The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-02-08

rlhces IN the American cause, opposed
the grants in the Senate, and did it witt
the honesty Of purpose and the simplici
ty OF language which distinguished bis
life. Hc said:
1t was with painful reluctance, tha
he felt himself obliged to oppose lis voice
to the passage Of this bill lie admitted
to the full extent claimed for them, the
great and meritorious services Of Gencr
al Lafayette, and he did not object tc
the precise sum which this bill proposed
to award him, but he objected to the bill
on this ground; he considered Genera
Lafayette, to all lntents and purposes
having been, during our revolution. a sor
adopted into the family, taken into the
household, and placed, in every respect
on the same iooting with 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 re
quired, and this had been done. That
General Lafayette made great sacrifices
and spent much Of his money in the ssr
vice Of this country, (said Mr.. M.,) | rs
firmly believe MS do any other thing un-
der the sun. / have no doubt that every
faculty Of his mind and body were eX-
crtcd in the revolutionary war, in dc
fence Of this country; but this was
equally the case with all the SONS Of tho
family. Many native Americans spent
their all, made great sacrifices, and de-
voted their lives in the same cause. This
was the ground OF his objection to this
bill, which, he repeated, it was as disa-
grecable to him to state as it could be
to the Senate to hear. lie did not mean
to take up the time of the Senate to de
bate upon the principles Of the bill or to
move any amendment TO it. He adj
mitted that, when such things were done
they should be done with free hand. 1t
was to the principle Of the bill, there
fore, and net to the sums proposed to be
given by 1t, that he objected.
The ardent Mr.. llaync, Of South Car
olina, reporter of the bill in the Senate
replied to the objections, and first showed
from history (not from Lafayette, WHO
would have nothing to do with the pro
posed srant) his advances. losses aud sac
riiices in our cause. lie bad expended
for the American service. in six years
from III to 'S3, the sum Of 200 00C
francs (Sl40,O00) and under what cir
cumstanccs "a foreigner, owing us moth
ing, and throwing his fortune into the
scale with his life, to be layished in oul
cause. lie left the enjoymonts Of ranl
aud fortune, and the cndearments of his
family, to come and serve in our almost
destitute armies, and without pay lIc
equipped and armed regiment for our
service, and freighted vessel to Us
loaded with arms and munitions 1t was
not till the year l794.when almost ruined
by the French revolution, and by his ef
forts in the cause of liberty, that l(
would receive the naked pay. without in
tcrost, Of n general officer Cor the time
be had served with US.
He was entitled to loud as oue Of tho
officers Of the revolution, and ll.50(
acres was granted to him, to be located
on any Of the public lands of the United
States. His agent located one Thousand
acres adjoining New Orleans and Con
gress afterwards, not being informed q
the location, granted the same ground tG
the city Of New Orleans. His location
was valid, and he was SO informed but
he refused to adhere TO it, saving that
he would have no contest with any por
ton of the American people, and ordered
the location to be removed; which wa.
done, and carried upon ground of little
valuc-thus giving up what was thel
worth $4,000. and now Gj00,000. These
were his money advances, losses and sac
riiicos, great in themselves, and of great
value to our cause, but perhaps, exceeded
by the moral effect Of his example in
joining us, and his influence with the
king and ministry, which procured us
the alliance of France.
The grants were voted with great IL
nanmity and with the general concur
renee of the American people Mr.
Jefferson was warmly for them, giving
as reason, in conversation with me,
while the grants were depending (for
the bill was passed in the Christmas
holidays, when | had gone to Virginia.
and took the opportunity to call upon
the great man, which showed his regard
fer liberty abroad as well as at home,
and his farsecing sagacity into future
events. lie said there would be Il
change in France, and Lafayette would
be at the head Of it, and ought to be
easy and Independent in his circumstan-
ces, to be able to act efficiently in con
Quoting the moyemcnt.-This he said
to me on Christmas day, 1924. Six
years afterwards this view into futurity
was verified. The old Bourbons had to