The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-10
GENEROUS HAYM SAL0M0N
An Old Jew Who Loaned Money to States
men in Early Revolutionary Days.
Presidents and Many Other Distinguished Men
Psrtook of His Benefcenee-James Madi-
son Saved from the Poor-H House.

stancorrespOndence OF the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON. April $50 the man who
occasionally frequents the locality of the
three Rilded balls ii may be q comfort to
know that Presidents of the United States,
Cabinet officers, Senators and members Of
Congress, whose names are conspicuous in
revolutionary history, were at times the
benefciaries of loan Offices. 1t may not
have been the pawn-sbop of the modern
type. but It was very efficient and salts
factory one, located in Philadelphia. at
point handy for the Con tinentsl statesmen.
The extent 10 which they drew on II. and
much of the detail of the help which
it afforded, not only TO the men themselves.
but to the struggling government of the
early days, 10 told IN the memorial. and the
musty documents accompanying it. which
Representative Chapman of Michigan is
about to lay before Congress. Judge Chip
mans memorial asks that Congress direct
the authorities of the United States Mint,
at Philadelphia. to strike gold medal, to
be presented to the heirs of Haym Solomon.
in recognition of tho distinguished services
which Solomon rendered 10 the country
and to its early statesmen IN the way of
financial assistance.
Solomon was Polish Jew who cane to
this country some time prior to the revo-
lutionary war. He was q man of large
means, which il indicated by the fact that
he loaned to the continental statesmen ND
wards of half million dollars at q time
when mIllionaires were unknown TO the
country. Solomon established a loan Of
flee on Front street. Philadelphia. which
soon became a rendezvous for the distin-
guished men of the day. The men who
were struggling for independence. and
were carrying on the war against tremen-
dous odds, were not overburdened with
cash. SO that the abundant means of Salo-
mon were often drawn upon
To Judge from the musty papers in the
case. Salomons place must have been much
on the order of an old coffee house. where
good fellows got together and discussed the
questions of the day, cracked their jokes.
argued politIcs and solved the great and
small issues then perplexing the country.
IL was no ordinary pot-house crowd which
came to Salomon's loan office. Thomas JEFF
fersou. twice President OF the United
States. was there. James Madison. the
pioneer of American finance, and also Pres
ident of the United States, was also there
Robert Morris. hardly second TO Madison
as an American hnancier. was one OF the
loyial circle. The elder Monroe, uncle of
President Monroe. was also there. Others
who used To partake of Salomon's good
cheer and financial bounty were Arthur
Lee. Baron Steuben. Generals Miffin and
st. Clair. Colonel Bland. Joseph Jones
James WIlson-all men foremost In Amer
lean public affairs of that day.
PLoTTING-PLACE OF GREAT MEN.
Il was q sort of clique of American en-
thusiasts, who thus gathered at Salomon's
Office. They bresthed the same atmos-
phere of defiance of British oppression and
the same spirit of hone for American free
dom. They plotted and counter plotted
A. Ea lat of ha
were known it would show that good
many battles of revolutionary days were
mapped out in Salomon's loan Office. good
many secret alliances with foreign coun-
tries projected. and q good many schemes
of financial aid to the young republic exc
cuted. There is enough left of written
evidence TO show that good many of
these things occurred.
Several of Madison's letters indicated the
straits to which some of the revolutionary
figures were put. Among the papers now
submitted are letters of Madison, written
to his colleagues. Messrs. Randolph and
Jones. while he was in the revolutionary
Congress, from 1850 TO 1883. In one of these
ashamed to reiterate my wants SO inces-
sanity 10 you. The kindness of our friend
In Front street. near the coffee house.
lHaym Salomonl, Is a fund which will pre-
serve me from extremity; but i never re-
sort to it without great modification, as
he obstinately rejects all recompense. To
necessitous delegates he always spares
them supplies" Again Madison writes: II
ain fast lapsIng into pecuniary distress. /
have been pensioner for some time on the
bounty of Haym Solomon"
Thus n man who was twice President of
the United States writes of the manner in
which his actual necessities were supplied
bv the wealth of the old Front street Jew.
The Others who rendezvoused there-Jef-
ferson. Monroe and the rest-were support
ed in the same way. In 1881 Robert Nor
nDprlntpn0enr hnanna ha
President of Congress: The treasury is so
much in arrears for tho service of the pub
lie officers that many of them could not
without payment perform their duties. but
must have gone to jail for debts they have
contracted TO enable them to live.'
1t was at a crisis like this that Solomon
aided the government and members of
Congress with the pecuniary resources
which sustained them while they were
performing their distin guished public
services. The papers show that. IN oil,
Salomon advanced over half a million dot
office certificates In the form, it Is to be
presumed. of the modern. and more vulgar.
pawn tickets One advance amounted 10
diminished public treasury of those days.
IN order TO keep the struggling Governments
from going into actual bankruptcy. ,s
FOREIGNERS ALSO PATRoNIZED HIM.
Salomon's visitors at the 'front.' street
loan Office were not alone statesmen and
revolutionary generals, butdiplomates from
the foreign courts. Count Vergennes, min
lister of Spain;- Count De La Luzerne, MIN
lister Of France, and Don Francisco Rem
den. the secret ambassador from Spain.
were among Salomon's constant guests.
The importance of the secret support OF
Charles III of Spain Is we'll known. It ap-
pears that In etfeeting that support Salo-
mon performed essential services He
w
cisco Renden, the secret ambassador of
Charles III. for nearly two years. Don
Francisco did not forget the kindness. for
IN one OF the letters which Is presented.
ONION has advanced me money for the sery-
ire of his most Catholic Majesty. aud am