Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 15, Number 41, Vincennes, Knox County, 27 November 1824 — Page 4

Poetical.

What care I for a fleeting minute, What good can be accomplished in it? Thus with a careless yawn I said, Thou quiet slumbered in my bed. Waking, alas, methought I hear A voice thus whispering in my ear : Each minute in thy litde breath, Is but one more advance of death. When the grim tyrant draws so near, That every pulse shall beat with fear, "Would st thou not then be overjoyed To find each minute well employed, Embrace, embrace the fleeting hour, Improve the time still in vour power ;

And learn from death, ere you can win it,

The precious value of a min ute. MISCELLJXW

A Deo) r

every thing which has becij re 21st of October, 17S0. Tne pe-! and gratitude pervade every no-

quested in the late memorials to titionets state, and the fact is ot som, and a more precious homage

congress, men will my neliel ue too generei a notoriety to ue uis-; is prouereu man ever leu 10 uic

come vain, ana tne hope that has ; putea, tnat although they conn-

Y

From the Columbian Centinel.

To the surviving Officers of the

Uevolutionary Army.

After the lape of almost half a

century, it is not to be expected

that more than a small remnant

those veteran heroes, by of

whose valor and patriotism our

Independence was achieved, can

be recognized as having survived the casualties of time and the sor-

rowful ravages of mortality. But, my brethren, you enjoy the delightful retrospect of seven long years of the most precious period

ot lue devoted to a cause, than which, the mind of man cannot contemplate one more intrinsically glorious and honorable. You have, moreover, the consoling reflection, that persevering through extremity of hardship, suffering Sf danger, you triumphed over the most formidable obstacles, and a

ehieved a noble work performing the last act, and closing the drama with universal applause. You have been instrumental, under Providence, in the emaneipa tion of millions from thraldom,

and in the erecting " a stupendous fabric of freedom and empire an

asylum for the poor and oppress

ed ot all nations and religions

an empire already the subject of admiration and envy among the nations ot the world. It is a source of comfort and enlivening satisfaction that your patriotic services are duly acknowledged and appreciated by the present generation, and from a confidence that the inestimable privileges of a free republican government, to the acquisition of which you so essentially contributed, will be transmitted to the latest posterity, you may derive the most soothing re

flections at the closing period of

life. That your character & meV

jwt are held in increased respect

veneration, you have the most

ample attestations in the public

voice throughout the Union.

These honorable testimonies oi

public approbation and applause are extremely gratifying and acceptable, but there exists a pecuni ary claim upon our government which remains uncancelled. The nature and justness of this claim it is presumed the public in general are unapprized of, and it is the object of this address to revive and (VV'xeite attention to the subject V At the very interesting period r awhen the army was about to be

disbanded, our illustrious com-

nander in chief addressed congress in the following language : If. besides the simple payment of their wages, a further eompen . sation is not due to the sufferinirs

been excited void of foundation

and if, retiring from the field, the officers are to grow old in poverty, wretchedness, and contempt ; if they are to wade through the vile mire of dependency, and owe the miserable remnant of that life to charity, which has hitherto been spent in honor ; then shall I have learned what ingratitude is, then shall I have realized a tale which will embitter every mo meat of my future life. But I am ildcr no such apprehensions ; a couwUy rescued by their arms from rai-

pending ruin, will never leave unpaid the debt of gratitude." In a circular letter addressed to the governors of the several states in June 1783, after some pertinent observations relative to the Vialf pay and commutation grantee!, by congress to the officers of the Q my, his excellency adds ; "From these communications my decided sentiment will be clearly comprehended, together with the conclusive reasons which induced me at an early periodk to recommend the adoption of Lis measure in the most earnest and serious manner As the proceedings of congress, the army Sc myself are open to all, and contaui in my opinion sufficient information to remove the prejudice 5c errSj's

which may have been entcrtaineri

by any, I think it unnecessary to

say any thing more than just to observe, that the resolutions of

congress now alluded to, are as

undoubtedly and absolutely bind-

ing on the U. States as the most solemn acts of confederation or legislation. As to the idea, which I am informed has in some instances prevailed, that the half pay and

commutation are to he regarded

I . ! 1 ! .1

merely m tne ouious ninuvoi a

pension, it ought to he. exploded forever : That provision should

be viewed as it really was, a reasonable compensation, offered bv congress at a time when they had nothing else to give, to officers of the army for services then to he

performed. It was the only means

dently expected at the time they were compelled, from imperious necessity to accept the sum in gross of half pay for life, that it would be paid to them in reality and not by a fresh promise, without any sufficient guarantee for its due performance. Yet they were compelled to receive certificates which, for want of any specific provision for the payment of them or the interest accruing on them, were immediately depreciated to five for one, and bv degrees to 10 for one in exchange for money. They therefore pray that half pay for life, to commence from the reduction of the army, may be

granted to them according to the solemn stipulations entered into with them by congress, by the resolutions before referred to ; deducting therefrom the live years full pay received by them in depreciated paper by way of commutation It is well known to your committee and to the whole nation, that the far greater part of the officers were compelled, by hard necessity, to dispose of their commutation certificates, at prices

infinitely below heir nominal a

mount. That this did not p

ceed from want of patriotism, nf

which they had before given proofs most unequivocal, or cf want of confidence in their gov

ernment ; but that alter having spent the vigour of their manhood in the service of their country, they returned to the walks of civil life (many of them maimed scarcely able to halt along) igno rant of what was passing or likely to pass in the councils of their country. The griping hand of poverty bore hard upon them, and unacquainted as they necessarily were with civil affairs, they fell an easy prey to the wiles of the art-

fnl and insidious speculator, who was lying in wait to fatten ujoon their 'hard earnings. Under circumstances like these it would

have been strange indeed if tin

had kept their certificates in their

to prevent a total dereliction oi the service ; it was a pas t of their hire 1 may be allow.ed to say it was the price of their blood, and of your independency : it is therefore more Chan a common debt, it is a debt of honor, and ife can never be considered as a pens-ion or gratuity, nor cancelled till it is fairly discharged.'' In the house of representatives of the U. States on Monday, Muibruary IS 10, the committee to whom was referred the petition of sundry surviving officers of the late revolutionary armv in behalf

