^' «<» ^o ^ ,0 d- / ^^. ^'T ^0' 5 o^ ,r ' A. < J» « ->'■ ■^ qV . £ « , <0 ^ ^ (V ^ o ' * o • ^ ^....v .5:'^: 0: <6^^ r^--^ aO' *" o « ^^.^^"^ y^ : '^vr^V v^ < » 'Ad^ .7: ^H q. , T •o. ''^ ■.* ^ ' »'f-.^'*. -^i V » * • «* > • s 1^ .» ' ' • * "-C< J'^jyT'Ti^ .^ o • « V • ' .^* "^^0^ Xp9^ ^^^^ ^a>9^ ■* e > A SKETC OF TFIE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES OP GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, OF OHIO. St. HoutB : CHURCHILL & HARRLS, PRINTERS. 1840. V. / A' cT/f-^ WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. When a man has heen selected from among; the people, as a suitable candidate for any important office in their gift, it is no more than common justice to all parties, that his fellow citizens should be supplied with some authentic information respectino- his past life. It is right and proper that they should know what services he has rendered to his country, what public stations he has held, and with what fidelity and uprightness he has discharg- ed the duties of those offices, with which he has been intrusted that, furnished with this information, they may be enabled to form a fair estimate of his abilities, and of his usefulness and in- tegrity in his future career. At the present time, no one before the public occupies more general attention than William H. Har- rison. We therefore think it an acceptable service to those who are not familiar with the life of this distinguished man, to place before them the following brief sketch of his biography and pub- lic services. We offer them an honest outline of plain facts^ gathered from the most authentic sources. Should any of our readers desire more particular information, or wish for detailed evidence of the historic truth of this outline, we refer them to our public documents connected with the events here recorded, to Butler's History of Kentucky, and M'Affee's History of the Late War, and to the excellent biographical works of Dawson and Judge Hall — from which sources this sketch has been prin- cipally drawn. William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia, on the 9th of February, 1773, His father, Benjamin Harrison, was one of the patriots of the Revolution. He was a very distinguished member of the first congress of the United States, which met at Philadel- phia in 1774, and was one of the most conspicuous of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He afterwards rendered battle of the Miami, in which the confederated Indians, with their allies, were totally defeated. Their heavy losses in this battle so disheartened the Indians, that, a few months after, they entered into negotiations for a treaty of peace, giving hostages for their good faith — and thus, with the close of this war, were extinguished what may be considered the last embers of our rev- olutionary struggle. In his despatch to the Secretary of War, after this decisive victory, General Wayne, in mentioning those whose good conduct made them conspicuous on this occasion, says — "My faithful and gallant aids-de-camp. Captains De Butts and T. Lewis, and liieutenant Harrison, w^ith the Adjutant-gen- eral, Major Mills, rendered the most essential service, by commu- nicating my orders in every direction, and by their conduct and bravery exciting the troops to press for victory." Soon after this battle, Lieutenant Harrison received the com- mission of a captain, and was placed in command of Fort Wash- ington, the most important station on the western frontier. He remained in the army till the close of the year 1797, when, as there was no longer an opportunity to serve his country in the field, he resiofned his commission to commence his career of civil ser- vices. He was almost immediately appointed secretary, and ex- officio, lieutenant-governor of the North-western territory ; which then embraced the whole extent of our country lying norh-west of the Ohio river — thus receiving his first civil appointment in that part of our country which he had perilled his life to defend. While in this station, he entered so warmly into tlie interests of the people, and his intelligence and the kindness and urbanity of liis manners rendered him so popular, that when, in the fol- lowino- year, they became entitled to representation in the councils of the nation, they almost unanimously elected him their first delegate to Congress. Mr. Harrison was, at this time, about twen- ty-six years of age. He took his seat in the House of Representatives, at the first session of the sixth Congress, in December, 1799. There were then in Congress some of the ablest and most enlightened states- men, and some of the most eloquent men, our country has ever produced. Yet in this severe ordeal, the abilities and manly energies of Mr. Harrison soon commanded universal respect. At this period, the all-engrossing subject in the West, and one in which our whole country had a deep interest, was the sale of our public lands. The manner in which these lands had been hith- erto disposed of, had created great dissatisfaction among the people. They had been sold only in large tracts ; the smallest of which included at least four thousand acres. Our hardy yeomanry, with limited pecuniary means, were thus shut out from all chance of competition with wealthy speculators and grasping monopolists, in the purchase of these lands — the poorer emigrants were be- coming disheartened at the chilling prospects before them, and the settlement of the new country was greatly retarded. Fully aware of the impolicy and injustice of this state of things, and true to the trust confided in him, Mr. Harrison's earliest legisla- tive efforts were made to overthrow this pernicious system. He aroused the attention of Congress to the consideration of this important subject, and evinced so intimate an acquaintance with the facts and business details connected with it, that he was ap- pointed chairman of a committee raised to examine into and re- port on the existing mode of disposing of the public lands. After a proper investigation, he presented a report, accompanied by a bill, the principal object of which was to reduce the size of the tracts of public land oftered for sale, to such a smaller number of acres as would place them within the reach of actual settlers. This masterly report, which was the joint production of himself and Mr. Gallatin, together with the great ability and eloquence with which he defended his bill from the powerful opposition it encountered in the House, gained Mr. Harrison a reputation rarely attained by so young a statesman. The bill was carried triumphantly in the House, and finally, after some amendments, passed the Senate. The result was, that the public lands, instead of being offered only in large tracts, of which four thousand acres was the smallest size, were now to be sold in alternate sections and half sections — the former containing 640, and the latter 320 acres each. The point gained was of immense importance, since, from the low price of these lands, and the small amount of pur- chase money required to be paid, they were now within the reach of nearly all the poorer emigrants and actual settlers, who felt a natural desire to own the fee simple of their homes, and of the lands they subdued from the wilderness. Thousands of the hardy and industrious farmers of our Northern and Middle States, and 8 many of the poorer planters of the South, availed themselves of the fair field which was now opened for emigration and enter- prise ; and we may justly consider this happy result, which Mr. Harrison was so instrumental in producing, as one of the leading causes of the rapid settlement and prosperity of our Y/estern country. In the year ISOO, the North-western territory was divided. That part of the old territory, included within the present boun- daries of Ohio and Micliigan, retained its former name ; and the immense extent of country, north-west of this, was made a sepa- rate territory, and received the name of Indiana. Soon after this division had taken place, Mr. Harrison resigned his seat in Con- gress, and was appointed governor of the new territoiy. This appointment gave great satisfaction to the people of Indiana, with whom the patriotic exertions of Mr. Harrison had rendered him deservedly popular ; and it was, at the same time, the strong- est evidence of the confidence with which the General Govern- ment relied upon his integrity, prudence, and capacity for civil government. The extent of Indiana was almost boundless. The small population it then contained was thinly scattered through a vast wilderness, and only three settlements of any note existed within its territory. One of these was at Vincennes, the capital ; another at the Falls of the Ohio, one hundred miles distant from Yincen- nes ; and the third was on the Mississippi, at a distance of more than two hundred miles from the capital. The communication between these remote points was, at all times, difficult and toil- some, and often attended with great danger. There existed no practicable roads, and nearly all the intermediate country was oc- cupied by the Indians, or overrun by their hunting parties. Most of those savage tribes, though professing to be friendly, were rest- less and dissatisfied ; and their leading chiefs still nursed a moody hope of revenge for the mortifying defeat they had sustained, six years before, at the battle of the Miami. Artful and treacherous, numerous, warlike, and thirsting for plunder, they kept this re- mote frontier