The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-28
wAsHINGToN's SOLDIERS.
They Fared Badly AS Compared with
the Cuban RevOIutfOnists.
NJ n C...4iu L. Channnn Rnnnrd

w. T.. Curtis, in Chicago Record.
General Gomez and his army of Cubans
have Jared a great deal better with their pay
than did George Washington and the revolu-
tionary patriots who fought under ms COM
mand. They got very little pay, or clotnlng
about the same condition as the Cubans
when the war closed and Congress gave orr
ders to have them mustered out. In 100 the
discontent 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 disgraceful in
trigues. The treasury was empty and the
states refused to give, tbs. government any
further pecuniary aid. 1t was then mat
Col. Lewis Nicola, an influential officer, sug-
gested a monarchy, with washington as
King, and drew from the general a rebuke
in some of the noblest and most patriotic
sentences ever framed in the English Ian
guage.
a committee with a memorial to Congress,
which was answered In January IiSI, by the
adoption of a series of unsatisfactory resolu-
TONS. directing Robert Morrison, the d.
rector of finance, to take such measures as
the condition of the public treasury would
permit, and calling upon the states 10 pay
their own soldiers.
This action was so offensive that there
were mutinies in several camps and treason
able addresses were delivered from the plat
form Gnd in writing, which eliminated in an
attack upon Congress by a mob in Philadel-
phia. On June q mutinous soldiers sur
rounded the Statehouse, where Congress was
in session, and. after placing guards at the
doors, made demands for Immediate IegiSla-
ton to provide money TO meet the arrears of
pay within twenty minutes time. Some OF
the leaders in Congress succeeded in per-
suading the soldiers to return to their camp,
and promised early action, but not until
there had been a serious riot and a dis
graceful demonstration. AS soon as Wash
ington heard Of it he sent Gen. Robert Howe
with 1900 men to suppress the riot. The
ringleaders were arrested, tried, found
guilty and sentenced to death. but were
afterward pardoned by Washington at the
request Of Congress.
In the meantime Congress shook the dust
Of it's feet from Philadelphia because the
authorities OF that city had done nothing %
restrain the mob, and moved to Princeton,
where, on July 4, 1884. a resolution was
passed authorizing Mr.. Morris to settle all
accounts due every officer and soldier and
give them therefor certificates payable at
the. pleasure of the government. After sew
eral years investigation and auditing about
5000 individual certificates We're issued by
John Pierce. paymaster general of the army,
for about $l2,0C0.00O. These certificates were
small pieces of white paper bearing the
name Of the individual, the amount TO which
be was entitled and the signature Of John
Pierce. They We're sold at a discount as
soon as issued and for several years circu-
lated as currency. At one time they were
as low as 1872 cents on the dollar, when spec
ulators got hold of them and several large
fortunes were made by those that had faith
in he credit of the government. They were
funded by Alexander Hamilton and became
a part of the first debt of the United States.