The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-03-10
Washington 5 HARDGASE
CONGRESS- FAILED TO PAY THE
PATRIOT TROOPS.
Much Rioting and Strong Measures
Taken Before the Money Could BE
Obtained-Cubans Better Off.

General Gomez and his army of Gu
bans, says the Chicago Record, have
Jared a great deal better with their
pay than did George Washington and
the revolutionary patriots who fought
under his command. They got very
little pay, or clothing or supplies,
for that matter, and were in about the
same condition as the Cubans were
when the war closed and Congress
gave orders to have them mustered
out. In 1885 the discomfort became
alarming Washington was powerless
to do anything, but entreated them to
be patient and await the generosity
of Congress, which was then engaged
in petty controversies and disgrace
full intrigues. The treasury was
empty and the states refused to give
the government any further pecuniary
aid. 1t was then that Colonel Lewis
Nicola, an influential officer, suggested
monarchy with Washington as king.
and drew from the general rebuke
in some of the nobest and most pa
triotic sentences ever framed in the
English language.
In December of that year the sol
diers sent committee with a me-
lHOIldl W OOIlgIGSS, WHICH was ans
wered in January, 1884, by the adop-
ton of series of unsatisfactory reso-
lutons, directing Robert Morrison. the
director of finance, to take such meas
ures as the condition of the public
treasury would permit, and calling on
the states to pay their own soldiers.
This action was so offensive that
there were mutinies in several camps
l.. 1 L
cred from the platform and in writ
ing, which eliminated in an attack
upon Congress by mob in Philadel-
phia. On June 81 mutinous soldiers
surrounded the state house, where
Congress was in session, and, after
placing guards at the doors, made de-
mands for immediate legislation to
provide money to meet the arrears of
pay within twenty minutes time
Some of the leaders in Congress sue
ceeded in persuading the soldiers to
return to their camp, and promised
early action, but not until there had
been serious riot and a disgracefu'
demonstration. AS soon as Washing
ton heard of it he sent General Robert
Howe with 1,500 men to suppress the
riot. The ringleaders were arrested
| lllt'ls lOulu SulllN anu StIltntSN u
| death, but were afterward pardoned
by Washington at the request of Con
gress.
In the meantime Congress shook the
dust of Philadelphia from its feet be
cause the authorities of that city haC
done nothing to restrain the mob, anC
moved to Princeton, where. on july
4. 1884, a resolution was passed au'
thoriZing Mr.. Morris to settle all ac
counts due every officer and soldier
and give them therefor certificates
payable at the pleasure of the govern
ment After several years investiga
ton and auditing, about 10000 indi
vidual certificates were issued by JOIN
Pierce, paymaster general of the
army, for about S12.OO0,OOO. These
certificates were small pieces of white
paper bearing the name of the indi
vidual, the amount to which he was
entitled and the signature of JOIN
Pierce. They were sold at discount
as soon as issued and for several year,
circulated as currency. At one time
they We're as low as twelve and one
half cents on the dollar, when specu
lators got hold of them and severa
large fortunes were made by those
that had faith in the credit of the gov
eminent. They were funded by Alex
ander Hamilton and became part o
the first debt of the United States.