in continual excitement and alarm. The angry feelings of our hardy borderers were frequently aroused by some robbery or atrocious violence committed by the more evil-disposed amono- their savage neighbors, and quarrels often ensued, which threatened the peace of the whole community. Such was the existing state of things in Indiana Territory, when Mr. Harrison was appointed to the administration ot its government. As governor of a frontier territory so pecuHarly situated, Mr. Harrison was invested with civil powers of the most important nature, as well as with military authority. Besides the ordinary powers which he held, ex officio^ as governor, he had the sole power of dividing the district into counties and townships, and was appointed the general superintendent of Indian affairs. He had likewise the unusual power of conferring on a numerous class of individuals a leQ-al title to larofe grants of land, on which they before held merely an equitable claim. His sole signature was sufficient, without any other formality, to give a valid title to these extensive and valuable tracts of land. Possessed of this immense power, opportunities were continually before him of ac- cumulating a princely fortune ; but the scrupulous sense of ho- nor which has always characterized Mr. Harrison, would never permit him to speculate in lands over which he had any control. And it is a fact worthy of note, that during the whole time that he held this important trust, he never availed himself of his pecu- liar advantages to acquire a single acre of land ; — no shadow of suspicion ever doubted his disinterestedness, and not a murmur ever accused him of partiality, or even of unnecessary delay, in the performance of this delicate duty. We mention this only to show, that the integrity of Mr. Harrison is not merely theoretical but practical ; and that it has always shone with the purest lustre when assailed by the strongest temptations. In 1803, Mr. Jefferson appointed Governor Harrison sole "commissioner to enter into any treaties which may be necessary, with any Indian tribes, north-west of the Ohio, and witlnn the territory of the United States, on the subject of their boundaries or lands." By virtue of this, or a similar authority, during the subsequent course of his administration, Harrison eflected thir- teen important treaties wiih the different tribes, on the most ad- vantageous terms ; andobtained from them, at various times, the cession of large tracts of land, amounting, in all, to more than sixty millions of acres, and embracing a large portion of the rich- est region in our country. In their frequent intercourse with Governor Harrison, the In- dians had learned to respect his undaunted fiminess, and were, at 2 10 the same time, conciliated by his kindness of manner and con- siderate forbearance. This, with his intimate knowledge of the Indian character, is the true secret of the remarkable success that has uniformly attended every treaty he has attempted to effect. The I'arious and arduous duties of the sfovernor of Indiana, required, for this offico, a man of very superior abilities — one pos- sessed of stern integrity and prudent moderation, accompanied by the most unwavering firmness. Such a man Governor Har- rison, in the long course of his administration, fully proved him- self to be. The plainest evidence of this, to those who are not familiar with tiie history of Indiana during this period, is the fact, that, for thirteen years, at every successive expiration of his term of office, he was re-appointed, at the earnest solicitation of the people of the territory, and with the public expressio n ofthe most flattering approbation on the part of our chief executive. And this too, notwithstanding the entire change which had taken place within that time in the ruling politics of the country — his first appointment having been made by Mr, Adams, his second and third by Mr. Jefferson, and his fourth by Mr. Madison, The following extract from the resolution unanimously passed by the House of Representatives of Indiana, in the year 1809, requesting the re-appointment of Governor Harrison, will show the estimate which a long acquaintance had taught them of his worth : — "They (the House of Representatives) cannot forbear recommend- ing to, and requesting of the President and Senate, most earnestly in their own names, and in the names of their constituents, the re- appointment of their present governor, William Henry Harrison — because he possesses the good wishes and affection of a great majority of his fellow citizens; — because they believe him sin- cerely attached to the Union, the prosperity of the United States, and the administration of its government ; — because they believe him in a superior degree capable of promoting the interest of our territory, from long experience and laborious attention to its con- cerns, from his influence over the Indians, and wise and disinter- ested management of that department; and because they have confidence in his virtues, talents and republicanism." If necessxry, we m'g'it fill a goodly volnme with extracts from public documents of a similar nature ; but what stronger proof than this could we have of the popularity of Governor Harrison, 11 and ot the entire confidence with which the people relied on his integrity and ability as a statesman? In the year 1805, the celebrated Indian chief, Tecumthe. and his notorious brother, the Shawanese prophet, 01-li-wa-chi-ca, (sometimes called Els-kvva-taw-a,) began to create disturbances on the frontiers of Indiana. Tecumthe was a bold and daring warrior ; sagacious in council and formidable in battle. The prophet was a shrewd impostor: cunning, artful, and treacher- ous ; — and they were leagued together by the tie of mutual inte- rests, and a common hatred to the whites. Tise object of these crafty intriguers was to form, by their own influence and the aid of foreign emissaries, a combination amorg all the ncrt! -.vest- ern tribes of Indians — with the hope, that by a simultaneous at- tack, they might destroy all the whites, or force them from the Valley of the Mississippi. But their designs were soon known to Governor Harrison, and, aware of his dangerous situation, his prudence and wise policy enabled him for several years to hold his savage neighbors in ciieck. The following extracts from a speech, which he delivered to the legislature of Indiana, in 1S09, will serve to show that he fully understood the nature and cause of the excitement then existing among the Indians — '-Presenting, as we do,"' said Governor Harrison, "a very extended frontier to numerous and warlike tribes of the aborigines, the state of our relations with them must always form an important and interest- ing feature in our local politics. It is with regret that I hav^e to inform you, that the harmony and good understanding which it is so much our interest to cultivate with those, our neighbors, have, for some time past, experienced a considerable interruption, and that we have indeed been threatened with hostilities, by a combi- nation formed under the auspices of a bold adventurer, who pre- tended to act under the immediate inspiration of the Dei y. His character as a prophet would not, however, have given him ai y very dangerous influence, if he had not been assisted by the in- trigues and advice of foreign agents, and other disaffected per- sons, who have for years omitted no opoortunity of counteracting the measures of the government with regard to the Indians, and filling their naturally jealous minds with suspicions of the justice and integrity of our views towards them."' Two years subsequent to this, in 1811, from petty aggressions 12 the Indians proceeded to more open violence, and acts of decided hostility. The war whoop was again heard yelhng within the h'mits of the territory, and every day brought fresli accounts of the perpetration of those atrocious deeds of depredation and mur- der, which always give the first intimation of a savage war. From motives of humanity as well as policy, Governor Harrison had always endeavored to avoid a war with the Indians; but when this result became unavoidable, he promptly adopted the most energetic measures within his limited resources, to place the territory in a posture of defence. At his own earnest request, and at the solicitation of the people, the President, soon after, directed him to march with an armed force towards the principal place of rendezvous of the hostile Indians, the prophet's town, on the VVabash, near the mouth of the Tippecanoe — where this crafty impostor had assembled a body of more than a thousand fierce warriors, ready to obey his will. Governor Harrison immediately a. .Lled five hundred of the militia and vohmteers of Indiana. These, with a regiment of United States infantry, consisting of three hundred and fifty men, commanded by Colonel Boyd, and a small body of volunteers from Kentucky, constituted his whole available force — amount- ing in all to about nine hundred effective men. As soon as he had disciplined these troops, and trained both the regulars and militia in the Indian mode of warfare, he took up his line of march towards the Prophet's town. He left Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, about sixty miles above Yincennes, on the 2Sth of October, 1811. Profiting by his own early experience, and the remembered example of his old friend and commander, General Wayne, his march through a wild country to Tippecanoe, was conducted with