The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-18
The Financial La Fayetts of the War of
Independence.

Iaym Salamon, of Philadelphia, held in
hnance much the same, rank among the de-
voted and unpaid servants Of the Continen
tai Congress, which La Fayette occupied in
the army, and Paul Jones on the ocean,
They all had to pay their own expenses,
and from their own private means they all
contributed the bread Of life for our new.
born, struggling, and moncyless Uniou.-
The wealthy French noble was not ruined
by this generous devotion to the cause of
the young republic, but Paul Jones and
1taytn Salanon were utterly sacrificed. At
ter siXty-odd years Of vain application and
ruinous delay, the heirs of Paul Jones, or
the persons who had brought up their large
claims for mess Of po,tagc, received some
thing from Congress but Tlaym Salamon's
descendants have not to this dav obtained
one dollar for the 100000 which he adj
vanced, to his own ruin, for the salvation of
our country in its darkest hour of tribula-
tion.
This Is one Of those mortifying chapters
in our national legislation which we would
fain cover with the mantle of oblivion. were
not silence SO akin TO completely in the de-
NAL of justice. II concerns every honest
man that our government should pay its
honest debts, even at tho unusual sacrifice
OF somo slight rctrenchmcnt in its lavish
outlays for all manner of useless and i'm
proper ohjec.S.
The Senate Committee on Revolutionary
Claims has investigated this case of IIaym
Salamon, and its exceedingly lucid and con.
elusive report must 60 direct to the heart
of every man who has spark of pride in
the fair dcaling-we will not say liberality
or patriotic spirit. but simply the common
business honestly-of our public servants
These are the facts Of this unparalleled
case: lIaym Salamon, a Polandcr bv birth.
and an ardent Liberal in principle had
made Philadelphia the home Of his choice.
and at the opening Of our war of independ-
ence was rich banker and prosperous
merchant. Such man was prime ncces-
slty to the Continental Congress. His
European facilities and connections enabled
hl'n to negotiate war loans in France and
Holland, and on such favorable terms as
have rarely been obtained by feeble colony
IN the early stages of revolt against pow.
erful mother country. In one instance the
French agents received 100000 rs fair
business commission for services similar to
those which Haym Salamon was rendering
for nothing.
Salamon also thought It was desirable to
make the hostility OF Spain to England
available for the recognition and advance
mcnt OF our national independence, and
mainly through his ~sklItul management
Don Francisco Rcndo was commissioned
10y the Spanish government TO reside near
Congress and carry out this policy. Docu-
ments exists to show that this cnyov of
Span was retained and supported here Jy
the liberal purse Of Hayns .Salamon but
Tor tins no charge was ever cutered by the
patriotic banker. Again, there is evidence
under the hand of James Madison and
Robert Morris, that during the sessions Of
the Congress of Independence, many Of the
members were reduced to such pecuniary
distress that they would have been obliged
to return home, bu. for. the open purse of
llaym Salamon. Yet these accounts
ranging between $4,000 and $4,000 TN.
pa'd-arc not charged to the government.
The heirs only ask for the s3Oo,OOo ad
vanced, in each, for the Indispensable opera
tons Of the army and government and
yet this undenicd and undcniablo act of
justice is withheld Tile States.