C . 1 1 1 . t

oi tnemseives ami others, Report That by a resolution of congress of the 21st of October, 17S0. it was provided that the officers who should continue in the service to the end of the war, should be entitled to half pay duri n g 1 i fe, to com m e n c e fro m the time of their reduction. That by a resolution of congress of the

22d of March, 1788, it was provided, that such officers as were then in service, and should eonti-

and sacrifices of the officers, then j nuc therein until the end of the have I been mistaken indeed. If i war, should be entitled to receive the whole army have not merited I the amount of five years full pay whatever a grateful people can be. i in money, or securities on interest Tt,u' tli l'ii" 1 h'rl l.vi i I of t-- nun . . .

v vi4v.li iii.'v. i. en in muiLu I in 3ia nit t iin. ;ci iiiiiium, as coil i i: .i i.. 'u.,. ' . i ii i

in jneiuuiee, ana uiun ujuuiun on gress snail linu most convenient

the basis oi error. It this country

pockets.

practieaose

IN o , t n e i mug w as i m -

no

they must for

lot of an individual, however dig-

nificd or exalted. Is it that general Lafayette i? decked with the splendid robes of royalty, and sways the tyrant's sceptic? No, he is the apostle of liberty from his youth he imbibed the sentiments of disinterested patriotism and the purest love and attachment to the rights and liberties of human nature. He allied himself to the American cause, displayed an ardent zeal under the banners of Washington If amidst all the honors tSc respectful greetings this renowned hero could be assured that the few surviving sufferers in the same

cause, were about to receive that

just remuneration which has been

withheld to this remote period, how cheering would it be to bisbenevolent heart ? To effectuate this desirable object, it is earnestly recommended, that ail those surviving officers, whose sei vices were extended to the close of the war. unite in a respectful petition to Congress, at their next session, praying that honorable body to comply substantially with the contract entered into by the old Congress, with the Officers of the Revolutionary Army. Tne requisition is so well founded in justice, and so perfectly reasonable, that we may repose the fullest confidence in a successful result. Should the remuneration be restricted to the survivors only the amount would be very inconsiderable; as it is estimated

that of the 153 commissioned officers from the State of Mas Pacini setts. 42 only remain among the living. ueh is the sympathy and the great fill feeling- manifested towards the revolutionary Heroes at tbe present time, that a universal acquiescence in Hie measure suggested may be expected. When our Congress, a few years smee. awarded a partial relief by the enactment of a pension law. "it received the approbation of all clashes of people, though much indignation was excited by the sordid character of the grart the

miscrrble pittance being restricted

whatever they would bring, and 1 to those only who wcic reduced

be the consequences whatever ; to the numhie condition of pauthey might. Upon the whole, the j Prs. while at the same time a committee are of opinion the con- j much more ample provision was tract entctfd into by cot, gi ess I justly due to ail. The plexitis with the officers of the late revo- ! i auspicious moment to call into lulionarv armv. for giving them j xercise the feelings of giatitudc half pay for hie, has not been sub lor unrequited services ar t! saciistantially complied with by our fires which inspire our liepubligovernment. They therefore re- can community, end it is hoped commend the following resolmi- that the name of every individual on : who is inteiested in this affair will

44 Resolved, That the prayer of

i . . ii

me petitioner is reasonable, anu ought to be granted. " N A 1 . 1 .l V

.nnougn tne committee rensr

ted in favor of the petition, it d

not pass the house of represents

lives. The same petition was at several subsequent sessions of

congress presented for their consi- i 8neu'u petitioners.

! be found on the petition. We

trust our Congiess at their next session, will manifest a ineie libera! spirit, and substitute tor the odious pension law an appropriation which will reflect honor on the National Government and award ample justice to the a fe

deration, and committees report

ed again in its favor ; vet it eventually failed of success although so obviously supported by the strictest principles of right and and justice. Thus it appears that you are still entitled to remuneration as originally stipulated by congress when their funds were inadequate to the exigency of the ease. At the present juncture the whole nation is in raptures on occasion ol a nersonal inti'rvuMv

mvip;d nt th hnlf rv ?-ti-tni.?w) : L". .1.1.. i! . 1 1

It . .1 i- . . . - . 77 - J

sliouia not, m tne event, periorm j tor ir.c by the resolution ot the ' Uwy chief of our revolution.

Jov

O X V OV rly 1 ? V I T "v? 0 .

fjs Printers in the different stdtv.s zL'onld confer u invar bv hi- . . sertmg the above hi tht'ir pupirs. Two sons of Hi hernia being a,

1 ducking, pat discovers a lari'c

liock ot uucks close by the siiore. After having Iris piece levelled for about live minutes, his companion aked him why he uidn'i fire. Pat replied '-By zounds, I can never get aim at one, but there's another bugger swims right between him and me.?J