so much pru- dence, that he avoided all danger of ambuscade or surprise from the savage foe. On the Cth of November the army arrived within five or six miles of the Prophet's town. According to the in- structions he had received from the President, Governor Harrison immediately sent in a flag of truce, to endeavor to open an ami. cable negotiation with the hostile Indians. To this overture the prophet returned a deceitful reply — he professed the most pacific intentions, and agreed to meet Harrison the next day m council, with his chiefs, to settle definitely the terms of peace. But Har- 13 rison knew too well the treachery of his artful antagonist, to allow himself to be deceived by his specious professions, or lulled into any fancied security. He carefully selected the most eligible and defensible position for his encampment, and ordered his troops to lie upon their arms all night, that they might be in readiness, at a moment's warning, to repel any sudden attack of the enemy. The sequel proved that these precautions were wisely adopted. An anxious night passed away without intermption ; but about four o'clock, on the following morning, two hours before day- light, a sentinel at one of the outposts discovered an Indian creeping stealthily towards the camp. He immediately gave the alarm, and almost at the same instant, a strong body of the enemy rushed towards the encampment, with the most savage yells. — They made a furious charge on the left of the camp ; and so sud- den and desperate was their onset, that the guard stationed in that quarter gave way, at first, to their fierce assailants. But these brave troops soon rallied, and retrieved the ground they had lost. The camp fires were extmguished with all possible haste, and the battle was now waged on more equal terms. Our gallant troops fought with the most daring intrepidity, and their savage foes evinced a desperate valor worthy of a better cause. The battle raged with great fury till the da^^^l of day, when a simultaneous charge was made upon the enemy, on either flank, and they were speedily put to flight, with great loss, and the battle terminated. During all this time, the false Prophet had been seated at a safe distance from the field of battle, chanting a war-song, and prom- ising victory to his deluded brethren. The battle of Tippecanoe was one of the most spirited and best fought actions recorded in the annals of our Indian wars. The numbers and the weapons on either side were nearly equal ; and the Indians, contrar\^ to their usual custom, fought hand to hand, and with the fiercest bravery. Every man in this battle encountered his share of danger, but no man was in more per- sonal peril than Governor Harrison himself — well known to many of the Indians, and the object of their peculiar attack — his fear- less and unshrinking exposure, makes it seem almost a miracle that he should have escaped unwounded. In referring to the coolness and intrepidity of Governor Harrison, on this occasion, we cannot refrain from making the following extracts from a jour- 14 tial published in 1816, by a private soldier, who fought in this battle, and who could have had no interested motives for his pub- lication : — "General Harrison," he says, "received a shot through the rim of his hat. In the heat of the action his voice was fre- quently heard, and easily distinguished, giving his orders in the same calm, cool, and collected manner, with which we had been used to receive them on drill or parade. The confidence of the troops in the General was unlimited." The same writer, in speak- ino- of Harrison's kindness to the soldiers, and his influence over them, remarks : — "He appeared not disposed to detain any man against his inclination, being endowed by nature with a heart as humane as brave ; in his frequent addresses to the militia, his elo- quence was formed to persuade ; appeals were made to reason as well as feeling, and never were they made in vain." An incident that occurred at this time, is worth recording. The night before the battle, a negro man belonging to the camp who had been missing, was arrested near the Governor's mar- quee, under very suspicious circumstances. He was tried by a court-martial for desertion to the enemy, and for an attempt to assassinate the Governor. Sufficient evidence was found to con- vict him, and he was sentenced to death; yet such were the hu- mane feelings of Harrison, that he could not induce himself to sio-n the order for his execution. As the criminal attempt had been made against his own life, he felt himself privileged to ex- ercise his benevolence towards the offender, and the misguided wretch was suffered to escape the just punishment of his crime. It would have been more in accordance with the principles of strict justice, to have allowed the law to take its own course in this instance — but the circumstances of the case were very pe- culiar, and Governor Harrison's conduct evinced a magnanimity and humanity of heart rarely equalled. Tiie importance of the victory at Tippecanoe, cannot be too highly estimated. • It quelled the haughty spirit of the discon- tented and hostile Indians, and defeated the plan which they had almost matured, of attacking and destroying our scattered bor- der settlements in detail. Had we lost this battle, our army must have been annihilated — the whole extent of our defenceless fron- tier would have been left to the mercy of sanguinary and un- sparing savages, and the consequent loss of life, and destruction of property would have been almost incalculable. 15 The President, in his message to Congress, dated December 18th, 1812, makes the following honorable mention of this bat- tle :— " While it is deeply to be lamented," says Mr. Madison, "that so many valuable lives have been lost in the action which took place on the 9th ult.. Congress will see, with satisfoction, the dauntless spirit and fortitude victoriously displayed by every description of troops engaged, as well as the collected firmness which distinguished their commander, on an occasion requiring the utmost exertion of valor and discipline." The Legislature of Kentucky, at their ensuing session, ex- pressed their high sense of Governor Harrison's good conduct on this occasion, by the following complimentary resolution : "Resolved, That in the late campaign against the Indians, on the Wabash, Governor W. H. Harrison has, in the opinion of this legislature, behaved like a hero, a patriot, and a general; and that for his cool, deliberate, skilful and gallant conduct, in the late battle of Tippecanoe, he deserves the warmest thanks of the nation." This hiffh encomium came from those whose friends and neighbors had participated in the late campaign, and who were consequently familiar with its details, and with the merits of the commander. War was declared against Great Britain in June, 1812. Prior to this event, British agents had, for a long time, been tampering with the discontented Indians within our territory, and had bri- bed them with presents, and furnished them with fire-arms, to induce them to renew their hostilities against our country. The cratty and daring Tecumthe, too, was once more in the field. Urged on by his savage eloquence, by their own native love for war and plunder, and by the atrocious intrigues of foreign agents, the north-western Indians again raised tiie war-whoop, and com- menced their barbarous system of warfare. Their cruel mur- ders and depredations became of frequent occurrence, and the wailings of bereaved mothers and orphans, and the bitter com- plaints of those who had escaped from the conflagration of their plundered homes, excited the commisseration of our hardy bor- derers, and roused a general feeling of indignation. Such was the state of excitement in our frontier settlements in the summer of 1812. 16 Immediately after the declaration of war, our western govern- ors promptly adopted every measure in their power, for the de- fence of their respective states and territories. But conscious of the great abilities and experience of Harrison, they placed the utmost reliance on his counsels, and looked to him as the leader, under whom they might hope for success against the common enemy. He aided Governor Edwards in placing the frontier of Illinois in a posture of defence, and soon after, was invited by Governor Scott, of Kentucky, to a conference in relation to the Kentucky troops, which had been raised for the defence of the frontier. He accepted this invitation, and met Governor Scott at Frankfort; where he was received with the acclamations of the people, and with the highest civil and military honors. These public marks of the high estimation in which Harrison was held by the people, were shortly after followed by proofs still more fiatterino, of their confidence in his patriotism, his abilities, and his military skill. Governor Scott had levied an armed force of more than five thousand militia and volunteers, commanded by some of the ablest men and most experienced officers in the state. Two thousand of these troops were ordered for immediate service; and they had no sooner learned that tliey were destined to march to the aid of their fellow countrymen on the frontier, than they at once unanimously expressed the most earnest desire, to be pla- ced under the command of Governor Harrison. This desire was responded to by the wishes of the people throughout the state. The laws of Kentucky, however, would not permit any other than a citizen, to hold a command