From this time, the officers passed into the whole mass of the creditors of the United States; and although they continued to constitute a distinct class among those creditors, the history of their claims is to be pursued in connection with that of the other public debts of the country. The value of the votes which fixed their compensation, and paid them in public securities, depended, of course, upon the ability of the government to redeem the obligations which it issued. The general financial powers of the Union, therefore, under the Confederation, must now be considered. FOOTNOTES: [155] The treaty was concluded at Paris, February 6, 1778, and was ratified by Congress on the 5th of May. Journals, IV. 256, 257. [156] Resolves of October 30 and November 2, 1781. Journals, VII. 167, 169. [157] Resolves of December 10, 1781. Journals, VII. 190. [158] Writings, VIII. 226. [159] Writings, VIII. 232, 235. [160] Sparks's Life of Washington, p. 380. [161] Letter of April 10, 1778. Writings of Washington, V. 312. [162] Journals, IV. 221. [163] Ibid. 228, 229. The States which voted in the negative were Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and South Carolina. [164] Ibid. 243. The States voting in the negative were Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, and South Carolina. The State whose vote was divided was Pennsylvania. [165] Ibid. 244. Under this resolve, each officer was entitled to receive half-pay annually, for the term of seven years after the conclusion of war, if living. [166] Ibid. 288. [167] On the 21st of April, in the resolution reported by a committee, the words "an establishment of half-pay for life" were, on motion, changed to a "provision of half-pay";--an amendment which reveals very plainly the character of the popular objections. Journals, IV. 228. [168] Journals, V. 312. [169] Ibid. 316, 317. [170] Writings of Washington, VII. 165, 246. [171] Journals, VI. 336. [172] See General Washington's letter to General Sullivan (in Congress), November 20, 1780. Writings, VII. 297. [173] See the letter of General Lincoln, Secretary at War, to Washington, cited by Mr. Sparks, VIII. 356. [174] The "Newburgh Addresses" were written by John Armstrong, (afterwards General Armstrong,) then a young man, and aide-de-camp to General Gates, with the rank of Major. (Sparks's Life of Gouverneur Morris, I. 253. United States Magazine for January 1, 1823, New York.) The style of these papers, considering the period when they appeared, is remarkably good. They are written with great point and vigor of expression and great purity of English. For the purpose for which they were designed,--a direct appeal to feeling,--they show the hand of a master. [175] March 18, 1783. Writings, VIII. 396. [176] The resolves gave the option to lines of the respective States, and not to the officers individually in those lines, to accept or refuse the commutation. Journals, VIII. 162. CHAPTER II. 1781-1783.