The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-01-18

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Der Of those who ought TO be provided for by
law; the amount OF that provision, and the
manner of making IT
| The reasons inducing your Committee "a
make this report, involve many consldcra'
lions.
This Committee had in view the character
of the army---the nature OF their service
their compensation.
Ii may by some be deemed n waste of time
10 speak Of the character of an army which
fills so largesa space in the history of the last
century. Ii is not so considered by those who
wish 20 place the whole Of this subject under
one view, and To make one more attempt TO
redeem their cuu - from amy imputatiOn OF
injustice, or illiberality towards this army be.
sides, il was not forgotten, that in th.s House
i. had been said, the resolutions for enlarged
pay and pensions for life, were extorted from
Congress by spirit of mutiny in the army ;
and made merely To appease that spirit and
save the country from its consequences. Al
though ap who know the facts must know that
none of the relations of a similitude exist be-
tween those facts, and these assertions yet
because what we are doing to-day will become
part of the history of that army and of our
country, | would not permit the history to pass
into the hands of the children of future gene
ratons, with one page where such assertions
found, for one moment, shelter under silence.
or stood an instant unreiuted by the recorded
truth.
The character Of this army, Sir, has stood
unimpoached, while the greatest men on earth
have been illuminated. That ISLANDER which
doth belle all corners of the world" hath not
belied this army
Cen Washington, in his letter to Congress,
dated March 18th, 1888, gives this high testi-
monial 10 their glorious character. - am, "
says this illustrious man, pleading the cause
of an army, which has done and suffered more
than ever any other army did, in defence OF
the rights and liberties Of human nature"
Permit me TO adduce one other testun onial
When independence was achieved, and peace
ascertaincd, and when the friends Of ireedon
and Of men were IN both the old and new
world anxously looking on the American
Congress, to see in what manner they woulo
close the great action Of war, which for eigh
years had brought upon tho STAGE the most il
lustrious characters on earth; that Congress
did, on the 10Th day of October, 1893, by
heir resolution Oft that date proclaim thanks.
giving TO Almighty God, for TIE gracious and
abundant manifestations of his divine prov
donce in favor OF our country, and on the
same day, that Congress did make one other
proclamation, a small part Of Which | beg
permission 70 read.
Here Mr.. b read an extract from the
Journal of Congress, vol. A, p. 300
Your Committee were, therefore, fully sat
siied that this Congress ought To entertain
and do and wi'-rntertain, the same opinion of
tbs exalfcr character Uf tilat army. winch was
entertained by. the Continental Congress o.
1883.
The nature OF their service was considered
This was in contest where success alone
could in the annals of the nation, give it the
name Of honorable warfare. Dofcat would
have marked this glorious controversy oi
arms with the name of rebellion. The bene-
fits of success. We know, have been equally
shared by the whole people but tho evils o.
defeat would have fallen with discriminating
severity on this army.-Some few others
doubtless, would have been made 20 drink
with them the overAowing wrath of inccnsed
majesty. lie who advised and supported, and
he who dictated the declaration of lndepen.
dence, would in this imperial sacrifice, have
been minrled with those who marched out
into tho field in defence oft.
With few such exceptions peaceable
people would though pillaged by confisca-
iion, have been left alive; but those taken
in arms, from the boy who blew a fife, to
him "who was first IN war;" would have
been led out to slaughter. 1t has been
said that our merciful enemy would have
only decimatcd the soldiers, and been sat
isfed with dealing death to every tenth
man. The officers could look for 90 such
mercy; they had nothing but death to eX-
pect. Indeed that rebellion, which then
blazed over all tho colonies, must have
been extinguished, and IL would have been
extinguished in the blood Of this army.
These peri!s were peculiar to thus service,
and distinguished il from that Of all other
atmies. The nature of this service had
other pecuharities. No soldier, when he
entered the army, feared that be would
ever ~ camp want food; bot we find so
great was the pressure sf real famine that
Congress were compelled to place large
districts OF country under military exac-
ton. The army were often without bread;
often without meat; sometimes without Ell
ther. In what othnr service have officers
been compelled to keep their quarters by
mere want of clothes to appear with decen.
cy on parade? THIS fact the Com ma nder
m Chief announced to Congress. Aug. 30,
1880. Other armies, We know, have made
winter campaigns, but did they. like this,
perform their marches when OH the frost,
or ICE. or snow. they Lett the length and
breadth of the bare foot marked in blood5
10 is, therefore, CohslucTeu UNIT tDe act
ual suiTerings, prIvaiIons, and perlls Of this
service, did mark il with peculiar charsc-
ter, and have, and will hereafter. in all his
tory. cminenily entile those VIII sustain
ed Il. 70 the Distinguishing name of pa
triot Army"
The compensation made To this army for
those services requires more particular
consideration.
I, will be recollec,ed, that at the CON-
mencemcn, Of the war, the gold and silver
medium of circulation was, III quantity un-