in the state militia. In this dilemma. Governor Scott consulted with the venerable Shel- by, (the governor elect,) the Hon. Henry Clay, and other distin- guished citizens of the state; and by their unanimous advice he gave Harrison a brevet commission of major general in the Ken- tucky militia, with express authority to take command of the gallant troops, about to march to the frontier. This was a bold and unprecedented measure, but one that gave unbounded satis- faction to both soldiers and citizens, and one fully warranted by the peculiar exigencies of the case. These facts speak volumes in favor of the remarkable popularity, which Governor Harrison 17 enjoyed in a population of brave and chivalric people, boasting an unusual proportion of talented and distinguished men. About this time, the cowardice and imbecility of General Hull, tamely surrendered to the British the important post of Detroit, with the gallant force which composed its garrison. This event spread consternation, far and wide, through the western country, and greatly increased the difficulty and arduous nature of Gov- ernor Harrison's duties. He immediately organized the brave troops under his command, and commenced a course of rigid discipline and military training; with the confident hope of re- trieving the disasters consequent upon the cowardly surrender of Detroit. Soon after, he was appointed a brigadier-general in the service of the United States. But, as the chief command of the western army was conferred on General Winchester, Harrison declined accepting the commission tendered him, and gave up his com- mand, to return to Indiana and resume the duties of his territorial government. General Winchester, who had thus superseded Governor Har- rison, was an old revolutionary soldier, and a brave and merito- rious officer ; but one who was not, like Harrison, possessed of the enthusiastic confidence of the army. Governor Harrison ex- erted every effort in his power to reconcile the troops to this change. But soon after he left them, their displeasure at having been deprived of their favorite commander, was not confined to murmurs, but created disaffection, and almost mutiny. No sooner was the President made aware of the condition of the army, and of the almost unanimous wishes of the western people, than he immediately appointed Harrison, in place of Winchester, commander-in-chief of the north-western army. — The despatch conveying this appointment, overtook him on his way to Indiana, and he returned without delay to the army, and was reinstated in his command. The powers conferred on Harrison, as commander-in-chief of the north-western army, were of great extent, and he was left to exercise them according to his own unrestricted judgment. In the despatch containing this appointment, dated September ITth, 1812, the Secretary of War says :— "You will command such means as may be practicable —exercise your own discretion, and 3 act in all cases according to your own judgment" — tJins co"r>- ferring upon him extraordinary and almost unlimited powersv We refer to this, merely that we may here notice the remarkable fact, that though vested with unusual powers. General Harrison was never known, during the whole of his command, to exer- cise his authority in an unjust or oppressive manner. His mea- sures were energetic, but always qualified by his characteristic moderation and humanity, and by a regard for the feelings of even the meanest soldier in his camp. The duties that devolved on General Harrison, in his new sta- tion, were arduous beyond description. The troops under his command, though brave, were mostly inexperienced and undis- ciplined recruits j and the army was badly equipped, and nearly destitute of baggage and military stores. With these limited means, and under these unfavorable circumstances, he was requi- red to defend an immense extent of frontier, stretchinsf alona: the shores of the great northern lakes, whose numerous harbors and rivers were easy of access to the enemy. In addition to this, the roads leading to those points which most required defence, were nearly impassable, and lay, for hundreds of miles, through a wil- derness swarming with hostile Indians^ and through gloomy and dangerous swamps, where the troops, though little encum- bered with baggage, could advance but slowly, and with great fatigue. Under all these difficulties, the spirits of the soldiers were sustained by the presence and example of their favorite commander — who animated them in their fatigues, and cheerfully endured the same hardships and privations which they encoun- tered. The autumn and early part of the winter were spent in active and laborious preparations for the approaching summer campaign — roads were cut, depots formed, forts built, and a few expeditions were sent out to protect our outposts, and keep the enemy in check. One of these expeditions, consisting of a detachment of six hundred men, under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, was sent by General Harrison against a fortified Indian village, from which our troops had suffered much annoyance. This enterprise was conducted witli great skill and success. The village was attacked m the most gallant manner, and after a desperate action of more than an hour, was carried at the point of the bayonet. From the 19 general order issued by Harrison, on the return o^ this expedition, we malie the following extract, which will convey some idea of the humane and generous feelings, that have always characterized both his public and private conduct. After awarding these gal- lant troops the high meed of praise which their bravery had won, he goes on to say, — "But the character of this gallant detach- ment, exhibiting as it did, perseverence, fortitude and bravery, would, however, be incomplete, if, in the midst of victory they had forgotton the feelings of humanity. It is with the sincerest pleasure that the General has heard, that the most punctual obe- dience was paid to his orders, in not only saving all the women and children, but in sparing all the warriors who ceased to resist • and that even when vigorously attacked by the enemy, the claims of mercy prevailed over every sense of their own danger, and this heroic band respected the lives of their prisoners. Let an account of murdered innocence be opened in the records of hea- ven against our enemies alone. The American soldier will fol. low the example of his government ; and the sword of the one will not be raised against the fallen and helpless, nor the gold of the other be paid for the scalps of a massacred enemy." What a contrast do these noble sentiments present to the atrocious con- duct of the British General, Proctor — who, at the cruel massacre at Raisin River, and elsewhere, basely permitted unresistino- pri- soners of war to be butchered, by his savage allies, in cold blood. Late in the season the army went into winter quarters at their stongly fortified position on the banks of the Miami, near the rapids, which was called Camp Meigs, in honor of the patriotic governor of Ohio. Leaving the army at the station, General Har- rison proceeded lo Cincinnati, to procure reinforcements of men, and supplies of provisions and military stores, for the approach- ing campaign. But early in the spring, intelligence was received that the British were making extensive preparations, and concen- trating a large force of regular soldiers, Canadians, and Indians, to beseige Fort Meigs. On obtaining this information, General Harrison hastened to his camp, and exerted the most strenuous efforts, to prepare for this threatened attack of the enemy. His presence cheered the troops, and he inspired them vv^ith fresh ardor, on the approach of the enemy, by an eloquent address, in which he alluded modestly, but in the most animated mc^nner, to 20 the neighboring battle-field, where General Wayne had gained the brilliant victory of the Miami, and where he himself had won the brightest of his early laurels. On the 28th of April, 1813, the scouts brought in intelligence of the arrival of the enemy. On the same day, a strong force of British and Indians ascended the river in boats, and disembarked, pardy on the south-eastern shore; and partly on the opposite side of the river. Here they immediately commenced the construc- tion of three powerful batteries. Corresponding traverses! were made within the Fort, and every approach of the enemy was met and foiled, with consummate skill and bravery. On the first of May, the batteries of the enemy being completed, they opened a heavy cannonading, which was returned with equal vigor from the Fort. This cannonading was continued without intermission for five days; but owing to the skilful dispo- sitions of General Harrison, it was attended with very little loss on our side. On the fifth of May, a gallant reinforcement of Kentuckians, under General Clay, fought their way to the camp; and Harrison, availing himself of this fortunate occurrence, promptly ordered a sortie to be made from the Fort to destroy the batteries of the enemy. The detachment ordered to this service, consisted of three hundred and fifty men, a part of whom were regulars, and the remainder volunteers and Kentucky militia, under the com- mand of Colonel Miller, of the United States army. These brave troops attacked a body of British regulars and Indians of more than double their number; but the impetuosity of their charge was irresistable, and after a severe struggle, they drove the enemy from