[Mafsachu]fetts Line to Congrefs Feb 28 1792 [CIRCULAR.] BOSTON, (Mafsachusetts) Feb. 23, 1792. SIR, WE have had the honor to be appointed a Committee, by the Officers of the Mafsachusetts Line of the late Army, to attend to and profecute their memorial to the Congrefs, of the United States, on the Subject of compenfation for the loffes fuftained by them and the Soldiers who ferved during the war, in confequence of the irregular manner in which the Services have been acknowledged and required by the United States. By a letter bearing date June 5, 1790, you were informed of the meafures adopted in prefering that fuit, and that a Memorial was prefented to Congrefs on the Subject of our complaint. Finding that no relief has been afforded, or as far as our information extends, contemplated, and convinced that there is a juft debt as yet undifcharged on the part of Government, our determination is to repeat our application, and fupport our claim, until we obtain confideration and relief; or until it fhall be declared by the voice of the United States in Congrefs, that our claims are unjuft and without foundation; and that a hard-earned [strikethrough: and] debt can be honorably and juftly cancelled by certificates received in the laft inflation by a kind of compulfion, obtained in moft cafes from [undecipherable] by fraud, and putting in exchange for only a fifth or an eighth of their nominal value. To the profecution of this meafure we are urged by a conviction that our requeft is founded on the immovable principles of juftice, equity and juftice, by a fenfe of duty to ourfelves, and more efpecially to thofe faithful companions of the war, who ferved under our command, whofe critical and embarraffed circumftances preclude them from applications, and in whofe behalf we are bound to appear, by every principle of affection and gratitude. Should it be objected that the claim has lain dormant and may have fuffered limitation, we would obferve, that if America had been conquered by Britain, neither life, liberty, or reftitution would probably have been the lot of many of the prefent applicants. To have preffed the application in any of the years of publick embarraffment which followed the peace, when the government and finances of the country feemed empty and even ruinous, would have comported neither with the interefts nor character of the army. The records of the old government contain ample and frequent acknowledgments that the Services have been faithfully performed on our part, together with an univerfal declaration to maintain them. And the publick inability in the true and only fenfe in which the failure in that part of government can be attributed, exonerates them. The prefent government was eftablifhed for the eftablifhment of juftice among other great objects. To this end they poffefs the power and ability. And as we have every confidence in the liberality and juftice of the exifting adminiftration we hasten their final decifion on the merits of our caufe. To facilitate the object of our wifhes we have judged it expedient to depute an Agent to Congrefs to attend to and explain the nature of our application. On the twentieth day of March next, he will be in Philadelphia for that purpofe; and this communication, which we beg you to take the earlieft opportunity to make known to the Officers belonging to your State, is made to acquaint you with our determination, that, if you fhould think it expedient to adopt correfpondent meafures, our attempt will receive the aid of your advice and affiftance. In order to a convenient and concerted union of application — as a joint application has been a defideratum with many, and taking every confideration into view, we have prefered the mode now adopted, and we hope it will meet with your approbation. General William Hull, the perfon whom we have chofen for our Agent, will give his conftant attendance in Philadelphia, during the prefent feffion of Congrefs; and we beg to recommend him to your attention and affiftance. With Sentiments of refpect, we are Sir, your moft obedient Servants, [signed] Commee W. Matth[ews?] B. Brooks W. Jackfon W. Cutter S. Edwards Jo. Goodale [address] Hon Henry Knox