Nineteenth Congress--1st Session.


SATURDAY, MARCIA.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
RFVQI OFFICERS
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next call up the bill making provision for Revolutionary
Officers, and moved that the Committee of the whole be
discharged from the further consideration Of the BILL and
that be referred to the Committee of the whole the
state of the Unon-Ayes SO. The motion therefore
agreed to-


The following is the report of the Select Committee
this interesting subject:


The Committee zohom referred the Memoals of The


surviving officers Of the .army e Revoluion. Report:


The Delegates in behalf of the surviving Officers of the
Army of the Revolution, from the respective states OF
Rhode Island, New-York, NewJesey, Pennsylvania and
South Carolna convened at the City of Philadelphia and
agreed to present respectful memorial more, TO
Congress, in hopes of obtaining from the Nation hat
ward for their services and sacrifices which, in their op
ion due and which bas been withheld for period that
advanced in their old age the youngest among them being
within year or two of seventy


The memorass refer to the general depreciation of,he
currency in which they received their pay, the paper OF
which being ultimately redeemed hundred for one
The certificates also OF the Communication of the half pay
for life for five years full pay, owing provision being
made for the payment OF interest principal depre
ciated to eight for and, when the of in
teres funded the certificates bore interest only
three per cent? Absorbing thereby, at once,
values and the payment of onehrd of the principal, be-
SIDES was deferred, TOR ten years. without interest.


The memoralsts, after referring to the acts of Congress
containing the stpuatons concerning their pay, decae
decline to suggest any mode for the settlement Of their de
mands but leave the whole matter to the lberaity and
justness OF Congress-impressed however, with belle
that the general sentiments OF their felowctzens would
gladly approve Of generous proceeding, the part
the Government, in favor of their stipulated reward


In contrasting the darkness of the times, in which the
memorass successfully fought the battles ofher country
with its secure and eminenty happy condition. al
must feel friendly disposed to give to the claimants pa
tent hearing an to be willing decide their up
on the fairest principles of equity


The committee respectfully submit, in the first instance
whether the claims of the officers not sustanable the
footing of right and due by the soleny of contract
and with the design, they will in this place. bring into view
the resolutions OF CONGRESS on the subject.


By resolve of Congress of the 18th of May 1778, 1t
provided that all military officers who then were or should
thereafter be- in the of the United States and who
should continue in the service during the and hot
any office of profit under the United States any them
should after the conclusion of the war, be entitled
ceve annually for the of years, if they shou
live long. half of the then pay Of such officers.


BY resolve of Congress of the 18th of August 1779
was provided That the hapay given by the aforesaid
solution of the 18th of May, 177S should be extended
continue for life.


And by resolution of the Dist of October $780, it wa
provided that the officers, who should continue in service
the end of the war, should be entitled hapay durn
life, to commence from the time of their reduction.


BY virtue of these resolves solemn contract betwee
the Government and the officers made it originate
and consmmated by the free and unbiased will of tb
parties, without surprise or compuson either side.
has been most galantly performed by the officers and
ter bloody conflict Of eight years, and when the berte
and independence ofther country secured following
the example Of the celebrated Roman, they returned wit
cheerfilness to their private citizenship.


II to the COMMITTEES that the performance of
contract on such an occasion and especially one whc
produced sc boundess consequences ought to be OF
served the part of the Government with the most pre-
found sarcy and that nothing but the free expression
the will of both partes unaffected by necesstous circun
Stances ought to be allowed to abrogate rescind il
But, as appears to the Committee. it is manifest, that tn
resolve of the 22d of March, 1783, which commuted tn
hapay for life, for five years full pay grew out OF the in
povershed state of the Treasury; for had the finances
the country been in good condition. it is nconeevabl
that Congress would have proposed change so disadvar
tageous the officers to whom the country, independer
of the discharge ofits With them owed such larg
debt of gratitude. And the other hand, it cannot
believed that the officers would have given any
the commutaton, either by lines corps or individually


the most urgent necessity had not deprived them of an
other alternative.


The acceptance too by lines and corps, deprived man
individual officers of the right of choice and placed t
young and the aged, on terms dsproportionae with tn
), original stipulation


The subsequent acceptance of the communication cerf
caes ought not to be considered altogether imparn


the rights of the officers, they then entirely in h
power OF the Government and could do nothing which pr
sented better prospects for themselves. The whole tran
actions, as it appears to the Committee, of sim
character; and ndsputaby governed by the inab
of the Government, and the immediate wants of the off
cers and, as severe as the departure from the origin
contract must have appeared the officers at the me the
did not then foresee the extent of their msorunes; fo
fund was pledged for the payment of the principal
interest Of the communication certificates instead of rece
ing good money in punctual payments as expected tn
credit of the country became low, that nothing of tn


interest paid, and the certificates rapidly decreased
value, while the necessities of the officers continued to il
n crease. They had suddenly been transferred from III
habits of war to civil society, and could successfully
gage all at in the ordinary pursuits of e and
notorious as it was unavoidable that most of the office
compelled to part with their certificates at the lowe
stage of depreciation of eight for and in this
without mourning any blame themselves, the hafpa
for life was reduced to little than hafpay for sill
gle year From hence. plainly appears. that the cons
deraon to be performed the part of the Governmer
failed in certain degree, and totally deprived the officer
Of the chance Of deriving any benefit from the future Gre
dit of the country.


The reward for life from the natural efusion
!, justice which the times indicated; but in consequence
these unhappy occurrences it has disappeared and ne
thing has been preserved for the officers to enjoy, but
of their merits, and the consequent III
exampled prosperity of their country.