Thomas Paine, widely recognized for his influential work "Common Sense," which advocated for American independence from Great Britain, wrote to the United States Senate Committee on Claims in March 1808. In his letter, Paine requested reimbursement for money he had lent in support of the American Revolution. Paine criticized the Committee on Claims, essentially challenging them by asking, “Do you know who I am?!” The Center for Legislative Archives holds records related to the petitions and memo