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CLAIMS OF AMERICAN LOYALISTS. 391
loyalists would return to their homes, sums were at first issued to them for
three months, which, being often repeated, were at last converted from quarterly into annual allowances, proportioned according to the relative situation
and circumstances of the applicant.
While America was opposing the Stamp Act, both Houses of Parliament
declared, " That such persons who had manifested a desire to comply with or
to assist in carrying into execution any acts of the legislature relating to the
Colonies in North America, ought to have full and ample compensation for
any injury or damage sustained on that account." And that such persons
were entitled to, and should assuredly have, the protection of the House of
Commons. Again, in 1775, when the war of the revolution commenced, the
king of Great Britain desiring the aid of his subjects to suppress the rebellion,
issued his proclamation calling for their assistance, and " that none might
neglect or violate their duty through ignorance thereof," he further declared,
" That all his faithful subjects were bound by law to be aiding and assisting
in suppressing the rebellion; and that there could be no doubt of the protection which the law would afford to their loyalty and zeal."
The American loyalists claimed that in obedience to this call of the two
Houses of Parliament and their sovereign, they alone stepped forward from the
great body of the king's subjects in America; that in consequence of their
loyalty they were deprived of their fortunes, and were therefore entitled to
adequate compensation. And, moreover, as their estates and fortunes, which
the British government was bound to regain and restore to them, had been
ceded to the United States as the purchase and price of peace, they had a
higher claim to just compensation.
As the war progressed, the number of loyalists greatly increased, and their
applications to the British government for relief and support, were urgent as
well as numerous. To prevent imposition on the treasury of Great Britain,
it became necessary that an investigation should be made into the claims'of
the applicants. Soon after the death of the Marquis of Rockingham, in July,
1782, and the appointment of the Earl of Shelburne (afterwards created Marquis of Lansdowne) to succeed him, Lord Shelburne nominated, and the
Board of Treasury appointed, John Wilmot and D. P. Coke, both members of
parliament, " to enquire into the cases of all the American sufferers, both of
those who already derive assistance from the public, and those who were
claiming it; and to report their opinion thereon to their lordships."
They immediately proceeded in the prosecution of their business, in October, and noted the cases and circumstances of each applicant; examined such
certificates and papers as each had to produce, and required the attendance of
such persons as might be able to confirm or explain the merits, the losses, and
other particulars of each case. They reported their proceedings from time to
time to the Board of Treasury, but made a final report and detailed statement
of their proceedings in January, 1783, which was confirmed. The principle
on which the commissioners proceeded, as explained at large in their report,
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000428 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | CLAIMS OF AMERICAN LOYALISTS. 391 loyalists would return to their homes, sums were at first issued to them for three months, which, being often repeated, were at last converted from quarterly into annual allowances, proportioned according to the relative situation and circumstances of the applicant. While America was opposing the Stamp Act, both Houses of Parliament declared, " That such persons who had manifested a desire to comply with or to assist in carrying into execution any acts of the legislature relating to the Colonies in North America, ought to have full and ample compensation for any injury or damage sustained on that account." And that such persons were entitled to, and should assuredly have, the protection of the House of Commons. Again, in 1775, when the war of the revolution commenced, the king of Great Britain desiring the aid of his subjects to suppress the rebellion, issued his proclamation calling for their assistance, and " that none might neglect or violate their duty through ignorance thereof," he further declared, " That all his faithful subjects were bound by law to be aiding and assisting in suppressing the rebellion; and that there could be no doubt of the protection which the law would afford to their loyalty and zeal." The American loyalists claimed that in obedience to this call of the two Houses of Parliament and their sovereign, they alone stepped forward from the great body of the king's subjects in America; that in consequence of their loyalty they were deprived of their fortunes, and were therefore entitled to adequate compensation. And, moreover, as their estates and fortunes, which the British government was bound to regain and restore to them, had been ceded to the United States as the purchase and price of peace, they had a higher claim to just compensation. As the war progressed, the number of loyalists greatly increased, and their applications to the British government for relief and support, were urgent as well as numerous. To prevent imposition on the treasury of Great Britain, it became necessary that an investigation should be made into the claims'of the applicants. Soon after the death of the Marquis of Rockingham, in July, 1782, and the appointment of the Earl of Shelburne (afterwards created Marquis of Lansdowne) to succeed him, Lord Shelburne nominated, and the Board of Treasury appointed, John Wilmot and D. P. Coke, both members of parliament, " to enquire into the cases of all the American sufferers, both of those who already derive assistance from the public, and those who were claiming it; and to report their opinion thereon to their lordships." They immediately proceeded in the prosecution of their business, in October, and noted the cases and circumstances of each applicant; examined such certificates and papers as each had to produce, and required the attendance of such persons as might be able to confirm or explain the merits, the losses, and other particulars of each case. They reported their proceedings from time to time to the Board of Treasury, but made a final report and detailed statement of their proceedings in January, 1783, which was confirmed. The principle on which the commissioners proceeded, as explained at large in their report, |
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