the batteries. They spiked the cannon, took a large number of prisoners, and having fully accomplished their object, returned in triumph to the Fort. This sortie was one of the most sanguinary and desperate actions fought during the whole war — and its brilliant success was richly merited, by the intrepid gallantry of the brave troops engaged in it. Another attack had, in the mean time, been made upon the British batteries on the opposite side of the river. The enemy were taken by surprise, and their batteries carried with great ease, but the result proved'unfortunate. The detachment ordered to 21 tliis service had received instructions from General Harrison, to return to the Fort as soon as they had accomphshed the object of the enterprise — but unhappily, the new and inexperienced, though' brave' troops, that composed this detachment, instead of obeying their orders, imprudently lingered till they were en- tirely surrounded by the enemy ; and many of them were cut to pieces, without the possibility of lending them any aid from the Fort. Had the commands of their general been obeyed, this mis- fortune could not have occurred, and the day would have been one of unclouded success and triumph. Thwarted by the skilful dispositions of Harrison, and by the battle, or rather succession of battles, fought on the fifth, Proctor was compelled to abandon the siege of Fort Meigs — and on the eighth of May, he broke up his camp, and retreated in disappoint- ment and disjrrace. Thus terminated the glorious defence of Fort Meigs. Har- rison, soon after, left General Clay in command of that important post, and, unwearied in his exertions, proceeded to more difficult and arduous duties, at other exposed stations. The unceasing efforts of the British, and the restless spirit of Tecumthe, allowed our troops but little time to recover from their severe fatigues. In less than two months after the seige of Fort Meigs had been abandoned, the Indians assembled a formidable body of more than five thousand warriors, under their most noted chiefs, and again threatened an attack on that fortress. On re- ceiving this intelligence. General Harrison, with a small body of regulars, hastened to Fort Meigs, by forced marches, and fortu- nately arrived there before the enemy. Leaving a reinforcement with General Clay, he returned without delay to his more active duties. During the whole of this interesting campaign, the vigilance and the intrepidity of General Harrison, with the bravery of his soldiers, enabled him to keep a far superior force of the enemy in check, and protect the wide extent of our exposed frontier. Our forts were ably defended, and our troops gallantly repelled every attack of the enemy, except in some few instances, where they were assailed by an overwhelming force. At about the period when the enemy invested Fort Meigs for the second time, they made a desperate attack on Fort Stephen- §2 son, a temporary depot at Lower Sandusky, wliich was bravely and successfully defended by Major Cro2:han, of the regular ser- vice. We particularly mention this event in the campaign, as a noble action worthy of note, and because we wish to advert to the illiberal and unjust remarks, which have been made by some of General Harrison's political enemies, in relation to the defence of this fort, and the subsequent measures of the commander-in- chief. At the date of this attack on Fort Stephenson, the enemy had nearly seven thousand men in the field — two thousand of whom were British regulars and Canadians, and the remainder were warriors of the fiercest Indian tribes. The army under General Harrison was greatly inferior in numbers, and it became his duty, as a skilful commander, to withdraw his unimportant outposts, to avoid risking unnecessarily the loss of a single sol- dier, and to enable him, by concentrating his forces, to hold the enemy in check at least, if he should not prove strong enough to give him battle. Fort Stephenson was a temporary and unim- portant station, and so commanded by the high ground in its neighborhood, as to be utterly indefensible against heavy artille- ry — and such, from their command of the lake, the British could easily transport to its attack. Fully aware of this, from having reconnoitered the ground in person, General Harrison, on learn- ing that this station was about to be assailed, thought proper to withdraw the garrison. He accordingly despatched an order to Major Croghan, directing him to abandon Fort Stephenson, and repair, if practicable, to Head (Quarters — which were then at Sen- eca town, nine miles further up the river. This order was not received by Major Croghan until the following day — when flying parties of Indians had become so numerous round the Fort, that, as Croghan himself stated, it was too late to carry the order into execution, and he decided on maintaining the place. In conse- quence of this disobedience of orders. Colonel Wells was imme- diately sent, with a strong escort of cavalry, to take command of Fort Stephenson, and Croghan was ordered to repair forthwith to Head Quarters. But on his arrival there, he made such satis- factory explanations to the commander-in-chief, of the situation of the Fort, and of his own respectful intentions, that General Harrison at once re-instated him in his command. He returned to his duties the following morning, and on the same day, .July 23 31st, this station was invested by a force of thirteen hundred Brit- ish regulars and Indians, They attacked tlie Fort witli great vigor, and repeatedly attempted to take it by assault — bat they were each time defeated, and were at length forced to abandon their attempt, and retreat in confusion, having lost, in killed and wounded, nearly as many as the entire number of the gallant spirits who defended the Fort. This defence of a position wliich General Harrison had order- ed to be abandoned, and the fact of his not having immediately advanced upon the enemy, were siezed upon, with avidity, by the ignorant and malicious among his political opponents, who in- dustriously circulated the falsest statements and most perverted misrepresentations, relative to these occurrences. But fortunately, the plain truth soon became so well known, that General Harri- son's fair fame suffered no injury from these unfounded calum- nies. So many gallant ofhcers, as well as honorable and high- minded men bore witness, of their own accord, to the military wisdom of his measures, that the stigma, with which his calum- niators had endeavored to darken his unsullied reputation, only rebounded, to add a still deeper stain to their own. We lay before our readers the following short extracts from an address to the public, relative to this affair, which was volunta- rily published by the general, field, and staff officers of General Harrison's army. After expressing their "regret and surprise, that charges as improper in form as in substance, should have been made against Gen. Harrison during the recent investment of Lower Sandusky ;" they go on to say : — "He who believes that with our disposable force, and under the circumstances which then occur- red. General Harrison ought to have advanced upon the enemy, must be left to correct his opinion in the school of experience, "On a review of the course then adopted, we are decidedly of the opinion, that it was such as was dictated by military wisdom, and by a due regard to our circumstanstances and to the situa- tion of the enemy. * * * * And with a ready acquiescence, be- yond the mere claims of military duty, we are prepared to obey a general, whose measures meet our most deliberate approbation, and merit that of his country." The chivalrous and noble-spirited Croghan, who was one of the signers of the above address, about the same time published 24 another paper on this subject, dated from Lower Sandusky, in which he says : — "I have with much regret seen in some of the public prints such misrepresentations respecting my refusal to evacuate this post, as are calculated not only to injure me in the estimation of military men, but also to excitejm favorable impres- sions as to the propriety of General Harrison's conduct relative to this affair. "His character as a military man is too well established to need my approbation or support. But his public service entitles him at least to common justice. This affair does not furnish cause of reproach. If public opinion has been lately misled respecting his late conduct, it will require but a moment's cool, dispassionate re- flection, to convince them of its propriety. The measures re- cently adojyted by him, so far from deserving censure, are the clearest proofs of his keen penetration, and able generalship J^ We have dwelt on this passage in the life of General Harrison? somewhat longer than is consistent with the brevity of this sketch ; but the political opponents of General Harrison can find so few points in his whole life, that afford them the slightest apology for censure, that they have been driven to pervert and misrepresent an affair of so simple a nature as this, and one that, in truth, enti- tled him, as the gallant Croghan justly says, to the highest com- mendation. We have therefore thought it no more than common justice to him and to our readers, to lay before them this plain ex- position of facts. The wisest and best actions are often misunder- stood or perverted by the ignorant or the malicious. We trust and believe that the former constitute the larger portion of those who have sought