The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-01-18
SPEECH OF wa. BuRaEs.
CONGRESS-.
THURSDAY, Jan.

The House resolved itself into Committee
OF The Whole, for the consideration of tho bill
to provide for the surviving officers Of the Re.
voiutionary army, and the bill to provide for
certain persons engaged in the land and Ma.
val service of the United States, during the
Revolutionary war, and whose cases were not
provided for--Mr CoNDrcr i'm the Chair.
Mr.. burgess of Rhode Island, rose and
addressed the House as follows
Although many things have already been
said concerning the subject now before the
Committee Of the whole House; yet because
since that time IL was referred 10 the Commit.
tee on Military Pensions; and now comes up
on their report, some explanation of that re-
port, may at this time, be expected. | stand
before you, Sir, for the purpose of attempting
to make that explanation. Every thing con-
nected with the Revolutionary war is inter
cstinq to the people of this country but moth
Ing is so deeply interesting, as the venerable
survivors Of that army which conducted that
war in the camp and in the field. II is not
from any powers at my command, Of placing
before you the Concernmcnts of these rnen,
but from their moral qualities, and the pecu
liar relations existing between them and our
country, that | now hope for your candour.
your patience, and attention and notwiih.
standing their Gauge may be hopeless in the
hands of snch an advocate, yet must 1T, | an
tribunal
It win be recolectcd, that this subject came
into this Congress n the first session, in con.
sequence Of the Presidents Message, and Of .
petition from Tho survivors of those officers OF
the Revolutionary army, who continued in
service until the close of the war. The peti.
tion was referred To Select Committee, and
e. much or the Presidents Message as related
to this subject, ia the CoInmitte on Military
.F. .inh To fl.,I
respectively reported hy these Committees, a
recon -aitmcnt, with Instructions, was moved:
they were both.with instructions, recommit-
HN The res,llt of that rccomniitinent IS the
l2SIt of the Committee on Military Pcris IONS
-ssniGe IA P4--ers7se -0i tgosc instructions, ana
stating "the number of q 7se who served IN
tho Revolutionary was Tor whom provision
ought TO be made " iaw the amount necessa-
nv tn make qucL provision, ami the manner IN
which il should be made This report is now
before the Committee; and complete expDt-
4. ton renders it necessary, according TO this
report, TO divide those for whom provision
ourht to be made by law, into two classes.
Tie FIRST coaprehcnds all the survivors Of
those officers who continued in service till The
close oi the war, supposed to be four hundred,
together with the surviving widows of such OF
those officers as have died since that time ::
supposed TO be 3i7.
for this class, is, in this report, stated at
s. 1000 600 The manner in which this pro-
vision ought - be made, is therein proposed
ind detailed giving to such officers oO0,p 900
dolls to be distributed TO thom according TO
their rank ana pay while in service, in stock
Jearing a yearly interest of five per cent pay
able quarterly, and redeemable at tbs plea
sure Of the nation. The amount of two hun.
dred thousand dollars provided for the widows
of this class, is applied 90 their relief, by pay
ing TO each ofthep, out oft, one hundred dol
lars a year, in quarterly payments. This fund
is to be annually charged with these payments
and the balance annually credited, with inter
est at ) per cent IL Is calculated that this
fund. so managed, Will make provision for
these venerable matrons during the remain
der of their lives. The balance, if any then
remain, will fall to the Treasury Of the Uni
ted States.
The second class compartments all the sur
vivors Of those, who, in the Revolutionary
war, were engaged in the land or naval ser
vice of the United States, during the continu-
cd term of nine months or towards; bemg re-
gular troops. either of, or not of the Gue. and
not being pensioners of the United States, or
any one of them, " also comprehends all the
surviving widows Of such as served in manner
as aforesaid and who are also not on any roll
fpcnsioners.
The number OF men Of this class, for whom
provision ought to be made by law, is stated
hy tho report. snd stated on the authority of
Gets drawn from the Department of War. The
number Of the army now alive, mot includ ",
The officers of the first class is not more than
J~.50O or these. FIVE hundred are regular
troops not Of the line, and served from one to
three years On the continental establish
nent are fifteen hundred vino served nine
inonihs or upwards; two thossand who served
,ns year or upwards three thousand who
,er,ed two years or upwards; and II 500 who
,erved three wears or upwards. The number
,ow on tho pension list is l2,9e5 The num-
n, therefore, rot on the list Of pensioners,
Who served in the revolutionary war. of this
ass. Cor whom provision ought TO be made
l. lav.. is 55I5. II Is stated IN that report,
nd the statement is made from calculations,
hat the number Of widows Of this class is a.
out 472o.
Tho amoun, necessary to make provision
this class, is ia the report stated az 2oUl,-
DOLE The manner Of making this pro-
ion is similar to the manner ofmaking that
those of tho other class. II consists 81
sa'inr 81 .2)0.00D Of five per cent stocks
nd distributing them according 70 rank and
.ufation of time in service, to tbs last rem
nan, " The revolutionary army; and, IN sppro-
rating S-00.e00 20 the creation Of fund
rWh'ch % p-y annuities Of 81 dolls each
.- g.v.rr Widows Of such Of tbs class