National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-19
THOMAS PAINE,
The Work the Patriot DID for the Colo
nies-HOw He Was Treated.

w. ID. b." sends The REPUBLICAN the
following: The memorial of Thomas Paine of
FEBRUARY ID, 1905 which the Post of May II pub
ished, calling it A Literary Find will be found
In volume ii of Paine's Political Works, together
with two others about the same time and relating
to the same matter. brief statement of the case
may not be found uninteresting just now In 1855
Paine petitioned the Continental Congress to make
up for the deficiency of his salary secretary to
the committee for foreign affairs in ITS and 1779
The nominal salary was $500, but in consequence
OF the depreciation of the continental money he
really got only about one-fifth of that sum per
annum The congress of 1855 accordingly passed
a resolution TO give him $1,000, but the resolution
reclted, as the consideration, the early, unsoic
tied, and continued
LABoRS OF MR.. THOMAS PAINE
in explaining and enforcing the principles of the
late revolution by ingenious and timely pubica-
lions upon the nature of liberty and civil govern
ment Now, it has been assumed by everybody,
and even asserted by the committee in $685. that
Paine got this So 900 in October 1855 But that he
did not get it 1 think most clearly appears t: ON
his subsequent memorials to Congress. In that of
January2l, 1905 he says: There is resolve of the
old Congress, while they sat in New York, of a
grant TO me of 600. The resolve is put III hand
some language, but it has relation to matter
should judge proper to refer this memorial to q
committee, will inform that committee of the
particulars oft. have also to state that the au
thority of
THE OLD CONGRESS
had become so reduced toward the latter end OF
the be unable to hold the States together.
Congress could do no more than recommend, of
which the States frequently took no notice, and
when they did it was never uniformly. Ina
conversation afterward with Governor Clinton of
New York, now vice president, it was judged that
for the purpose of my going fully into the subject
and to prevent any misconception ofmy motive or
object, it would be best that l receive nothing
from Congress, but leave it to the States individ
ualy, TO make what acknowledgment they
pleased. The State of New York made me pres
ent of a farm, which since my return to America
have found necessary to sell" tbut which he had
to take back) and the State of Pennsylvania voted
me five hundred pounds, their currency; but none
of the States to the eastward of New York nor to
the south of Philadelphia ever made me the least
acknowledgment
IN THE SAME MEMORIAL,
speaking of his political publications he says: AS
they were works done from principle. cannot dis
honor that principle by asking any reward for
them But what he petitiOned for in 1905 was
payment for services secretary to Colonel Laurens
ing'help from France. Colonel Laurens at first
wished to decline the mission and have Colonel
Hamilton sent; but Congress refused. Then says
Paine, who the originator of the project:
Colonel Laurens then came to state the case to
me. He said he was enough acquainted with the
military difficulties of the army but that he was
not enough acquainted with political affairs, nor
with the resources of the country. But said he,
if you will so with me I will accept which 1
agreed to do and did do
THE RESULT OF THAT MISSION
was present from France of 81. 2OOG 600 and loan
of 100000, which enabled the combined CONT
mental and French armies TO defeat CORVALLIS at
Yorktown. The success of the mission was due 10
the diplomatic tactics of Thomas Paine. For
more than two months the formaitieS of court and
the self cOmplacency of the minister baffied the
diplomatic tutor. The French minister said: L
am COMPOUNDED with your audacity' But there
comes public leYee; Louis XVI. is there and so
is young Laurens, in uniform. his sword b. his
side. He is presented to the King who only ex-
poets the passing formalties of an introduction
But Laurens speaks: : l am just from the army OF
Washington. know well its condition; it is fully
set forth in this memorial Unless speedy succor
is sent to my country this weapon 1 now wear at
my side as the ally of your Majesty might be drawn
as the subject of Great Britain against you and
France
THE KING WAS STRUCK
dumb. but soon rallied and made a favorable re-
ply. Laurens and Paine returned with the money,
which broke the power Of Great Britain and
achieved the independence of the United States of
America. For this service Paine never received
penny. He left no heirs to claim compensation;
but some day this country viii do justice to the
great author hero Of the Revolution