Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-07-06

non Of The army. Every step of warfare, wheh-
or Tor good or III, was taken under my own direc-
ton and OF none other, many who now hear
me know. Whether every movement would or
would not pass the criticism of Bonapnre or Wei
lingon, know not; bur, whether they would in
duce applause or censurc, upon myself it must
fall
Dat felew citizens, still another motive indu-
ced me 10 accept the invitation which had been
so kindly extended me. ] knew that here |
should meet with many who bad fought and bled
under my colnnanh-lhat should have the plea
sure of tuking them by the hand, and recurring
with them to the scenes of the past. ! expected,
too, to meet with few OF the great and soo1
men yet surviving, by whose efforts our freedom
was achieved, This pleasure alone would have
been sufficient 10 induce my visit 10 this interes
ting spot upon this equally interesting occasion.
zee my old companions here and see not few
Of the revolutionary veterans around ne.-Mon,d
to God that it had been in my p.5ver ia have
made them comfortable and happy - TINT their snn
'nlght go down in peace But fellow citizens fllev
remain unprovided for monuments of the in
gratitude OF my country 1t was with the prent
Est d'ihculty that the existing pension act was
passed through Congress But why was it reslric.
ted! why velc the brave soldiers who fouSLt
under Wayne excluded ?--soIdiers who suffered
lar more tiian tl'ey who fought G the revolution
proper lie revolution, in Iact, did not terminate
tu 1874 until the Do lie was fought upon the hat
I've ground upoG whych ny eye now rests, (Niamil
ment of The revolution untlLe yictorv of Wonno
to which have just alluded The area, h;uh
way TO the West was the scef, of uncensino
slaughter. Then why this unjust DISCRIMINATION?
Why are the soldiers who terminated he wnr of
The revolution, in fact. excluded, while Iose hv
whom it was begun or portion of them DE re-
warded |? ] will tel you why. The poor remhnt
Of Wayne's army had but few advocates, With
those who had served in the revolution proper had
many friends. Scattered as they were over all
paris Of the Union, and in large numbers they
could exert an influence al the ballot box. They
could whisper thus in the cars Of those who
sought their influence 1T The pos Take care,
for have waited long enoughior what has been
promised The former plea of poverty can no
longer be made The treasury is now full. Take
care, your set is in danger" ION! yes every
thing that las been promised shall be attended to-,
if you will give me your votes.' In tins way,
fellow citizens, tardy, bur partial justice has been
done TO the soldiers Of the revolution. They made
friends by their influence At the ballot box. But
: it was different with Gen. Wayne's soldiers. They
were few in number, and they had but one or two
humble advocates to speak Tor them in Congress.
The result has been, Justice. has been Withheld
| have said that the soldiers under Wayne ex-
perienced greater hardships even than the soldiers
of the revolution. This is so. Every one can
appreciate the difference between ali Indian and
n regular war. When wounded ld battle, the SOL
dier must have warmth and shelter before he can
recover This could generally be secured to- the
soldiers OF the revolution. In those days The
latch string Of 10 door was RULED in. When
wounded, he TO find shelter aud very
many of those comforts which are es>t ntal 10
Il the sick hut which the soldiers IN an Indian war
cannot procure. Instead of shelter and warmth
lie is exposed, 10 the Itbufand lllS incident In
dim warfare. Yet no relief was extended TO those
who had thus suffered,
After the war closed under Wayne; I retired
aud when saw a man poorer than all others wai.
dor pnn fIip l,pI riuann 4 ,Ia hy
incompetence, it was unnecessary to enquire
f whether he had even belonged to Naynes army.
His condition was guaranee of tlIat-was Il snf-
ficient assurance that he had wasted his. energes
among the unwhuesome swamps of the est,
in The defence of the righb of bis fellow citizens,
and for the maintenance OF the honor and glory of
his country.
Well, fellow citizens, | can only say, that il it
should ever be in my power to pay the debt
which is due these brave hut neglected men, that
debt shall first of all lie paid. And am very well
satisfied that the government can afford il, provi-
S died the latch string OF The treasury shall ever he
5 more carefully pulled in. Perhaps you will ask
me Tor some proof of my friendship Tor old SOL
diers. 1t so, can give ii you from The records of
[. Congress. Wien the fits en- hundred dollar law
/, was repealed, opposed il, as | opposed chang
ing the pay OF members of Congress from six TO
!. eight dollars until we had done justice 10, and
provided for, these soldiers. You viii find my
) votes upon this question, among The records Of
Congress- and my speech upon il, in The published
4 debates of the time.
n | will now, fellow citizens, give you my reasons
. for having refused 10 give pledges and opinions
more freely than have done since my nomina
/ ton to the Presidency. Many of the statements
4 published upon this subject are by no means cor
rect; hut il is true that ii is my opinion that no
. pledge should be made BY an individual when in
nomination for any Office in the gift of the Peo-
pie And why? Once adopt it, and the battle
\ Nyi m he In iron In he yIrfuo
or the sincere lover OF The country but TO him
!, who is prepared 10 tell the greatest number of
IS lies and to protler the largest number OF pledges
% which he never intends to carry out. I suppose
= that the hest guarantee which an American eli.
- zen could haYeof The correctness of the conduct
II of an Individual in the future, would be his COM
:, duct in the past, when he iad temptation DO
il fore him to practice deceit.
Now, fellow citizens, have notaltogeiher grown
a. grey under the helmet Of my country, although !
!, have worn il for some time large portion OF
.r my life has been passed in the civil departments
=. OF government Examine my conduct there, and
n, lie most tenacious democrat use The word in
II it, proper sense; mean not TO confne il 10 par
~ ties, for there are good on boli-nay, doullless
N discover faults, but he will find no single act cal
IA culaled to derogte from the rights of the people.
A. However, to prove The reverse OF this have
been called Federalis [ilere was cry OF
Of the charge is liza base lie. You are no fed
n, erala.rl We'll, what 10 federalist? recolect
n what the term formerly sigmhed, and there are
n, many others present VINO recoheet lis former sig
= ni6cs,ion also. They know that The federal par
=, ~ were accused of design strengthen the
Il, hands of the general government at the expense
a of the separate States. That accusation would
a nor cannot apply to me. ] was brought up after
ID the siretest manner OF Virginia anti federalism
bt ST. Paul himself was not greater dryotee In The
10 doctrines of the Pharsees than was l. by iuclua.
id ton and fathers preceps and example, to anti.
NJ federalism | was Taught TO believe that, sooner
r or later, that fatal catastrophe to human IherN
Ls would take place-that the general government,
A all, Ito,