to shadow the fair fame of General Harrison ; but while mean and sordid spirits exist, envy and detraction will al- ways pursue exalted merit. Even Washington, the Father of our country, was intrigued against and calumniated. Disappointed in their hopes of plunder, and dispirited by the numerous defeats they had sustained, the savage allies of the British had become discontented ; the second siege of Fort Meigs had been abandoned, and gradually the enemy entirely withdrew from our territory, and concentrated their forces at Maiden, their principal stronghold in Upper Canada. It will thus be seen, that the skill with which General Harrison had conducted his defen- sive operations, the only resource left him in the face of a supe- 25 rior foe, had been eminently successful ; and had not only pro- tected our widely extended frontier, but had eventually forced the enemy to retire, mortified and humbled by defeat, from our country. The activity and enterprise of General Harrison did not long permit the enemy to rest, after their retreat from our territory. He immediately commenced preparations for carrying the war into their own country, aud formed his plan for the capture of Maiden, and the conquest of Upper Canada. Commodore Perry had been instructed to co-operate with Gen. oral Harrison, with the fleet under his command, and by a happy coincidence, that gallant hero gained his glorious victory on Lake Erie, and captured the entire squadron of the enemy, just about the time when General Harrison had matured his plans for the invasion of Canada. On the 27th of September, the troops embarked at Sandusky Bay, and advanced towards Maiden, expecting to find the British and Indians encamped there in full force. But upon landing on the Canada shore, they found that Proctor, disheartened by his recent defeats, had abandoned that stronghold, after having des- troyed the fort and navy-yard ; and had retreated with his regu- lars and savage allies to Sandwich. Our army encamped at Mai- den, and the patriotic troops could not restrain their exultation, on having gained possession of the fortress from which had is- sued, for years past, those ruthless bands of savages, which had swept over our extended frontier, like the wing of the destroying angel, leaving death and destruction only in their path. Our army advanced rapidly in pursuit of the enemy, and over- took them on the 5th of October, at a place which is destined to be remembered, as the battle ground of one of the most remark- able and decisive actions fought during the war. General Proctor, having had his choice of ground, occupied a strong position, flanked on the left by the river Thames, and on the right by a swamp, beyond which were posted tv,^o thousand Indians, under Tecumthe. But Proctor committed an irretrieva- ble error, in placing his regular soldiers in open order, and ex- tending his line by placing the files at a distance of three or four feet from each other. The American army advanced in order of battle, and when in 4 26 the immediate neighborhood of the enemy, the reconnoiterkig parties brought in intelligence of the dispositions Proctor had made. Harrison, with the rapid decision of an able general, in- sStantly availed himself of the error of his opponent, and ordered Colonel Johnson to charge the enemy's line in column, with liis regiment of mounted Kentuckians. The extended and weakened line of the enemy could offer but a feeble resistance to the charge of these gallant troops; who dashed through their ranks with overwhelming impetuosity, and formed and attacked them in the rear. Panic struck by this bold and unexpected manoeuvre, and at being assailed both in front and rear, the British threw down, their arms in dismay, and the whole army was captured, with the exception of a few who escaped by an early flight with Proctor. The Indians attacked our troops on the left, and fought with, great fierceness and daring, until their renowned chief Tecumthe was slain, as is supposed, by Colonel Johnson, when they fied from the contest. This decisive and important battle was thus fought and won^ in a space of time almost incredibly short, and with a very trifling loss only on our side. All the baggage of the enemy, and their valuable military stores, together with the official papers of Proc- tor, fell into our hands ; and several pieces of brass cannon ^ which had been taken from the British in our revolutionary vic- tories, but which Hull had shamefiilly surrendered at Detroit, were ao'ain captured from our ancient foe. The united force of ihe British rea:ulars and Indians enraged in this battle, amounted to more than 2S00 — the number of our troops was less than 2500 — and those were principally militia and volunteers. The venerable Governor Shelby commanded the Kentucky volunteers in this battle, and General Cass, the late secretary of war, and the heroic Perry, acted as volunteer aids to General Harrison. This brilliant victory, following up the cap- tare of their fleet on Lake Erie by the gallant Perry, entirely des- troyed the force of the enemy in Upper Canada, and put an end to the war on our north-western frontier. On receiving the news of this glorious event, the thanks of Congress were expressed to General Harrison in the warmest manner. Among many others, whose grateful feelings found ut- terance on this occasion, the Hon. Langdon Chevcs observed, on 27 the floor of Concrress, that— "The victory of Harrison was such as would have secured to a Roman general, in the best days of the Republic, the honors of a triumph." A sentiment which was fully responded to, in the complimentaiy notices which he receiv- ed from every part of the Union. Having entirely defeated the enemy in Upper Canada, General Harrison advanced with a part of his army to the Niagara fron- tier, and thence to Sackett's Harbor, where he left the troops, and proceeded to the seat of government. On his way tlhther, he passed through New York and Philadelphia ; in which cities he received the most flattering marks of public honor and distinction. After the necessary delay of a few da^rs at Washington, General Harrison proceeded to Ohio, where important duties required his presence. In the plan for the ensuing campaign, to the surprise and regret of the public, General Harrison was designated for a service, far inferior to that which he had aright to expect. Regardless of the memorable victori£s which this gallant and experienced officer had won, and unmindful of the various and important services which he had rendered to his country, the Secretary of War saw fit to assign to him the command of a district where he would be compelled to remain inactive, while others were appointed to those more arduous duties, which he had heretofore fulfilled with so much honor to himself, and to the -nation. As if still unsat- isfied with this egregious insult which he had offered to General Harrison, the Secretary of war. on the 25th of April, 1814, ap- pointed a subordinate officer to a separate command within his district, and notified him to that elfect. On the receipt of this no- tification. General Harrison instantly addressed a letter to the Secretary, tendering his resignation, with a notification thereof to the President. "As soon a? Governor Shelby heard of the re. signation of General Harrison, he lost no time in addressing the President in his usual forcible terms, to prevent his acceptance of it ; but unfortunately for the public interests, the President was then on a visit to Virginia, to which place the letters from General Harrison and Governor Shelby were forwarded, and that of the latter was not received until after Secretary'" Armstrong, withont the jprevious consent of the President had assumed to himself the high prerogative of accepting the resignation. The President express 28 ed his great regret that the letter of Governor Shelby had not been received eadier, as in that case the vahiable services of General Harrison would have been preserved to the nation in the ' ensuing campaign."* In this resignation, General Harrison evinced the true patriot- ism and disinterestedness, which have always marked his conduct. He would cheerfully have devoted his services to his country, even in an appointment inferior to that which should have been assigned to him — but he was. too high principled to retain his rank, by yielding his assent to a measure, which he considered to be subversive of military order and discipline ; and though his own fortune had been shattered by the neglect of his private affairs, for the benefit of the public, yet he scorned to receive the pay and emoluments of his office, when he was no longer per- mitted to perform its duties actively and honorably. It would be difficult, at this period, to trace out tlie true mo- tives that induced the secretary of war to the unjustifiable course he pursued in this affair. But some knowledge of those events of the war in which he bore a part, with a little insight into human nature, would suggest that the leading causes which prompted him, were the envy and jealousy which a narrow-minded man would naturally feel, on contrasting his own feeble efforts and abortive attempts, with the consummate skill, the brilliant victo- ries, and the almost uniform successes of another. That he had acted in an arbitrary and unwarrantable manner, was afterwards clearly proved. — And in the investigation which took place in Congress in the winter of 1816-17, it became so evident that General Harrison