainting with thirst, yet refused to taste
The water Of his native spring presented
10 him by three Of his youthful warriors,
because they had put their lives in their
hands, and cut their way through the enc
my's camp 10 obtain II. AS God livcth
it is your blood" exclaimed the generous
Chicftain, :" may not drink it," This
money in our Treasury ia, sir, the blood oi
these men. Give it back 10 them. II
win not prosper ~ our hands.
IT,, notwithstanding thcso things, il
should be said, that this account has been
compromised with these men and ulti
Inatcly settled, let it, if you please, sir, be
so considered; hut DO not forget the differ
cnt results Of this compromise. Aboui
the close of the war. the whole national
debt, oil Government had borrowed of 10.
rcignors, all they had borrowed of citizens.
all the United States owed TO the several
States, all they owed to the army as by
Madison, Hamilton and Ellsworth, is re.
ported TO Congress in their address to the
States, amounted 10 Sl2,000,375. What
would the amount have been. had YOU paid
your armies in silver and gold? What had
YOU redeemed your 2OO,0OO,00O of cont.
mental money, hundred for hundred, in
Spanish millcd dollars? The Government
saved some portion OF the immense differ.
cncc. How9 BY negotiations with whom?
Those men who, in the cabinet, conduct
ed our glorious Revolution. are worthy TO
be held i'll everlasting vencration. Let us,
sir, from the savings made by the econom.
icnl negotiations Of those days, when the
"poverty, and not the will of the Govern
ment consented" draw some fair and hon
orable provision Cor this venerable rem
nant of the Revolutionary army, and. ot-
tcntive to that voice of national magnani-
nifty, calling to us from every region of
our country, make ono .rcdceming effort,
now ir the times Of maturity and abun-
dance, TO soften the rigor al those trans.
actions, which grew up under cold and