Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-05-25
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.

past, have had many of these unfortunate rcyolu.
uonary Claims before thcm--still Enacted on and
when to be determined Of erer) is very uncertain
and to the present writer, entirely unknown. III,
deems IT his duty, therefore, to inform those whost
suiierings Inc knows, dbSOiUieiy but too well, ant
whose interests Inc has undertaken TO attend to, on
these heads, in addition to what he has said il
his two first advertisements, that desire to asccr
taIn as far as practicable, what would be done al
those subjects, has prevented more particular anC
direct communications to them, in cases requiring
such individual and particular notices. The best
that remains for him to do for them, perhaps, is &c
throw out few general facts and observations
with a respectful remonstrancc IN their favor.
The extreme hardshps and suilcrings of tho Ar
mics of the American Rcvolution-thc many, re.
peatcd, and Just complaints of the great body oil
those suffcrers-a well as the patient endurance,
the steady and patriotic perseverance of most OF
the prominent and conspicuous actors--are all so
'uly and truly set forth in histories OF those trying
times, that ii may be considered perfect act OF
lsupererogation to attempt to add single idea OF
even single word on the subject. But, when il
Is recolectcd what small proportion OF the Amer,
,can People, or community at largo, who govern,
nave Tune or perseverance (evcn had they all the
| reading, inclination and qualifications to wade
thro all the detailed minu,ia requisite to the ac.
quirement of the whole facts these important
heads, II may not be arniss to sketch out faint
picture or general outline of of the most pro-
ininent and striking features in those affairs Gin
the strctest miniature form.) to enable the eye to
survey IN SINGLE view, and every honest mind To
form Just estimate at once of the final fate of
those long suffering and severely treated CREAToRs
oil their country's political existence.
Such were the trials and sutferin gs (which
never can be forgotten, Gut in DEATH by those
who endured them,) that those armies, it is well
known, were repeatedly the point of dissolution.
AZ one OF the most trying periods of those unequal
struggles with superior forces, and with prospects
OF the most desperate and heartless hopes of sue
cess the entire line of one Of the nost important
States mutinied and withdrew from the contest
seemingly with design to join the foe and in de.
lance OF their officers. 1t was with no small
difficulty that WASHINGTON, with all his popular
influence, prevailed on them to return TO their du
~ Ill the cause of their country. He had frequent
~ TO pledge himself that ample Justice should ult
mately be done all his faithful aud pcrsevering fol-
lowers Congress as repeatedly made the same and
much more strong and specific pledges. The Re-
Volution, under these circumstances, was accom-
plished--pcace rcstored-all the blessings of indie
pcndencc, with the full enjoyment of the high pri-
vilcges and benefits of social and personal liberty
both political and religious, attained-and the
most ample means of the rising prosperity Of the
nation, and Of honestly and honoraby redceming
those sacred pledges to the procurers of all those
great blessings, soon fully manifested and realized
But alas! what is the concluding contrast of ben.
ehts among the three parties commemorative Pied
gers, the Procurers and the present Enioyers of
all those extraordinary and unparalleled bcne-
| fits?
| FoRrY-NINE YEARS have now elapsed since the
close of the Revolution, i'll 7S3 and by the delays
To redeem those pledges and the deaths of those
revolutionary sufferers through long dstresSes, and
the deaths of the witnesses of their services and
SufierIngs, the nation has gained by non compi-
ance with its pledges and the laws of limitations
at least THREE poURTHs, some calculate TENTIIs
OF the whole of those ancient pledges! And who
enjoys those great sdring gains along with the
great obtainments by, and withholdinps from
those Revolutionary actors and sufferers? Certain
| ly the after generations who, if they do not re-
fuse, neglect to discharge those former promises.
The time is fast rolling which will, from the
same causes, soon crush and obliterac forever the
small remnant of the miserable one fourth or one
tenth OF those Revolutionary claims. If Conrrtss
have decided to do nothing moro on this subject
this session, they had better reject the whole at
once, as it relates TO any benefit to the few very
aged and everyday departing Revolutionary war
riors, and save themselves tho trouble and the ma.
ton The expenses OF future tastIzIHg legislation
on so ruthless subject.
Many INDECENT and helpless worn out Rcvolu
tionary officers and soldiers have been waiting on
the present Congress, and many more, from age
and helpless physical causes and pccun Try detcien-
cies, could not attend, now listening at a dis
lance to hear the sounds of justice from their
countrywide, If instead of that arc to pay this
last tax of deprivation of their rights that coun
try had better be informed of their fate at once to
enable them to be consoled, that they have given
their first, their best, their last days and services
to u beloved country, which they have contributed
to make free, rich and powerful while they arc
stripped and left to die in poverty.
With such pure and disnterestcd patriots as
these il may still be hoped, but scarcely be ex-
Pccted, that so meretriciOuS SdrRg gain to the
country, can be rewarded i'll prosperity by means
OF the prodigal waste of time and money in anpry
party controversies, selfish clectioneering Office
hunting considerations into which too many objects
OF latter times have certainly been merged and
thrown all the great and primary foundations of
our independence and national prosperity, far in
the back ground, if not entirely out of sight
have no doubt, however, from what have
seen and Will bear testimony to, that there arc
many honest and honorable men, pure patriots OF
the present day, as well in out of Congress- who
See understand, and rightly appreciate all those
subjects and will act independently of all party
and selfish clectioneering con sderations as have
formerly said. But fear, from late events that
those former admissions were broader and more
! liberal than warranted by the then imperfect coup
de GiI IN the opening campaign. That there are
but too many both sides of every political ques-
| ton of the present day, who insen IDLY and unin.
tentonally, it is to be hoped, suffer party selfish
| and local considerations to enter in, and minglc
too much with, all great national If not eTeB
personal concerns, )-is not now to be well denied
Imperfect we all are, yet if there are any left
of former times who have no personal views or in
tercstS to subserye-who have never held or sought
any stations places of honor, since those of
perlOus revolutionary days, with their scanty SUD-
portsthen and their long delayed cmoluments since
! who, belonging to party or creed i'm politcs
but those which lead to the general veal and
were created and laid down by him who was
| 'thc Father of his country and the founder of
all that is great and good in that way-T say, if
any such now exist, may they not be permitted to
invoke the present preserving guardians of those
sacred principles of such a founder to remember
| one OF tho Inunctons and wishes nearest his
heart, and while living, never ont of his mind
that is, ''to redeem those pledges made by himself
and former Congresses to all his faithful followers
| and their unpaid hcirsl"
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