The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-02-07
From the Commercial Advertiser.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM

i believe that nothing has a hapnier ef
feet upon The mind, than the contemplation
ofthe events of the Revolution. The wis.,
dom OF the men who presided in civil sta
tions--the yalor, patience, and sufferings
OF our Army-the patriotism of alex
cite mingled feellngso of wonder and of ad-
mraion: and the manifest interposition
OF Providence in our behalf, awakes SEN
'iments Of gratefulpiety and ,hankfulness,
which we in some measure .bestow upon
those who were blessed by being its sim
struments.--- Revolutions are said 10 he
marked by great virtues, and great crimes:
ours forms splendid exception to one
branch Of this rule; for, from its conn
mencement to its termination, it exhibits
display OF all the virtues which aiorn or
elevate human nature. Nor is this exhi-
bition confined to its general. features, for
they appear in its minute details, and are
found in the humblest details of the peri.
cd. No shame hangs over our origin g.
there are no disagreeable incidents to be
concealed--nO wounds that shrink from
the probe. We court. the most searching
inquiries into the incidents that brought us
into the family Of nations, for the honors of
our birth appear ye, brighter the more the
subject is, investigated.
b Hove, to steal. an occasional hour from
the ordinary employment Of life, to medi-
tate on the events of that periodic think
of the wise and good who sprung into be-
ing like the tabled Minerva, ready armed
for battlc--of their sage counciIs-their
hard fought fields, and their hope long de-
ferred but Brilliantly realized in the end.
love to trace the consequences that have
flowed from these events--not only as
concerns our welfare, but in their effects
upon other, and remote countries--to watch
the standard Of liberty, wherever it is O.
rected, and to think that when we cry God
speed to every generous effort that is
made in behalf Of the rights Of man, we
do but repeat one of the lessons of our
revolution. -
When we trace the history of the men
of that day, from the first dawn ings of their
fame, to the times when successfully the
majority of them have dropped into The
tomb, it is natural to ask what senses has
their country entertained of their services
what care was taken Of their declining
yearsl We read the answer in the me
lancholy history Of the survivors. Their
country has been liberal in its praises
they have not received nor have they ask
ed any thing from its generosity---they
have been denied even their claims upon
its justice sYear after year the petitions
Of the surviving officers has been prescnt-
ed to congress. Distinguished lawyers
have pronounced on the floor Of the house.
that the demand was one of strict right;
that it could be enforced in court of JUS
tice, if anvcourt had jurisdiction Of claims
against the government. Yetit has been
passed owe. from time to time, not indeed
with neglect; for the subject has ofian
been discussed, but without eyentuating in
any thing for their relief -
p. Preparatory to statement Of the claims
there are one or two remarks, sufficiently
obvious, perhaps yet peculiarly ,approprI-
ale TO the subiect.-The British King at
frst required unconditional submission.:
We, ultimately demanded unconditional
Independence. II was, on our part. ! war,
NOT FROM any abstract principle Of the lsws
,of nations; not for the acquisition cf ter.
rilory; not for soRmercial privileges bgE
in defence of ouE uRalienable rights, and