Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-30
CONGRESS.


Of certain citizens Of the county Of West Ches-
ter, in the State Of New York, heretofore pre-
sen,eJ to this House, praying for pension for
The captors Of Andre, be recommitIed to The
committee Of Military Pensions.
Mr. Ward addressed The Chair 10 the follow
ing effecr:
Mr.. Speaker: Having made the motion from
sense Of duty I am constrained by the same
principle to make a few explanatory remarks
upon the circumstances Of the case.
The petition, Sir, that am now DESTROYS
should be recommited TO the Committee on
Revolutionary Pensions, had the honor to
submit to this House at its last session, which
was then referred to that Committee, and upon
which The Committee made an unfavorable re-
port 1t was nv intention, Sir, to have pro-
posed an amendment, 10 favor Of this widow,
10 the bill reported for the relief OF certain sur
viving Cffrers and soldiers oil the Revolution,
add which yet remains to be acted upon: but |
felt i, to be my duly, in the FIRST place, to con-
suit with the honorable gentleman al the mead
of that Committee, upon the SUBJECT, and he
advised me TO pursue The course l have now
adopted.
1t viii be seen, Sir, iha: this resolution does
not instruct the Committee 10 bring in bill;
nevertheless, it is my wish that gentlemen who
are in favor of granting the PRAYER OF the peti
TONER, should vote in favor of it, and that those
who arc opposed to il, will vote against il; be-
cause we have now but thirty days left in this
session upon which We can transact business.
and if the House was opposed to this sppica
ton, / am not DESTROYS OF troubling The Com
mi,tee again with this matter.
II. L., Il. - r.
that John Pauldng, who was one Of the caps
wss.y dc 81 WON s are iisss
and that they pray that the pension which was
granted TO him during his life, may be given to
his widow.
1t is well known to every gentleman o! this
House, that in the autumn Of 1880, when our
military affairs in every quar- er were in worse
condition than they had ever been in since he
beginning Of the war Of the Revolution-if we
exCep, the latter part Of the year l776-and
when dismay and almos, despair had paralized
the energies Of our country; and at time, too,
when Washington was absent from the camp
on official duties, and when our army was sin>
died to few efficient men, that Arnold. who
in brooding over his imaginary wrongs and
neglects. from a spirit Of resentment and ava.
rice committed an act Of treason. Not a sim.
pie act Of treason by deserving his own standard
and flying from his own posi-; but an act OF
treason pregnant with the most awful conse-
quences, such as involved he lives Of bis whole
army and the fate Of his country together.
The success, Of his plan would have been a
death blow 10 The hopes Of America. Arnold
had been for long time laying his plans aud
soaring his conscience. The British, after
maay hints and suggestions, understood their
man, and Major Andre was sent to Yves, Point
to negociste the business of the surrender of
this strong hold. The work, as far as compact
could make it, was accomplished. The Bri
fish spy was returning to his head quarters,
flushed with the success of his diplomacy, when |
he was taken by John Pauldng and his a.so>
ciates, three plain, honest yeomen of the county
Of West Chester; citizen soldiers without wealth |
or Office. The Prisoner offered them brides Of |
great magnitude to release him, and named |
himself as a hostage until those sipulations
were complied with aud his ransom for,hcom-
ing. They did not listen 20 him, although
they would not doubt his word, nor tue ability
OF his General to pay the ransom, but rejected
his Offers and marched him, forthwith, to the
nearest post OF the American army, and gave
him up to the commanding officer, and felt hap.
by in the discharge Of their duty.
ne country was aStOnlSncQ ana cOntOunded
1t this act Of treason, and officers and soldiers
started forth to avepge il; but while words of
indignation were on every tongue al tie very
name Of Arnold, those of commepdation and
gratitude to these captors were commihgled
With them.
Congress felt satisfied with the patriotism of
these men, and expressed sense of gratitude
10 them by voting to send medals to the Com. !
nander IN chief 10 be presented to them; and ,
with the scanty means then in the power of The !
ia,ion, voted also to pension them for life. A ,
loiiar then as our country was situated was
sorth hundred now; for at the time when :,
his was done the Treasury was nearly bapk. :
uPt, and soldiers half naked and half starved 4
'err paid IN deprecated paper. Yet such was
hen thought TO be the magnitude Of the ser. \
ices Of Padding and his associates, that there
'ss no question abou, the course to be pursued Il
, rewsrding such in6ex,ble honesty. J,
The army, who knew whar was honorable in -
iiizen soldiers, hailed With delight THE act Of v