Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-05-01
A REVOLUTIONARY EPISODE.
a roUCHINa srORr or WhshN"foNs
by0NIr, or CHARsCrfR
,ono t,.loin Atlantic Monthly,

John fisko in Atlantic Monthly.
The aisb,ndment OF the army In tho sum
mer OF l7s3, before the British troops had
ovac us,ed New York, was has,cned by the
impossibiliiy OF paying the soldiers and the
dread of what they might do under such
provoca,ion. Though peace had been oil
cialiy announced, Hamilton aud Livingston
urged that for the sake OF appearances IL Tor
no other reason, the army should be kopt
together ~ long as tho British remained IN
Now York, II not until they should have
surrendered tho Western frontier posts. l,ut
Congress could not pay the army, aud was
afraid ot u, aud not without some reason
Discouraged at tho length OF time which had
passed since they had received any money,
the soldiers had begun To fear lest, now that
their services we're no longer needed, their
hOuest claims would bo set aside. Among
tho officers, too, there was grave discomfort.
In the spring Of lI7S, after the dreadful
winter at Valley Forge, several officers had
thrown up their cn,nmissions, aud others
threatened To do likewise. To avert the
danger, Washington had urged Congross to
promise haltpay for life to such officers as
should serve to tbs end OF the war u was
only with great difficulty that he succeeded
In obtaining promise OF bali.pay for seven
years, and even this raised an outcry
thrOug hout the country, which seemed Ia
dread its natural defenders only less than its
enemies. In tho fall of lTs0, however, In the
general depression which followed upon the
disasters at Charleston aud Camden, the
collapse of the paper money, and the dis
cOyeTy of Arnoid'- treason, there was serious
danger that the Hrmy would fall to pieces.
At this critical moment Washington had
earnestly appealed to Congress, aud against
the strenuous opposition or Samuel Adams
had at length eStorted the promise ot half
pay for lite. In the spring Of U.s., seeinR
the utter inability nf Congress TO discharge
its Iecuniary obligations, many officers b'
gun to- doubt whether the promise would
ever Lee kept Ii al been made before the
articles of confederation, which required tho
assent Of nine states In any such noasur
had nnaliy ratified. Ii WAS well known that
nine states had never been found To favor
the measure, and II was now feared that IL
might lie repealed or repudated, so loud
was the popular clamor against IT, All this
comes oi republican government, said some
al the officers; too many cooks spoil the
broth dozen hpads are ~ bad ~ no head
you de- not know whose PROMISES to trust "a
monarchy, with good king whom all mon
van Trust, would eNtIicats rs from these
difficulties. In this mood, Colonel Louis
Nicola, OF the Pennsylvania line, foreigner
by birth, addressed a long aud we'll urged
letter Ia Washington, setting forth the
troubles of tno time, and urging him To come
forward "a saviour of society, aud accept
the crown at the hands Of his faithful sol
derS. Nicola WAS an aged man, OF excellent
character aud in making this suggestion he
seemed tn bo acting as spokesman OF "a GER
tain clique or party among the otiicors,-how
numerous il not known. Washington in
stautIy replied that Nicola could not have
found person 10 whom such a scheme could
he more oJious, and no was at loss to con
Ceive what he had ever done To have 1t sup
r. scd that he could for one moment listen to
suggestion So iraught with mischief to hrs
country. Lest the affair, becoming known,
should enhance the popular distrust Of the
sSby, Washington said nothing about IT.
Hut "a the year went hy, and the outrry
against hsifpay continued, and Congress
showed symptoms ola Willingness 10 com
promise the matter, tho discontent OF the
army incroa-ed. ohicers aud soldiers brood
ed alike over their wrongs. "The army"
said General Mscdougali, "is verging to that
state which, We are told, viii make wise
man mad" The Peril OF the situation was
increased 10y the well-meant but injudiclous
whI-periugs Of other public creditors, who
ielIeNoi that II the army would only take n
firm stand and insist upon grant OF perus-
neut funds To Congress for liquiiating all
public debts, the states could probably bs
prevailed upOn 10 make such a grant
Robert Morris, the abIo secretary Of tnance,
held this opinion, and did not believe that
the states could be brought Ia terms in any
other way. His namesako aud assistant,
GOuyerueur Morris, held similar views, aud
gave expression to them in February ENI
IN lettor to General Greene, who was still
commanding in South Carolina. When
Greene received the letter, he urged upon
the legislature OF that state, in most guarded
and moderate language, the paramount need
ol granting revenue 10 Congress, and
hinled that the army would not be satisii ed
with anything less. The assembly straight
way flew into a rage. No dctation by
tIOm~ell,' shouted the members. South
Carolina had consented to tho five per cent
impost, but now she revoked II, To show her
Independence, and Greene's eyes were
opened at once to the danger OF the slightest
appearance OF military intervention in clvii
affairs
THE OUTBREAK AT NEwBuRGH.
At the same time violent outbreak In the
army at Newburgh was barely prevented by
the uuiaiiing tact of Washington. \ ruulor
went about the camp that it was generally
expected the army would not disband until
the question uf pay should be settled and
that tho public creditors looked to them To
make some such demonstration m would
oyerawe tho delinquent states. General
Gates had htoly emerged from the retire
ment in which he had been fain 10 hide him
sefaIer Camden, and had reJolned the army
where there was now such field for IN
trigue, An odious aroma oi impotent malice
Clings about his memory ou this last oc
casiun ON which the historian needs to
notice hiIn. lie plotted in secret with oili-
GERS of the stait aud others. one OF his stall,
Major Armstrong, wrote an anonymous ap-
peal to the troops aud another, Colonel
Barber, caused 1t TO be circulated about the
camp. 1t named the next day Tor a meeting
10 consider grievances. It's language was
iutlammatory. "My friends J" 1t said "after
seven long years vour suffering courage has
conducted the nited States OF America
through doubtful and bloody war and
peace returns tO bless-whOm? A country
willing toredress your wrongs cherish your
worth, and reward your services? Or Is it
rather country that tramples upon your
rights dlsdains your cries. and insults yo ur
distressss? IL such he your treat
ment while the swords you wear are neces-
sary iCr the defense of America what have
you 10 expect when those very swords, the
instruments and companions OF your glory,
shall be taken from your sides, aud no mark
of military distinction lett but your wants,
infirmities, and scars? Ii you have sense
enough To discover and spirit to oppose
tyranny, Whatever garb il may assume,
awake to your situation. II the present
moment he lost, your threats hereafter Will
be as empty ~ your entreaties now. Appeal
from justice To the fears Of government; and
suspect the man who would advise TO longer
forbearance."
Better English has seldom been wasted In
in worse cause. Washington, the man who
was aimed at in the last sentence, got hold o
the paper next day, just in time, as he said
"tO arrest the feet that stood wavering on 9
precipice." The memory of the revolt o
The Pennsylvania line, which had so alarmed
the people in III, was still fresh In men,
minds ana here was an invitation TO NOR,
wholesale mutiuy, which could hardly fai
to end in bloodshe', and might precipitat'
the lerIext aud embarrassed country int
civil war. Washington issued genera
order, recognizing the existence OF the mani
iesto, but oyerruiing 1t so far as to appoin
the meeting for later day, with the senin
major pauera'. who haDpeueI To be ltatas. 4