had been treated with great injustice by the war department, that a resolution giving him a gold medal and the thanks of Congress, was passed, with but one dissenting voice in both houses of Congress. The leading events in the campaigns of 1812-13 — ^the gallant defence of Fort Meigs, and the decisive victory of the Thames, are lasting memorials of General Harrison's military genius. Yet, for these isolated actions, he deserves far less praise than for the skilful operations and the Fabian policy, which led to these and other successes. The prudent care and indefatigable exer- tions, by which he provided for 'his army in a wild and devasta- *DaAV3oh. ■ 29 ted country — the promptness and unwearied activity with which he met and defeated the scliemes of his antagonists — and the ad- mirable sldll with which lie held in check an enemy far superior in numbers, and with a small force protected an extended line of frontier, and guarded the lives and properties of thousands of his fellow citizens, betoken a genius of the highest order, with a vigorous mind constantly on the alert. Soon after his resignation, in the summer of 1814, Mr. Madi- son evinced his unabated confidence in the abilities and integrity of General Harrison, by appointing him to treat vnth the Indians, in conjunction with his old companions in arms, Governor Shel- by and General Cass. And in the following year, he was placed at the head of another commission, appointed to treat with the north-western tribes. The advantageous treaties made in both these cases, afforded new instances of the unfailins" sue- cess, that has always attended General Harrisons negotiations with the Indians. In 1816 he was elected, by a large majority, a member of the House of Representatives, in Congress, from Ohio. In this sta- tion he served, greatly to his own honor, and to the satisfaction of his constituents, until 1819 ; when, on the expiration of his term of service, he was chosen to the Senate of the State Legislature. In 1824, he was elected a Senator of the United States, from Ohio. "While serving in this high station, he commanded uni- versal respect. His views as a statesman were liberal and ex- tended, — -his remarkable readiness in debate soon rendered him a prominent member, — and the nervous and impassioned eloquence, and classical felicity of illustration with which he enforced his arguments, gamed liim much iniiuence. In 1828, he was appointed by Mr. Adams, Envoy Extraordi- nary, and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Colombia. He accepted this appointment, and repaired, without delay, to the scene of liis duties, where he was received with every demon- stration of respect. He found this unhappy country in a deplo- rable condition — the people ignorant of their rights, and almost in a state of anarchy, and Bolivar apparently about to assume the despotic power of a military dictator. Shocked at this state of things, with the frankness of an old soldier, he wrote his celebrated let- ter to Bolix'ar, from which, as we have not space enough for the 30 whole letter, we take the liberty of quoting the following ex- tracts — "I contend," said General Harrison, "that the strongest of all governments is that which is most free. We consider that of the United States as the strongest, precisely because it is the most free. It possesses the faculties, equally to protect itself from for- eign force or internal convulsion. In both it has been sufficiently tried. In no country on earth would an armed opposition to the laws be sooner or more effectually put down. Not so much from the terrors of the guillotine and the gibbet, as from the aroused determination of the nation, exhibiting their strength, and convincing the factious that their cause was hopeless. "In bestowing the palm of merit, the world has become wiser than formerly. The successful warrior is no longer regarded as entitled to the first place in the temple of fame. Talents of this kind have become too common, and too often used for mischiev- ous purposes, to be regarded as they once were. In this enlight- ened age the mere hero of the field, and the successful leader of armies, may, for the moment, attract attention. But it will be such as is bestowed on'the passing meteor, whose blaze is no longer re- membered, when it is no longer seen. To be esteemed eminently great, it is necessary to be eminently good. The qualities of the hero and the general must be devoted to the advantage of man- kind, before he will be permitted to assume the title of their bene- factor ; and the station which he will hold in their regard and af- fections will depend, not upon the number and splendor of his victories, but upon the results and the use he may make of the in- fluence he acquires from them." " If the fame of our Washington depended on his military achievements, would the common consent of the world allow him the pre-eminence he possesses ? The victories at Trenton, Monmouth and York, brilliant as they were, exhibiting, as they certainly did the highest grade of military talents, are scarcely thought of. The source of the veneration and esteem which is entertained for his character, by every description of politicians, the monarchist and aristocrat, as well as the republican, is to be found in his undeviating and exclusive devotedness to the inter- est of his country. No selfish consideration was ever suffered to intrude itself into his mind. For his country he conquered; ^d the unrivalled and increasing prosperity of that country is constantly adding fresh glory to his name."' 81 We regret* that our limits will not permit us to insert the whole of this vigorous and beautiful production. But the few pas- sages we have quoted, contain a fair specimen of the noble senti- ments which characterize this letter, and give evidence of the pure republican principles which have ever distinguished this eminent statesman. General Harrison remained in Colombia but a short time^ Since his return from this mission, he has lived in compara- tive retirement, in Ohio, the state of his adoption. With the most enticing opportunities of accumulating wealth, during hi& long government of Indiana, and superintendency of Indian affairs, he acquired none ; his honest and scrupulous integrity- was proof against the golden temptations. His time and best enero;ies were devoted to the service of his country, and his own interests were ever, with him, a secondary consideration. He therefore retired without the spoils of office, and with only a competency barely sufficient for his support ; but rich in reputa- tion, undimmed by a single tarnish, and in the honor and respect of all his fellow citizens. General Harrison is now sixty-seven years of age ; but such have been the activity and temperate habits of his past life, that he enjoys his moral and physical energies in remarkable vigor. In person he is tall and thin ; his features are irregular, but his eyes are dark, keen, and penetrating ; his forehead is expansive ; his mouth peculiarly indicative of firmness and genius ; and his countenance is highly expressive of intelligence and benevo- lence. His manners are plain, frank and unassuming, and his disposition is cheerful, kind and generous, almost to a fault. In his private intercourse, he is beloved and esteemed by all who know him. In the various civil and military offices he has held, he has always been moderate and forbearing, yet firm and true to his trust. No other commander has ever been more popular with our militia, and the true secret of this cannot be better explained than by liis own reply, when asked how he had gained this in- fluence : "By treating them," said he, "with affection and kind- ness; by always recollecting that they were my fellow-citizens, whose feelings I was bound to respect; and by sharing with them, on every occasion, the hardships which they were obliged to un- dergo." 32 In the republican institutions of our country, birth and parent- age are comparatively of very little importance; and no candid- ate for public favor can found thereon the slightest claim to the respect or the support of his fellow-citizens. We have happily shaken off the thralling' prejudices of the old world, and a title to office and honorable distinction is not with us hereditary; but every man must earn his own good name, and his claim on the favor of the people, by his own good deeds. Yet, aware, as every one must be, of the povx^erful influence of early education, it is worthy of remark, as well ais. gratifying to know, that a can- didate for public office, in whom we feel an interest, passed all the early years of his life with the- brightest examples constantly before him; and under the parental tuition of one of those illus- trious patriots, whose memory is revered by every true-hearted American. It is pleasing to know, that his first political senti- ments were imbibed in a school of the purest republican princi- ples. And when we trace up the career of this individual, from the spring-time of his youth, to the summer of his manhood and to the early autumn of his years; and see those principles closely adhered to throughout, we can scarcely resist the conviction, that his future course will be consistent with the past; and that, with matured abilities, he will be still more conspicuous for his repub- lican principles, his moderation in office, his firm integrity, and his extended and enlightened views as a statesman. Such were the early advantages of William Henry Harrison; such