Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-22

-FOUR committee further report, that on the
barone arrival at Yorktown the scat of CON-
s.eSs, IN FEBRUARY. l17s. the committee consist
= oi MI. ,mHnerspoon, Mr.. Mexican. Mr. F. L.
Lee ana MI Henry, appointed TO confer with
MN, made their report to Congress IN tho word
ioilowing, viz: The Baron Steubcn. who vas
lieutenant general and ad-de-camp 60 the King
oil Prussia, desires no rank; Is willing to attend
General washington. and be subject to his or
ders: does not require or desire any commsna
OF particular corps or division; but will
serve occasionally as directed by the
general; expects to be Of use IN
planning encampments. &c. and promoting the
discipline of the army; he heard. before he left
France, of the dissatisfaction Of the Americans
with the promotion of foreign officers therefore
makes no terms. nor will accept of anything but
with general appreciation, and particularly that
OF Gen. Washington"
Letters and certificates from different gentle
men to the baron, expressing their sense of the
contract alleged to have been made by him. have
also been laid before your committee. But the
above report, and the preceding act Of Congress-
being the only records on this subject, your
committee do not find that any demand was
made by the baron Of decentralization for Offices
which he may have relinquished In Germany nor
any promise of such decentralization made by
congress. Your committee further report that
IN December. 1882 the baron addressed letter
TO the president OF Congress requesting a COM
mIttee to inquire into and report his situation
ana pretensions which, being granted, he stated
his pretensions in the words following. viz:
MY demands were these: To Join the army as
a volunteer: that wished to be known by the
commander-in-chief. and to leave it to the Of
ncers OF the army if my capacity entitled me to
hold commission I'm IL; that the general could
employ me in such a branch where ne Thought
my services the most useful; that was deter
mined not to ask favor or a reward previous
of having deserved it: that, however expected
from the generosity OF Congress that In imita-
ton of all European powers they would defray
my expenses, although a volunteer. according
TO the rank which held in Europe, as well for
myself as my aids and servants"
Your committee further report that although
the baron has disclaimed any preliminary stipu-
lations for reward. and though Congress do not
appear to have engaged to indemnify him for
emoluments that may have been given up in
Europe, yet he has received from Con-
gress strong and singular proofs of their de-
sire to place him i'm easy circumstances;
and under the different heads of allowance for
expenses, pay as major general and Inspector
communication of half pay for life. and q subse-
quent grant, according to the statement made
by the commissioner of army accounts, he has
received above "a. 600 i'm specie or other money
forage to a large amount; and Of the specie
more than So. 800 have been paid since the be-
ginning of the year 17S4.
In consideration Of the foregoing facts and all
circumstances, your committee are Of opinion
that although the Baron Steuben has no claim
against the United States, founded on con-
tract, vet, considering the merit and services Of
the Baron Steuben, and the popularity of his
situation, your committee beg leave further to
report that he be allowed at the rate of -
dollars per annum during his natural life"