Evening star., 1902-01-18
F-PA4 SYSTEM
Beginning of the Pension Payments
Of the Government.
WASHINGqON'S RECOMMENDATIONS
The Continental Army Was in a
Bad Plight When He Wrote.
HIS VIEWS WERE ADOPTED

| Written for The Evening Star.
/ Mr. WhelpIey's article IN last Saturdays
Star failed to bring out the interesting and
| little-known fact that the origin of our
! pension system is contemporaneous with
our establishment as nation, the passage
| of a general pension resolution being among
| the earliest acts of the Continental Congress
| after the adoption of the Declaration of
| Independence. This was the resolution of
| August 20, 171G, which recommended to
| the several assemblies or legislative bodies
| Of the United States of America" that
| provision be made for payment of half
! paw" or less to such Commissioned and
| non commissioned officers of the army and
| navy as also private soldiers, marines and
| seamen," who thereafter became disabled
in service; the payment made to be
/ charged to the United States. A resolution
of September %, 177s, provided that the
| and take effect from 'the commencement of
| hostilities on the 18th of April, ITO" In
| all, there appear to have been thirteen gen.
| era pension (half pay) resolutions adopted
] by. the Congress during the revolutionary
| war period, and eight thereafter, prior to
| the adoption of the Constitution.
| AS showing something of the feeling of
| the times as regards pension Cor half
|
| service, an official letter of Gen. Washing
| ton addressed to committee of Congress
| will be of interest. 1t was dated January
| % 177S presumably from the camp at VAL
| ley Forge. Gen Washington said on this
] subject: LAS l consider a proper and salts
| factory provision for officers, in manner,
| as the basis of every other regulation and
| arrangement necessary to be made, since
! without officers no army can exist, and un-
| less some measure be devised to place those
| of ours in a more desirable situation, few
| of them would be able, if willing, to con-
| tinue in it.
| George Washington's Views on Half
| Pay.
Il shall begin with few reflections tend
| ing to prove the necessity of a half-pay
| establishment.
"A small knowledge of human nature will
convince us that with far the greater part
Of mankind interest is the governing prin-
ciple, and that almost every man is more
or less under it's influences. Motives of
public virtue may for time, or in par
ticular instances, actuate men to the OBJ
servance of conduct purely disinterested;
but they are not of themselves sufficient
to produce a persevering conformity to the
refined dictates and. obligations Of social
duty. 30
Few men are capable of making a con-
tinual sacrifice of all views of private inter-
est or advantage to common good 1t Is in
vain to eXclaim against the depraV1ty or
human nature on this account; the fact Is
50; the experience of every age and nation
has proved it: and we must, in great
measure, change the constitution of man
before we can make 1t otherwise. No in
stitution not built on the preSumptive truth
of these maXimS can succeed.
I'VE find these eXemplified in the Amer
lean officers as well as in all other men.
At the commencement of the dispute-ln
the first effusonS of their zeal, and looking
upon the service to be- only temporary,
they entered into it without paying any
regard to pecuniary or selfish consldera-
tions. But finding its duration to be much
longer than they at first suspected, and
that instead of deriving any advantage
from the hardships and dangers to which
they were exposed they, on the contrary,
were losers by their patriotism, ana fell
far short even Of a competency to supply
their wants, they have gradually abated in
their ardor and with many, an entire dis
inclination to the service under It's present
circumstances has taken place. 10 TINS,
in an eminent degree, must be aScrlDed
the frequent designations daily happening,
and the more frequent opportunities Tor
permission to resign, and from some ofn-
GERS Of the greatest merit.
ITO this also we may ascrlbe the apathy,
inattention and neglect of duty which per-
wade all ranks, and which will necessarily
continue and increase, while an ofncer, IN
stead Of gaining everything, Is lmpoVer-
ished by his commission and concelVes ne
is comforting, not receiving, favor In hold
ing it. There can be no sufficient tie upon
men possessing such sentiments. Nor can
any method be adopted to obllge those TO a
punctuaI discharge of duty who are indif-
ferent about their continuance in the serV-
ice, and are often seeking pretext to dis
engage themselves from it. Punishment in
this case will be unavailing, but when an
officers commission is made valuable to
him and he fears to lose it you may then
exact obedience from him. 1t Is not, in
deed, consistent with reason or justice to
expect that one set of men should make
of
happiness, encounter the rigors of the
field the perils and vicissitudes or war; TO
obtain those blessings which every citizen
will enjoy, in common with them, without
some adequate compensation. 1t must also
be comfortless reflection to any man that
after he may have contributed to securing
the rights of his country, at the risk OF his
life and the ruin of his fortune, there
would be no provision made to prevent him.
self and family from sinking into indulgence
and wretchedness Besides adopting some
method to make the provision for officers
equal to their present exigencies, Que re-
gard should be paid to futurity. Nothing,
in my opinion, would serve more promptly
to reanimate their languishing zeal and in
terest them thoroughly in the service than
a half-pay establishment. This would not
only dispel the apprehension of personal
distress at the termination of the war,
from having thrown themselves out of pro-
fessions and employments, they might not
have 1t In their power to resume, but
would, in great degree, relieve the pain
full anticipation of leaving their widows or
orphans burthen on the charity of their
country, should it be their lot to fall in it's
service.
Il am earnest In recommending this
measure because I know it is the general
wish and expectation: and that many Of
ficers, whom, upon every principle we
should wish to retain in the service, are
only waiting to see whether something OF
the kind will. or will not. take place, to
be determined in their resolutions, either
of staying in or quitting it Immediately;
and urge my sentiments with the greater
freedom because I. cannot, and shall not,
receive the smallest benefit from the es-
tablishment, and can have no other in.
ducement for proposing. 1T than full con-
viction of it's utility and propriety.
i am sensible the expense will be cap
ital objection to 1t; but to this l oppose
the necessity. The OFFICERS are now dis
contented with their situation. If some
general: expedient Is not embraced, to re-
move this discomfort, so extensive a de-
sertion of the service will ensue. and so
much discouragement be cast upon those
who remain as must wound it in very
essential manner. Everything that has this
effect. has a tendency, at least, to protract
the war; and. though dictated by well
intended frugality, will,e + fear, in the end,