Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-01-20

rouoere0
var by this pubcsp;r;ted citizen. 10 isugushed By
nus unwesrted efforts protect bic native State, a.
gsnst the desolating neursious Of Leslie, Arnold and
torm.d.bte armament against Virginia, in each Of
which he took the field ~ commander of the militia
and struggled by every effort TO check their rsvages
These were followed BY the awful invasion by that dis
ngu"hed British commander, Lord Cornvaiis against
whom the ancestor efthe petitioners. in conjunction
ousy to defend the State. b,f;ng al the attempts of
her ssEacous adversary, to up their little army
oy the overwhelming force of his veteran legons an,
army Of the ilus,rious Washington. commanded
by the intrepid awayne. when they were ena-
S S!ed to turn upon their puesuer and force
der cover Of formidable naval armament In the
great drama If the siege of York in which Engand's
most distinguished military comms nder. at tho head
Ierge and well appointed army compelled 10
yield to the superior eagacity entcrprz~ and match
less prowess Of our immortal Washington it became
sgain the province Of Thomas Nelson, to act in tho
n,cn ana elfcient station of commander Of the mlita
OF the oa,e. then in SERVICE Governor ofihe Com
monweath' NJ that most distinguished period Of Vr-
g'n'as history, when the American arms triumphed
most sgnally on SOIL and the seven years war Of
the revolution was closed by this unrivslled victory
ne essential services rendered by the ancestor of
inc petitioners on this important occasion, are con-
n'med by the testimony Of the llustrious commnr der
ms general order issued ia his army q the close
OF that memorable siege. The petitioners will be
these
orders, when they state that they are TO he in
very lew 1t any American works; and they have been
Obliged to hunt them up in English publication in
oruer TO present them to this honorable body. The
commander IN chief hue speaks "The General would
be guilty of the highest ngrattudc crime of which
he hopes he shall never be accused if he forpot IN
return his sincere acknowledging nts TO bs ExceIIen
cy novernor Nelson, for the succours which he re-
ce'Ved from h'm and the mill il undsr his comma nd
Z" whose activity emula: lion and bravery tb. bpbes,
praises are Que: the magnit dc ofths acquisition will
oe an ample CT mpr nsa ion for tho difficulties dangers
which hey with much irnnness g. natriotsm >,
The magnitude Of the disinte .,cr;i;cr. IN
public veal, made by General Nelson in the cam
Pa'gns which preceded, and which terminated nv tho
surrender OF Lord Cornwaliis with numerous ir;t;sb
army under h,s command, is proved by the certificates
OF d. NJ. Randolph and Captain George Dabnev in the
supply ct horses &c. which he furnished for the pub
ic service is also beiieved that his own nerso,,I
services at the head Of the militia of the state i; ,h
campaigns Of 1871 and 1884, were erstuitousIv afIor
aed without ray OF recompence. The petitioners ind
Impossible te prest mt in any definite or eopdesend
form the specific items of the advances made and ON
sacrifices encountered by their ancestor 10
ne invaluable blessings Of the revolution But when
to the certificates above alluded to- is add.d ths
statement contained in the letter of Major Jobn NeJ.
OF Mecklenburg. that for the purpose of .unn,r,;nc
the corps OF volunteers which raised and marched
10 rhadeiphla IN 1778, estate was sold in the low
er country to furnish funds deffay that e.n.d,o,
when D. N. Randolph states that the corn, ws, r.
peately informed that they could be furnished with
what money they wanted by applying ut the heal
quarters, and that very many app,ied and 80. e.
nshed: when George Dabney certifies that the com,
mander OF they corps always sent express to IN,
puohc houses IN their route to have provisions made
ready tor the troops, and that he paid all the
when that dsinterested honorable man at that ,;
Miy acquainted with the transactions Of Gen.rol
Nelson, estimates the advances and SACRIFICES ~. A.
IN that expedition. at $4,000; and slso staes ,ho
many Of fhe corps were mounted horses furnish;
oy General Nelson; when the same statements of a.;
Interested p"rons shew that these advances wer,
never re-paid by the individuals 10 when tbev y.,
made, but that they asdged in their Justification ba
It was public money with which thew had hesn E
nshed; can there exist doubt, even with the mn
'ha' enormous advances and sacrifices were
made TO the public use by General Nelson. IN The
great impoverishmcnt OF his family and In ,be, 3.
most total privaton of those necessares and con,f,
to which they had been accustomed during his aroe
perry. inc importance OF the cause in which the
people we're engaged during the revolution. deman
led sacrifices from all; bnt when auy individsI Gov
the common good infinitely transcends the bounds ~
contributions which could be expected from him and
poo's ms an INTO the common treasury for the common
use IL Is out Just that portion should be refundad
and his representatives. requited for the .xces. &c
sacrifice made by him when the great obi oct has -
oota,ned' Under the resolution Or the Genera; AS
sembly, and under the Governors address about tbo
same period, the sum Of esq, $50 8s Iod wero n,;J
into the public treasury, for the use of the Comnn
wealth. as IS shewn by the books of the tressnrv
are earn with regret that doubt.
are entertained or the propriety of considering this
neirs OF General Nelson as entitled to reimburse
ment OF these sums. because. although thev yye,. %
Tor and credited to General Nslson the name,
OF the persons from whom he received ,hem are asc
enseIg" IN me treasury books. Phe testimony pre-
sehted 10 this honorable body, shows thu, mos, ~
'hese sums wore obtained on General Nelson's re,-
sonal responsibility and obligation: that the boldo,.
Of money refused to lend the credit OF the state
but consented to lend on Genera! NeIson's hon5.
tnese were given, and the money obtained thereunon
and paid into the public treasury. Has the Common,
wealth refunded to The ndividual7 Hs. she bo,r
cared upon by any OF them since TO do sos Had che
repaid these loans TO the iudivduaIs l.nJ;r.- a.
estate Of Thomas Nelson might have been saved "a,
ms family But when almost the whole of his es,.s
has been sacrificed, and the greatest moral
e*sts mat was sacrificed to the public use ann
for the special discharge of their Jeh,s .;, go az
commonwealth reply To The demsnd of the ppti,ion~
ers' yon have no claim upon our justice these suns
are que 10 another The country will thus reao nm
oenent OF our snerlhces without having paid ne
petitioners with great Difference contend. Tbs, ,hs
receipt being given N the mama nf Irh. 800. 49,.