New member with a USMC name.

I'd like to shout out to that individual.

Please consider the following:

Source:
Dr. William Whiting and Shays's Rebellion
BY STEPHEN T. RILEY
[americanantiquarian.org]

Message:

APPENDIX
"It is the Duty as well as peculiar previlege of us Who live in these Latter Days, to profit by the Experience of former ages. I therefore beg Leave to Lay before the Convention the following Extract from the antient Roman History;" and to this I am Induced from the Great annalogy there is between the Commonwealth of Rome When those transactions took place, and the present State of the Americans. The following occurrences took place in Rome about Two hundred and fifty years after its first Settlement, and Ten years after having bannished their Kings and formed themselves Into a Commonwealth. Which almost Exactly Corresponds With the time Since the first Settlements began in America and Likewise their Renownceing the authority of the British King.

"It is also Remarkable that the Transactions Related in the following Narrative Took place at the Conclusion of a Sore war Which their Bannished King (having Stirred up their other Ennemies and Joined With them) had for a number of years Carried on against the Romans. Dureing the Course of Which war The Senate and Patritions (a Set of men Very much Resembling our Lawyers and attorneys) had Ingrossed almost all the Power and wealth in the Nation. For Whilst the Lower orders of the people left their Little farms uncultivated and Went into the War to Defend the Commonwealth (and that Without pay as ours have Done) The Senate and Patritions Ingrossed all the advantages to themselves and Left the poor plebeans nothing but Servitude Goals and Stripes as appears by the following Narrative (viz)

"The Soldiers haveing Returned from the field in triumph, had Some Reason to Expect a Remission of their Debts, and to Enjoy that Safety for themselves which they had procured for others. Ho\vever Contrary to their hopes the Courts of Law were opened against them, and the prosecutions of Creditors Revived With more then usual Severity. This soon Excited fresh murmors, and the Senate, Who were Sensible of them, in order to be prepared. Chose Apius Claudius, a man of austere manners, a Strict observer of the Laws, and of unshaken Intripidity, for one of the Consuls the year Ensuing; but, at the Same time, to temper his Severity, they Gave him for a Colleague Servilius a man of an Humane and Gentle Disposision, and as much beloved by the populace as Apius was hateful to them. When the Complaints of the people therefore Came to be Deliberated upon, these two majestrates, as it may be Supposed, were Entirely of opposite opinions, Servilius Commiserating the Distresses of the poor, was for abolishing all Debts, or at Least for Deminishing the Interest upon them. Apius on the other hand, with his usual Severity, Insisted that the laws of his Country Should be inviolably observed, and that Lightening the Loan upon those that owed money Was but throwing it upon those to Whom it was Due. That it would be Encourageing the Extravagant and the Idle at the Expence of the industrious and the frugal; and that Every new Compliance from the Senate would but Encrease the Insolent Demands of the people. The populace being apprized of the different oppinions of their Consuls Concerning their Complaints, Loaded Servilius with Every mark of Gratitude, whilst They Every where persued Apius With threats and Imprecations. They began to assemble afresh, to hold Secret Cabals by night, and to meditate Some new Revolution, When an unlooked Spectacle of Distress Rouzed all their Passions and at once faned their kindled Resentment Into a flame.

"A Roman Soldier who seemed in age. Came to take Refuge in the midst of the people. Loaded With Chains, yet Showing in his air the marks of better Days: he was covered with Rags; his face was pale and Wasted with famine; his beard was long and neglected and his hair in Wild Disorder, Rendered his appearance much more ghastly. He was known however to be a Gallant man, who had often been Valliant in the field, he shewed the Scars Which he had Received in battle, and the marks of Recent Stripes, Which Still Continued bleeding. The Compassion of the multitude was Excited at this Spectacle, but much more when he told them his Story. Having bor'n arms in the Last war his Little patrimony was not only Neglected but the Ennemy had plundered his Substance, and set his house on fire. In this Situation he was forced for Subsistance to Contract Debts, and then oblidged to Sell his Inheritance to discharge them; but a part Still Remaining unpaid, his unfeeling Creditor had Draged him to prison, where he was not only Loaded with chains, but Torn with the Whips of the Executioner, who was ordered to Torment him. This account and his wounds which were Still fresh produced an Instantaneous uproar among the people. They flew to take Vengeance not only on the Cruel Creditor but on the General body of their opressors. Apius had the fortune to Escape by flight. Servilius Laying a Side the marks of Consular Dignity threw himself into the midst of the tumult. Entreated, flatered. Commanded them to patience; Engaged to have their wrongs Redressed by the Senate; promised that he himself would warmly Support their Causes; and in the meantime to Convince them of his good Intentions, made proclamation that no Citizen Should be arrested for Debt untill the Senate Should issue further Directions.

