The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-04-27

and profound gratitude to your depar-
ted friend, the father of his country,
and to your illustrious associates in the
field and in the cabinet, for the multiplied
blessing which surround us, and for the
very privilege of addressing you which |
now have"
He was received in both Houses Of Con-
gress with equal honor; but the Houses
did not limit themselves to honors; they
added substantial rewards for long past
services and sacrifices two hundred
thousand dollars in money, and twenty
four thousand acres of fertile lands in
Florida. The noble grants did not pass
without objection to the principle, not to
the amount. The ingratitute of Repub-
lies is the theme of any disclaimer; it re-
quired Tacitus to say that ingratitude
was the death of Republics and the birth
of Monarchies; and it belongs to the peo
pie of tie United States to exhibit an ex-
cep,ion to that profound remark, as they
do 10 so many other lessons of history,
and show young Republic that knows
how to be grateful without being unwise,
and is able to pay the. debt of gratitude
wit,ou giving its liberties in discharge of
DE obi cation. The venerable Mr.. Ma
con, yielding to no one in love and admit
ration of lafayette, and appreciation Of
bis services and sacrifices in the American
cause, opposed tie grants in the Senate,
AMI all i, with the honesty of purpose
and simplci. y Of language whi' h distin-
gusl ed bic life. He said:
Il; wa~ with painful reluctance that lie
felt himself obliged to oppose his voice in
the passage of this bill. He admitted to
the full extent claimed for them, the great
and meritorous services of Gen Lafayette
and he did 10. object to the precise sum
which this bill proposed to award him,
but he objected to the bill on this ground:
he considered General Lafayette, to all
intents and purposes, having been, during
our revolution. son adopted intothe fam
lily, taken into the household. and placed
in every respect, on the same footing as
the other sons of the same family. To
treat him as others were treated, was all,
in this view of his relation to us, that
could be required, and this had been
done. That Gen. Lafayette had made
great sacrifices, and spent much Of his
money in the service of this country,
[said Mr.. M, I as firmly believe as do
any other thing under the sun. | have
no doubt that every faculty Of his mind
and body were exerted in the revolution
airy war, in prefence Of this conntry; but
this was equally the case with all the sons
of the family. Many native Americans
spent their all, made great sacrifices, and
devoted their lives in the same cause
This was the ground of his objection to
this bill, Which, he repeated, was as disa
greeable to him to state as it could be to
the Senate to hear. He did not mean to
take up the time of the Senate in debate
upon the principles Of the bill, or to move
any amendment to it, He admitted that
when such things were done, they should
be done with free hand 1t was to the
principle of the bill, therefore, and not to
the sums proposed to be given by it, that
he objected
The ardent Mr.. Hayne, of South Car
olina, reporter of the bill in the Senate,
replied to the objections, and first showed
from histroy, mot from Lafayette, who
would have nothing to do with the propo-
sed grant, his advances, losses, and sac
rihces in our cause. He had expended
FOR the American service, in the years
from 1777 to '83, the sum of 7OO,OOOl
irancs. $140, 80, and under what cir
stances?-a forei sner, owing us nothing,
and throwing his fortune into the scale
Win his HE, 20 DC IaElSHeU III our cduSC
He left the enjoyments of rank and for
tune, and the endearments of his family,
TO come and serve in our almost destitute
armies, and Without pay. He equipped
and armed regiment for our service, and
freighted vessel to US, loaded with arms
and munitions. 1t was not till the year
1894, when almost ruined by the French
revolution, and by his efforts in the cause
Of liberiy. that they would receive the ma
ked pay, without interest, of a general
officer for the time he had served with us
He was entitled to land as one of the
officers of the revolution, and H., 500
acres were granted to him, to be located
on any OF the public lands Of the United
States. His agent located one thousand
acres adjoining N. Orleans; and Congress
Afterwards, not being informed of the To-
cation, granted the same ground to the
City Of New Orleans His location was
valid, and he was so informed; but he re-
fused to adhere to it, saying, that he
would have no contest with any part of
the American people, and ordered the To-
cation to be removed; which was done,
and carried upon ground Of little value