The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.

Revolutionary ClaiaIS--Ia Senate January ., 1857.
The Senate as in committee of the whole, resumed the
consideration Of the bill H R. No l54 to provide for the
settlement of claims Of the officers Of the revolutionary
army of the widows and orphan children Of those who
died in the service.
Mr STUART. | wish to avail myself of the very first
proper occasion TO misapprehenson which pre-
sened the Senate the other day in connexon with this
BILL Ialluded-not for any improper purpose as stated
the time but for the purpose Of showing who the
benefcaries under this bo the President of the Uni
ted States and stated that he and his brother would
ceye Sl40o0 and the suggestion of the from
Alabama said SIC 00o This was a report that gained
currency in the city account OF Misrepresentation
to the time covered by the bill. wrong. The
amount he will receive the bill shall pass understand
to be $3.50 only wish to say again that stated this
sum- because considered important but simply to
show the individuals benefited by the bill On that sub
ject hereafter may say something have deemed ii prop
to take this early moment to correct what before said
Mr. SEWARIs ! thank the honorable senator from
Michigan for the correction which, of course is pertinent
and could not be made too early in justice to the President
and to himself The honorable senator however will
for saying that if he will inquire little further
he will find that the President of the United States is not
the sole surviving child Of the ancestor who merted the
provision which he audes that provision must
be divided and that the share which will fail to the Pes
dent of the United States will not exceed half of the
sum which the honorable senator states. Mr.. STUART
nodded assent
Mr. President before speaking the merits of this ques
tion desire to advert to another misrepresentation of the
subject which is that this modern or newy-trumped
up measures and that is brought before Congress- by the
children of the officers of the revolution for the first
time 0fcouse this popular misapprehension abroad
not which prevails here. have in my hand cir
eular letter. dated Psburg Pennsylvania, March 1905
This is original letter. subscribed by the revolutionary
officers then living, nsuting the proceedings by which
this question brought before Congress in the year
1910. 1t is:
PIrrsnURe, (Penn.,) March 8, lsos
Sin BY resolution of Congress passed the Ilth Of
gust, ITS it ordained That the hafpay provided by
for ife." And the 22d March, 1908, it was resolved
That such officers in service, and shall continue
of five years full pay in money securities
teest at per per Congress shall find most
q
ton originated and partially acceded to- the desperate
compelled many Of the holders of certificates Of public debt
part with them price far below their nominal value
That the intentions the Congress of l7s have
not been realizedthat many meritoous officers bowed
Cling with facts notorious of late to at
tract the public attention.
ernment to make good the original promises great the
zeal attey displayed in Congress this interesting sub
has been deemed proper by number of revolutionary Off
GERS whose lot it is reside at this place and Its vicinity
call the attention of their brethren in the several States and
to suggest the expedency of memorial the subject being
prepared each State circle district during the recess
as soon permit after their
Signed in behalf of the officers of the revolutionary army
residing in Pittsburg and Its Vicinity
- 'NN i'NN fSA Al rs 4 ID % ''s-
MAYOR 4. l0T.lS TANSEHIII, SfHHn1n, Ar'i'sfs'
Captain ryiand Corps.
w ..aa WILLIAM MAGAW,
Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment.
At the instance of these officers large amount Of infor
nation was collected the subject which will be found
in the report think made by the Committee of Ways and
Means in the House Of Representatives whom the sub
ject then referred 1t has frequently been here since
that time
to be on the motion of Mr. PueH to strike out the fourth
and fifth sections Of the bill, which are:
"SEc L. And be Farther enacted, That the benefit of
dred and eighty extended to widows and orphan
children of all officers who died In the service at period
longed to the continental line any corps call
ed into service under the authority State but no
and orphan children of such deceased officers.
"Src s. And be further enacted, That surgeons mates
shall be entitled to the benefit of the resolution of the
teenh January hundred and eighty and
receive the pay hospital physicians and surgeons
Mr.. SEWARD Mr.. President, the American revolution
had its origin in conflict between the desire of Great
Britain for power on this continent manifested by early
encroachents the civil rights of her colonies and later
restrictions their commerce. and an abhorrence on their
part of every form of tyranny or oppression.
Although Massachusetts, enjoyed the sympathy Of the
other colonies she stood alone when the contest began
So early l7es hundred British regular troops,
with mukes charged and bayones Yed entered Boston
as hostile city Six years afterwards British forces fort
isd Boston Neck. In October, l774 the royal governor
dissolved the legislative assembly of Massachusetts They
Immediately reassembed and reorganized themselves as
Provincial Congress- and directed the equipment Of
twelve thousand volunteers and enrolment OF one
fourth of the militia mnutemen few other colonies
about the time adopted less extensive but similar
preparations Practically all the troops raised were voun-
teers militia enrolled for occasional at least short
of service Such the forces that met the Brit
h detachment at Lexington and Concord and Immediately
thereafter stretched an encampment from Roxbur TO the
Mystic Such also those who received the British
sault Bunker HILL well those who conquered Ii
conderoga and Crown Point
1t until the 9th of July, l775 that defensive
alliance formed by the colonies to maintain the cause
of Massachusetts, their The Congress of delegates
then at Philadelphia announced their purpose of resistance
to the people of Great Britain in these erse and earnest
words
owe reduced the alternative of choosing
dona submission to the tyranny Of wicked minister's
resistance by force The latter Is choice. We have
counted the cost of this contest and find nothing dreadful
as voluntary slavery"
The Congress resolved that army of twenty thousand
men should be raised and appointed George Washington
commander-inchief of all the forces already rased well
as all to be afterwards levied for the defence of American
liberty The alliance of the colonies thus formed wa,
merely voluntary and not until 7sl that the Ar
ces OF Confederation which formed the first federal cons
tuition were fully adopted.
Washington by degrees developed military policy
which encountered strenuous opposition throughout the
whole revolution and which, in fact never fully adopt
ed by Congress or the colonies, States. The present
question is consequence Of that conflict Washingons
policy required
lst common, or as it was then and aptly called
continental army instead of separate provincial or State
corps.
I'd regular army enlisted and appointed to du.
rlng the war, instead Of volunteers or militia
3d.. continental treasury supplied with taxes and
loans by federal authority instead Of thirteen distinct