has been his course thus far through life; and such is now the bright prom- ise, to a realization of which we may safely look forward, should the people see fit to place him in office. The friends of General Harrison found no claim on his milita- ry services. His own sentiments on this subject we have already quoted; and his friends would scorn, as much as he would, any attempt to dazzle a single one of his fellow-citizens by the glory of his military renown, brilliant though it be. They would point rather to his numerous civil services, in the forty years he has devoted to his countiy; to the vjirious and important offices he has so ably filled— in the territorial governments, in the Legisla- ture of his own state, and in the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States ; and to the high order of abilities displayed in his speeches in Congress, in his public acts, and in 33 his voluminous public correspondence. And we here take oc- casion to say, that all his letters and public papers have been exclusively written by himself; and that so far from his having called in the mental aid of another, to prepare his messages and despatches, as some of our distinguished men have condescended to do, he has never even employed an amanuensis, to perform the manual labor of his correspondence. His ruling principles through life, appear to have been, an ardent love for his country, and an earnest desire to serve her best interests; with a devotion to the pure republican maxims of the Revolution, always unwa- vering and consistent : unlike the scheming politicians of a more modern school, whose own interest is the polar star that guides them, whatever may betide their country. With tried patriotism, with abilities of the highest order, with integrity pure as the unsullied .^now, and with the truest repub- lican principles, William Henry Harrison is now before his fellow citizens, as a candidate for the highest office in their gift. In the long course of his public life, he has always been a staunch advo- cate of popular rights, and is therefore truly the candidate of the people. He comes before them, not with a crowd of pampered and still-grasping officials to intrigue and bribe for him, but with the noble frankness of an honorable and hisfh-minded man, willinir and desirous to be judged impartially by his fellow-citizens, and ready to abide by their honest decision. APPENDIX. GENERAL HARRISON AND ABOLITION. General Harrison's views on the subject of abolition are either misunderstood or wilfully misrepresented. — No man is clearer or more decided on this subject than General Harrison. For the South^ no man's views are more sound — no man is more worthy of the confidence of the South on this score. He is fully committed on the subject of abolition ; and as much could not be said of Van Buren before he was elected. His speech at Vincennes, Indiana, delivered before the last Presidential canvass, gives the lie to all these gross attacks that are made upon him. That speech ought to be perfectly satisfactory to the South. It was dehvered to citizens of a non-slave holding State, which is certainly a high evidence of General Harrison's bold- ness and sincerity on this subject. Had he desired to conceal his opinions on the subject of abolition, surely it would have been politic to have done so in the latitude of Indiana, if any where. But he concealed nothing — he spoke I'reely and openly, on an occasion and in a place, in which nothing but a conviction of the right- eousness of principle, and a desire to vindicate it, in jus- tice to the South, demanded such a speech. He lias left no room for even suspicion as to his position on this subject. In proof of what we say, we beg leave to call the ATTENTION OF THE SoUTII tO the following 36 EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS Delivered hy General Harrison^ at Vincennes^ Indiana. I have now, fellow-citizens, a few words more to say on another subject, and which is, in my opinion, of more importance than any other that is now in the course of discussion in any part of the Union. I allude to the societies which have been formed, and the movements of certain individuals in some of the States in relation to a portion of the population in others. The conduct of these persons is the more dangerous, because their ob- ject is masked under the garb of disinterestedness and benevolence ; and their course vindicated by arguments and propositions, which, in the abstract, no one can deny. But, however fascinating may be the dress with which their schemes are presented to their fellow citi- zens, with whatever purity of intention they may have been formed and sustained, they will be found to carry in their train mischief to the whole Union, and horrors to a large portion of it, which it is probable some of the projectors and many of their supporters have never thought of; the latter, the first in a series of evils which are to spring from their source, are such as you have read of to have been perpetrated on the fair plains of Italy and Gaul, by the Scythian hordes of Attila and Alaric ; and such as most of you apprehended upon that memorable night, when the tomahawks and v/ar-clubs of the followers of Tecumthe were rattling in your sub- urbs. I regard not the disavowal of any such intention upon the part of the authors of these schemes, since upon the examination of the pubhcations which have been made, they Avill be found to contain every fact and every argument which would have been used, if such had been tlieir object. I am certain that there is not in this assembly one of these deluded men, and that there are few within the bounds of the State. If there are any, I would earnestly entreat them to forbear; to pause in their career, and deliberately consider the conse- (juences of their conduct, to the whole Union, to the 37 States more immediately interested, and to those for whose benefit they profess to act. That the latter will be the victims of the weak, injudicious, presumptuous and unconstitutional efforts to serve them, a thorough examination of the subject must convince them. The struggle (and struggle there must be) may commence with horrors such as I have described, but it will end with more firmly riveting the chains, or in the utter ex- tirpation of those whose cause they advocate. Am I wrong, fellow-citizens, in applying the terms weak, presumptuous, and unconstitutional, to the mea- sures of the emancipators ? A slight examination will, I think, show that I am not. In a vindication of the obiects of a convention which was lately held in one of the towns of Ohio, which I saw in a newspaper, it was said that nothing more was intended than to produce a state of public feeling which would lead to an amend- ment of the Constitution, authorizing the abolition of slavery in the United States. Now can an amendment of the Constitution be effected without the consent of the Southern States ? What then is the proposition to be submitted to them ? It is this : — "The present pro- visions of the Constitution secures to you the right (a right which you held before it was made, and which you had never given up,) to manage your domestic con- cerns in your own w£iy, but as we are convinced that you do not manage them properly, we want you to put in the hands of the General Government, in the councils of which we have the majority, the control over these matters, the efiect of which will be virtually to transfer the power from yours into our hands." Again, in some of the States, and in sections of others, the black popu- lation far exceeds that of the white. — Some of the emancipators propose an immediate abolition. What is the proposition then, as it regards these States, and parts of States, but the alternatives of amalgamation with the blacks, or an exchange of situations with them ? Is there any man of common sense who does not believe that the emancipated blacks, being a majority, will not insist upon a full participation of political rights with the 38 whites ; and when possessed of these, tliat they will not contend for a full share of social rights ! What but the extremity of weakness and folly could induce any one to think that such propositions as these could be listened to by a people so intelligent as those of the Southern States? Further — the emancipators gene- rally declare that it is their intention to effect their ob- ject (although their acts contradict the assertion,) by no other means than by convincing the slaveholders that the immediate emancipation of the slaves is called for, both by moral obligations and sound policy. An un- fledged youth, at the moment of his leaving (indeed in many instances before he has left it,) his Theological Seminary, undertakes to give lectures upon morals to the countrymen of Wythe, Tucker, Pendleton and Lowndes, and lessons of political wisdom to States, whose affairs have so recently been directed by Jeffer- son and Madison, Macon and Crawford. Is it possible that instances of greater vanity and presumption could be exhibited ? But the course pursued by the emancipators is un- constitutional. I do not say that there are words in the Constitution which forbid the discussions they are en .V . I ' ♦ *« . . <» f4> .^^ , ' '^^^^' V ..*' .<* "C> 'o • » o V .0 .^" 0-0 ^<- ,'?!. • • ' * °- c» » • • '. "^ ,^- ^#>^'*»To' V <^ ^o « » ■« •' .0' '^r' .<■ .^\. ^ 'V, ^'^' ^^/% 1^* • ■ ^^ ^^ .A ^"^ .!^' *•»' <^ .V ^* 0^ '••^>^ *b .0 . '^ "-.%l^. » • • ' , '^ a; ■J .4^ y<^'.r??^- ^^- r-^