The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

For the NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE.

Messieurs PRINTERS.

Since the return of the officers and soldiers from the camp, crowned with the Plaudits of their great chief, who after having thanked them for their faithful services, in establishing the independency of their country, discharges them to return home, to the welcome embraces of their friends and fellow citizens; I say since their return, you may hear these worthy men, execrating the treatment they receive from their respective governments, instead of money they receive only paper promises, or state notes for their wages, which they must immediately dispose of, at one half discount, and in some certificates on the constables, which are also sold at ten per cent discount; is this generous treatment to these brave men? can we expect them ever to repose a confidence in their countrymen again? do we imagine always to remain in peace, and to never want their services again? let us attend a moment to what General Washington says of them: they have (says he) patiently endured hunger, nakedness, and cold, have suffered and bled without a murmur, have retired on furlough to their homes, in perfect good order, without a settlement of their accounts, or a farthing of money in their pockets: he adds, he was astonished at their virtue: every one knows how these virtuous men have been received; neglected and paid, and the passions and feelings of the humane part of their fellow citizens, are many of them filled with indignation thereat, and are solicitous to know what becomes of their money. Exorbitant taxes have been laid on our estates, on purpose to clothe & pay these brave men, and which have been collected at the greatest distress of many poor people, and many widows and orphans, who have had little pittances of land left them by their husbands and parents, who have perhaps died in their country's service, have had sold by collectors at twenty times less than their value: and those non-residents land which are taxed, the collectors receive the hard money for them, with incidental charges called, and then buy up the presidents orders, which they procure at twenty per cent discount, pay them into the treasury, and put the silver money in their own pockets; the abuses which have been made in the collection of non-resident taxes, are so notorious, that a reformation must soon take place, people will not bear their behaviour much longer, and we earnestly wish to see them impeached, and the new constitution take place; when men and measures will be changed--some say, what can be done to relieve the soldiery, while money is so scarce? and what to prevent the abuses of collectors? The legislature, they say have tried every expedient, & they are so embarrassed they know not how to remedy the apparent evils; I answer, there is a method by which justice may be done, and would prove satisfactory to all parties. Let the notes given to the soldiers, be made a tender for the payment of debts, during the space of three years, and to be received in all public payments for taxes, and give to non-residents the term of three years for the redemption of their estates, instead of two months, as other states of the continent have done; by the first measure, the soldier would be quieted, when he sees his securities are put upon a par with silver, and that he can pay his debts, without giving away one half his earnings; for which he has risked his life in many bloody battles, while many pretended sons of liberty, and those who would most oppose this measure, have laid at home in the full enjoyment of peace, plenty and luxury, in their chimney corners: This measure would also prevent the increase of lawsuits, which have multiplied to such a degree, that the lawyers themselves are astonished at the malignity, with which their clients are distressing each other, since the peace; and though they cannot find money to pay the entry of their actions, yet that circumstance, does not prevent them from suing; it is thought that the fees, attendance and perquisites, of only one gentleman of the law, at the last term court at Exeter, were near five hundred dollars, some say much more; and if some expedient is not found out, we are an undone people; Some years past, in the State of Connecticut, the same principles of suing took place, and prevailed to a great a degree, that the legislature was obliged to interfere and stop all actions, excepting those who denied giving security for their debts, and actions of ejectment, assault, slander or special cases: & by the second measure of extending the time of redemption of non-resident lands, as in the Massachusetts-Bay, to three years, will prevent the villanies of many collectors, from injuring the already too much oppressed poor, who may in that time redeem their estates, and thankfully pay the extra interest, and collectors will not be under such temptations to do injustice, when they know the injured parties, have a length of time allowed for the redemption, of their estates--some may object and say that the currency of these soldiers notes, and constables certificates, will depreciate like the paper money, which I deny, because both debtors and creditors, will be glad to take them, rather than wait three years, while the act subsists, and the fear of a renewal of the same act, will reconcile the obstinate creditor, to receive a currency, by which he may sooner invest his debt in some other security, than let it lay three years at an uncertainty: and as trade is now reviving, the merchant will take them for his goods, his lumber and fish: the builders, traders and fishermen, will take them for their timber, their internal trade, and sea stores: and the people in general will take them for the taxes, and lastly the great vortex of taxation, will soon swallow them up, that they will become as scarce as silver or gold; justice demands this as the soldiers right, and the man who should dare to depreciate them, should be esteemed more infamous than a refugee. I would advise the officers, and soldiers of this state to petition their respective towns, to instruct their representatives on this matter, and thereby obtain a redress of unexampled grievances--grievances which human nature should recoil at, by thus oppressing men, who, like Abraham of old, have been ready to sacrifice not only their own sons, but themselves in the service of their country. Ye virtuous citizens of New Hampshire, arouse, and see justice done to your fathers, your sons, and your friends, the way is open, easy, reasonable, just and constitutional, and brand the opposers with marks of contempt and indignation, for whoever would issue notes to the soldiers, as a full recompence of wages for their toils and labours, which notes are known to be worth only two thirds of their issued value, must be callous to every feeling of honor, justice and generosity, and should be deservedly the contempt of the brave, the virtuous and honorable soldiers, who have been the supporters of our rights, and the defenders of our liberties.

THE SOLDIERS FRIEND.