It is now the bounden duty of every one to make the blessings thereof as diffusive as possible.  Nothing would so effectually bring this to pass as the removal of those local prejudices which intrude upon and embarrass that great line of policy which alone can make us a free, happy and powerful People.  Unless our Union can be fixed upon such a basis as to accomplish these, certain I am we have toiled, bled and spent our treasure to very little purpose.

We have now a National character to establish, and it is of the utmost importance to stamp favorable impressions upon it; let justice be then one of its characteristics, and gratitude another.  Public creditors of every denomination will be comprehended in the first; the Army in a particular manner will have a claim to the latter; to say that no distinction can be made between the claims of public creditors is to declare that there is no difference in circumstances; or that the services of all men are equally alike.  This Army is of near eight years’ standing, six of which they have spent in the Field without any other shelter from the inclemency of the seasons than Tents, or such Houses as they could build for themselves without expense to the public.  They have encountered hunger, cold and nakedness.  They have fought many Battles and bled freely.  They have lived without pay and in consequence of it, officers as well as men have subsisted upon their Rations.

They have often, very often, been reduced to the necessity of eating Salt Porke, or Beef not for a day, or a week only but months together without Vegetables or money to buy them; or a cloth to wipe on.

Many of them do better, and to dress as Officers have contracted heavy debts or spent their patrimonies.  The first see the Doors of gaols open to receive them, whilst those of the latter are shut against them.  Is there no discrimination then—­no extra exertion to be made in favor of men in these peculiar circumstances, in the event of their military dissolution?  Or, if no worse cometh of it, are they to be turned adrift soured and discontented, complaining of the ingratitude of their Country, and under the influence of these passions to become fit subjects for unfavorable impressions, and unhappy dissentions?  For permit me to add, tho every man in the Army feels his distress—­it is not every one that will reason to the cause of it.

I would not from the observations here made, be understood to mean that Congress should (because I know they cannot, nor does the army expect it) pay the full arrearages due to them till Continental or State funds are established for the purpose.  They would, from what I can learn, go home contented—­nay—­thankful to receive what I have mentioned in a more public letter of this date, and in the manner there expressed.  And surely this may be effected with proper exertions.  Or what possibility was there of keeping the army