"The Remonstrances of Servilius Served for this time, in Some measure to appease their murmors; and the Senate was going to begin their Deliberations, When word was brought that an army of Volcians were marching Directly towards Rome. This was an Event Which the people had wished with the most ardent Expectation; and they now Resolved to let the nobles see how little the power of the Rich avails when unsupported by the Strength of the multitude. Accordingly when the Levies Came to be made. They unanimously Refused to Inlist, while those Who had been imprisoned for Debt, Showing their chains asked with an insulting Smile, if those were the weapons With Which they were to face their Ennemies.

"Rhome in this State of annarchy Within and of threatened invasion from Without, was upon the Brink of Ruin, When Servilius who as Consul, was to Command the Army, once more Renewed : his Entreaties With the people, not to forsake him in this Exigence, tO Sooth them Still more he Issued a new Edict that no Citizen Should be Imprisoned During the War, and asured them that, upon their Return, they Should have plenary Redress. By these promises, as well as thé affection the people had for his person, he once more prevailed. The people Came in Crouds to Enrole themselves under his Command; he Led them to meet the Ennemy, and gained a Compleat Victory. But of all those who shewed their Courage in the Engagement, the Debtors and former Malcontents were the most Conspicuous. Servilius, to Recompence their bravery, gave them the plunder of the Ennemies Camp, Without Reserving, as was usual, any part of it for the Treasury; and this no doubt was the Cause of Induceing the Sinate upon his Return, to Refuse him the honor of a Tryumph.

"No Sooner were the Terrors of the Ennemy Removed but the former Cruelties were renewed. Apius Still fierce and uncornplying, again authorized the Creditors to Renew their Severity and the- Debtors were Draged to Prison and Insulted as before. Invain Did they Implore the assistance of Servilius, Who Gentle and Wavering had Deputed too much of his Power to Apius. Invain Did they Claini the promises made them by the Senate: for that Body, Deaf to their Cries, saw Debtors persued Even into the forum by their merciless Creditors, and prevented only by the multitude from being draged to Prison. The aproach of an Ennemy Still more numerous then that Which had been Lately Conquered, Retarded the acrimony of their Verigeance. The Sabines The Equi and the Volcians, as if Willing to Second the Views of the people, again made a fierce Eruption, While the people Refused to Inlist untill their Grievances were Removed.

"Things being in this Dangerous Situation, the Senate were oblidged to have Recourse to the usual method of Redress by Creating a Dictator. Apius who had advised the measure, hoped that he would have been Chosen; but the Senate, Sensible that So much power in the hands of one So Violent in the use of that he already had, would be Dangerous, Chose Marius Valerius, an antient Senator one merciful, mild and much Loved by the people, and Decended from their Great Deliverer whose name he Bore. Valerius Who Secretly inclined to the plebian party. Chose Quintus, The brother of their Great Idol Servilius, for his master of the Horse, and assembling the people assured them that if they would follow him freely, their Grievances Should not only be Redressed, but their Fortunes advanced by the Spoils of the Ennemy. He in the mean time freed them from any Immediate Prosecutions from their Creditors, and Commanded them to follow him To the field. There was something So absolute in the office of a Dictator, and it was So much Considered by the people, that they not only Dreaded its Resentment, but Seemed to think its promises binding; They therefore Enroled themselves at his order, and marching against the Ennemy, Quickly Reduced them to Subjection, Such Land, as had been Taken from them being Divided among the Soldiers.

"Upon his Return, The Dictator Requested the Senate to perform what he had So Solemnly pledged his word to obtain; But Apius Still obstinate. Refused to Comply, Reproaching him With a mean Condesention to the multitude, and bringing over a majority of the Senate to his opinion. Valerius therefore finding himself unable to Contend With So powerful a Body, Laid Down his office, alledging that it Was time for an old man of Seventy, to think Rather of Ease then opposision.

"The people were now Inffamed to a Dangerous Degree; they Entered into private Consultations, and formed a plan of separating themselves from masters whose promises were as contemptable as their Tyranny Dreadful. The most Violent measures are to the multitude always the most pleasing, and Some had Even the boldness to talk of killing Such as were obnoxious. The Senate and the Consuls Well knowing the Effects of their fury when they Should be Disbanded Resolved Still to keep them in the field, under pretence that the Ennemy were yet unsubdued, and prepareing for new Invations. In this Exigence the Soldiers were at a Loss how to act; the millitary oath which they had taken upon Listing, forbad their laying Down their arms, or forsaking their Standards; and yet their Recent Injuries forbad their taking the field. They Steered between both Extremes; they Resolved to Quit a City which gave them no protection, and to form a new Establishment without its Limits. They therefore Removed their Ensigns, Changed their Commander, and under the Command of a plebian they Retired to a mountain on the Banks of the River Ario, about three miles from Rome.

End Part 1 (Slug, or ADW, limits the message content to a sound bite, so I have to part this out)