The Litchfield County post., 1828-02-07


tiva, md from the peculiar mature Of the
var, the pay Of our troops depended mp.
an thoir succsss.-NO Nothing bu, this could
enable Congress to redeem its pledges.
Defeat iuferrod not Gully the risk Of the
halter, but the certain loss of the anticipa. !
ted rewards. Victory promised every
thing. "Rebellion is written on the back !
Of the flying foe; but Revolution flames
on the breast plate Of the victorious war
ior."
Congress, 10 the FIRST year of the war,
bad no other powers than those which a.
rose from the voluntary assent of the states
and the confederation of 1778 was wan
ting in the principal regulate Of govern
ment, viz: that ofsenforcing its requIsi-
tons and through the patriotism of the
times in some measure supplied this wan;
of power, yet, as the resources of the sew
oral states become diminished and con-
sumed in the contest, they became unable,
in SEINE instances, and in others we're un-
willing, to meet the constant drafts which
the government found il necessary tol
make upon them. Hence Congress
from the commencement of the war, was
deficient both in means and credit. Its
bills constantly decreased in value, till they
were at length, deprecated at the rate of
one hundred to one. 1t was this depre-
ciated paper in which the army was paid
land no other than the patriot army would
have continued to serve on conditions that
literally amountedto absolute loss of their
pay.--Taking their hardships into consid-
Grafton, and DESTROYS of keeping up their
spirits in the contest, Congress on the 21stl
Of Oct, 1880, resolved that the officers
who served to the end of the war, should
receive half pay for life; BY other acts,
they made liberal provisions Of rewards to
the soldiers.
Under this provision ofhalf pay for life,
Il appears, by calculation, had that prom
Use been performed they would have receiv-
ed without interest, about $4,000; & with
simple interest, about $4,000.
On the 22d day of March, 1888, Con-
sress resolved to give the officers five years
full pay, in lieu of half pay for life. 1t
does not appear on what basis this resolve
was founded but it is certain, that on the
calculation of life annuities, seven years
= full pay was the fair equivalent for half
pay for life. When, therefore, Congress
settled with the officers allowing only FIVE
years full pay, it made clear saving to the
government, and loss to the officers Of two,
years full pay.
Certificates bearing interest at six per
cent were issued pursuant to this last re-
solve, but the government remained with
ont credit or resources, and we're utterly
unable to redeem them. Under these cir
cumstances the great majority of the off,
GERS sold their certificates for little or no.
thing, and long before the funding system
went into operation, the hard-earned pay
Of these patriot soldiers had been expsnd-
ed or lost. This branch Of the subject
is not however stated as forming the ground
of the claim, but merely by way of in
ducement to the other facts Of the case.
The Communication act, as it was called.
required in its terms the assent of the Off
GERS as prerequisite to its going into o.
peration but no such assent was ever OBJ
tanned, unless an implied one is to be infer
red fiom their receiving the certificates
when rendered; but the acceptance by al
creditor of part Of his debt, could.never
at law be deemed discharge Of the whole.
Nothing less than full and absolute dis
charge would afford defence to suit for
the balance Of the demand.
In 1891, these certificates were funded,
and the government continued to gain,
while thu holders lost: one-third the a.
mount due TO each officer, was paid in a
certificate without interest for ten years.
A portion was funded atthree per cent, for
ming part of the three per cent stock Of
the present day. s@
BY these varions modes Of settling with
the officers, it appears from calculations
made, that the government saved and the
officers lost, including interest to the pres
ent time, more than seven millions of dol
lars--and il is stated by an eloquent wri-
tor in the Evening Post, that by funding
she interest due on the certificates at three
instead Of six per cent, the officers, soldiers,
: and fund-holders lost, and the government
saved els AGO. 900: and that the differ
ence between the mode the government
adopted and the just demands Of its cred
isors. amounts, charging interest of six per
cent, to the present time, to 46,24S, 900
dollars.
This statement can need no calculation.
These gallant veterans rest their claims
npon the deduction Of two years full pay,