American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-01

,elf-control. This communication came
rom one of his most esteemed and pa
riotic officers, and beloved friend who
n the darkest hour had ever stood and
struck faithfully and sternly at his side
yet he does not refer to the compliment
paid him, nor the labored argument
presented, but with his great sou
shaken to its center, he bursts forth
at is with mixture of surprise and
establishment" that any one could be-
found who ever said any thing to en-
courage such an offer.
With its pay withheld, and its dissolu
ton near, and Congress apparently in
different to its claims, the army steadily
grew more discontinued and mutinous
Added to this, many of the superior Off
GERS were in actual want, while theil
families were almost starving at home
Washington, whose observant eye saw
every thing, grew anxious and fearful
at the state of things around him.
At length, to check the increasing
excitement and postpone the day o.
evil, the officers assembled in consulta
ton, and resolved to appoint a commit
tee to visit Congress in person, and lay
their grievances before it, and demand
redress and something more satisfac
tory in the future than mere indefinite
promises. But Congress, though it pro-
fessed desire that the army should re
ceive justice, declared its inability to dc
any thing until the separate States were
consulted. The committee returned and
reported their ill-success. This repor
fell like fire on the suffering army, anG
it was evident that some decisive actor
would be developed before long. Al
length, on the 10th of March, it tool
form in an anonymous address that wa.
distributed through che army, calling
on the officers to meet next day at the
Temple, to decide on the measures tina,
should be adopted to obtain redress
of grievances.
This address, it was ascertained
years after, was written by Major Arm
strong, aide-de-camp to General Gates,
a young officer of rare ability. Its lam
guage was well calculated to set on fire
the army that was already prepared for
an explosion. The address commenced
with the statement of the disappoint-
ment felt at the report of the indiffer-
ence of the Government to their rights,
saying 'sthat faith has its limits as well
as its temper, and there are points be-
yond which neither can be stretched
without sinking into cowardice or
plunging into credulity." He then
takes rapid survey of the past, recit-
ing their devotion, their sufferings, and
their wrongs, and in series of scorn-
full questions asks them how their faith
and patience have been rewarded. Aft
er arousing their indignation by this
recital of their wrongs, and the con-
treatment with which their
humble petitions had been received, he
bursts forth, "If this, then, be your
treatment while the swords you wear
are necessary for the defense of Ameri-
ca, what have you to expect
from peace, when your voice shall sink
and your strength dissipate by division,
when those very swords, the instruments
and companions of your glory, shall be
taken from your sides and no mark of
distinction left you but your
wants, infirmities, and scarsp Can you
then consent to be the only sufferers by
this revolution, and, retiring from the
field, grow old in poverty, wretched-
ness, and contempt? Can you consent
to wade through the vile mire of des.
pondency, and owe the miserable rem
nant of that life to charity which has
hitherto been spent in honor? If you
can, go; and carry with you the jests of
Tories and the scorn of Wings, the ridi-
Guile, and, what is worse, the pity of the
world; go, starve, and be forgotten!"
But he adds, :" If you revolt at this, and
would oppose tyrrany under whatever
garb it may assume, awake, attend to
your situation, and redeem yourselves.
If the present moment be lost, every
future effort will be in vain, and your
threats then will be as empty as are
your entreaties now.'' Having thus
artfully kindled the passions of the
army, he boldly sketches out the only
course to pursue. "Draw up" he says,
ga last remonstrance, and tell Congress
with them rests the responsibility of the
that if redress is not given, and
peace returns, nothing but death shall
separate you from your arms; if the
war continues, you will retire to some
unsettled country to smile in turn, and
mock when their fear cometh.'"
This address, so well adapted to stir
up the passions and bring about sud
den and violent action, had been scat
tered through the army without the
knowledge of Washington. When at last
it was brought to him and he read it
over, cloud dark as midnight settled
on his conference.-the day of evil,
which he had so long dreaded, nay,
had foretold, had at last come. The
labor Of seven long years was in mo-
ment to be overthrown. The earth
quake had opened at his very feet, and
he gazed with sinking heart into the
gloomy abyss. The worst of it was,
there was not an assertion or statement
in that fiery address that he could con-
tradict. The appeal alone to redress
he could meet, and this could
be done only by a counter appeal to
their patriotism and their faith in his
promise, that had never been broken.