Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-10-19
SPEECH OF GENERAL HARRISON,
Delivered ut Che Pubic Dinner gicea Kim in .nadison,
(In on The 24Sh If .4sgAst, 1880.

Delivered ut Che Pubic Dinner gcea Him in .nadison,
Ga on The 24ah IF .4sgAst, 1880.
General Harrison said that it was related Of the
great Napoleon, that being on certain occasion
(perhaps in the retreat from Moscow in very immi
Ifent danger in the passage of dcle, his soldiers
formed square, and placing him in the CENTRE con-
veyed him through in safety, the music PLAYING a
tune designated, 'When can man be SO happy us
when surrounded by his family Without arroga-
ting to myself, said gen. H. the great qualities which
gnined for that wonderful man the affections of all
who approached him, may be permitted to say that
the feelings with which inspired by the present
scene must be similar to those which he experien
ced on the occasion to which have alluded. It can
mt be considered strange that, after having been for
10 years rhe governor OF Indiana after having spent
so many of my best days in her service in the field as
well as in her civil administration; after having in
some degree, been instrumental in raising her from
the state of feeble colony to her present high rank
in the union; amy above all, after the many ranfes
tasions OF regard and partality which have receiv
ed from her citizens upon every occasion and under
all circumstances tha Ishould consider myself when
surrounded by them, in the midst eff s,y family Yes
fellow citizens. it is from your award repeatedly made
TINT l claim, this high, this enviable distinctions
Great as it is, however. will say that havenot
in part deservedit it, far least good intentions
and the greatest devotion your interests could give
mo the claim. Upon my first appointment to the
government of your territory, the whole of its mar
en- washed by the noble in our view, with q
most trding exception at the rapids was one vast
solitary. uninterrupted wilderness. It's lnxuriant
SOIL destined by the great Creator give support to
thousands OF intelligent and happy beings, was nm.
broken by single furrow. To do SO, to trespass
upon the rights of its savage owners was forbidden
and punishable by our laws The white population
Confined To the narrow spot which hnve mentioned
and one not extensive Vincennes was unable ia
expand itself, receive an accession of strenrth
from emigration. There are many persons now resi-
dent IN the state who know the unceasinr eSertious
made to eXtnguish the Indian title and promote the
settlement of the country; and the obstacles by
which was opposed, were much greater than we're
generally known ALL however, know that the pur :
chase of one section ofcountry, although fairly made
OF the triocs which possessed the exclusive titles
had produced fierce and tedious opposition upon
the part of others, which only terminated by a
contest resulting indeed victory US, but in VIC
tory ootaued by a profusion of most precious
blood In relation TO the purchase of this particular
district, it is perhaps not known to any of the pre-
sent company, that it made without any nstruc-
ttoDs from the government-upon my own RESPONSE
bty and that was the sole negotIator in thirteen
treaties FOR the cXtngushment of the Indian title in
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, previously to the late
war BY anticipating the instructions of the rov.
eminent III the instance have mentioned the settle
ent of this part of the STAT" and your own fair town
was commenced several years before it would other
wise have been.
In reference tony political course which has been
IGNORED by your appreciation. permit me TO say tina,
my opinions have undergone no change Indeed,
further rcilsctou and the opportunity have had of
observing the deplorab situation of other countries
which have not adopted the principles for which we
have so long and strenuousy contended in the
councils of the nation have confirmed me in tho no
cessity of adhering TO them. Colombia the country
IN which have lately for short time resided like
her former sister colonies rich in the possession
OF the precious metals at the close of the reyoln
ton, vast boards of gold and silver yero in the nos
session of her citizens Her mines of the former
were, and still continue be productive but the
eternal demands upon these to supply the deficiency
OF foreign commerce With nation which recipro-
Gates nothing and monopplizes all, has reduced her
n n Hph end
forced upon the psope at the point of the bayonet
Such, or worse is the situation Of the other countries
at South AmerIca, well as Mexico; and such will
be the case with every other country which purcha
foreign fabrcs to larger amour, than sho can
or Is permitted 10 pay for in her own products II
was thus fatal policy which reduced the parent coun
Try Of Colombia from the highest rank amongst the
powers of Europe, to be scarcely ono of secondary
power. In vain did she n1onopolize the Commerce
OF her vast COLONIAL possessons in vain did they pour
the unexamped product of their into her lap
It was received only In trauatu to- the Golfers of a
wiser nation, who received il in payment for the
protected industry of her subjects Yes the riches
procured by the immolaton of so many human benns
In the bowels of the Andes and for which Spain is to
answer at the bar of just God produced no advan-
tage to her; but went to aggrandze hated rival
and furnish the to that rival of reducing her
own once colosseum power TO comparative iusignf
canoe.
'Fhe provision growing states of our union we're
placed, in relation TO their commerce With ENGLAND
precisely in the SITUATION that Spain had been at the
period of which I speak. Receiving none of their |
products, those states compelled to pay for the
Immense amount Of British goods which they annu
ally purchased, exclusively with The precious metals
Whatever Of these collected by the industry
and enterprise of the citizens of Ohio and Indiana
from her quarters, remained with us but for a mo /
rngnt, and were Immediately OFF to pay for arti-
cies for The fabrication of which possessed all the
means within ourselves The consequences wereyhatt
we all remember. Our produce remained rotinp incur
hands No one could sell his real estate pay bis debts
for no oDe WIS willing to bay that which yielded no
return Fhe remedies for these evils were obvious
to al Great Britain must be induced to admit the
products of our farms into her ports TO fair com
petition with those Of her own, as an eGuiva-
lent the privilege of bong permitted to send ma
faciures to Us Or the latter most be gradually excu
ded from our ports, by the imposition of heavy duties
Until we should be able 10 make them for ourselves
But the suffering states had power over these mat
ters. The cDnsttuio1had vested the entire control
over foreign commerce. in the legislature Of the union