Phenix Gazette

From the United States Gazette.

REVOLUTIONARY OFFICERS

Much complaint is made abroad, at the manner in which certain claims are disposed of at Washington. The most important that we have noticed this season, are those of Mr. Meade, of this city, and the revolutionary soldiers. From the result of recent motions, we should infer that both of those demands were laid aside by the people's representatives. We have not noted the state of the votes taken on these questions: but cannot think that any other feelings than those arising from a wish to act correctly, have influenced members voting upon either side. Our wishes were warmly in favour of the revolutionary claimants, and we had imbibed an opinion that Mr. Meade's claim was just.

A distinguished and most worthy citizen, one whose experience and services entitle him and his opinions to respect, while talking to us a few days since, upon the two claims to which we allude, stretched his hand along the bottom of Finley's Map of the United States; and pointing to the great extent of the Florida territory, rich as it was in capabilities for the production of valuable materials of commerce, now imported from the West Indies: and he believed ought to have furnished enough to meet the claims of an individual whose hopes had been justly referred to that purchase; "But," said he, stretching his long and muscular arm towards the extreme northern point of Maine, and running his eye & finger down the shore of the Atlantic, along the borders of the Gulf of Mexico, and turning to the western edge of the map & almost regretting, capacious as it was, that it contained no semblance of our extended country towards the Pacific, "but what shall be done for the men whose bravery and sufferings achieved the Independence of this almost immeasurable space?—Shall they, year after year, demand with voices enfeebled by age and want, and with a cry weakened by a continual diminution of members—shall these who gave us all, pine in want and sigh for the tithe of our superfluities."

The results of our Revolution have been so extensive, effecting the situation of almost every state in Europe, if not as much, at least as evidently, as that of our own country—opening an era in national politics, that we have, in contemplating the neglect of Congress to provide for the declining age of those whose virtue and courage effected it, absolutely felt fears that some of the ardent friends of rational liberty in Europe would feel themselves called upon, in justice to their cause, to collect funds for the comfort and support of those of our own nation, whose exertions had given us independence, and them hopes.