The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-10-21

county, and we do not believe there is a single mar
q in the county, capable Of judging, who will not say
:. that the court were influenced by sympathy more
than bis competency discharge the duties of the
office And from the knowledge we have, and some
OF US have known him long and served under him
during part OF the war, do not believe there is
any Office which requires, fymneSS, Sysfem cOnsis-
fency and business talents, which he could fill loih
| credit.
We would not detract from his military services
but when these services are magniied without much
regard to truth, with view to mislead the people,
we will speak Of them as we think regard for truth
requires.
The battle of Tippecanoe displayed neither gen.
eralship on the part of Gov HARRISON nor that eau
ton which is never forgotten, by an able comman-
der. The ground of encampment, it is admitted by
all who have it. was badly selected, in the i'm
mediate neghberhood of the enemy, and his en-
campment left wholly unforfed. Had he enclosed
1t with rampant of logs and brush, which is al
ways done by men of military talents in an Indian
country, the lives of some of those valuable men who
Tell IN that unfortunate battle would have been saved
As to the operations of the North Western Army
under the command of Gen. Harrison, with the sim
gle exception of the battle of the Thames they were
such as reflect no credit the commander In
stead of making AN efficient move towards the SUBJ
Ijugation of Upper Canada, which he might have
done with the forces he had under his command at
various times, his time was consumed, and many
on the Northern frontiers Of Ohio; which were of
no productive advantage to the public service And
as to the battle of the Thames, there was no evil
dence of military talent or skill displayed by the
General either in the formation of the troops or the
evolutions during the engagement The charge
made by the mounted Rifemen, it is true succeed
ed but it unmilltary, and did not Justify any
calculation Of success. To use the language of
General Harrison, expressed Immediately after the
engagement, if it had not been for the dastardly
conduct of the enemy, the mounted rihemen would
have been thrown into confusion, and driven back
upon the militia which must have thrown them in
to confusion, and should have been compelled to
rely upon the regular troops for support" In nine
cases out of ten such movement would, in all hu-
man probability, have failed. The victory was en-
tirely attributable the enthusiastic bravery of the
Kentuckians. So lightly were the military services
of General Harrison estimated by Mr. Madison's adj
mnstratlon, that he was passed over, and another
appointed TO the command Of the Northern Army,
which caused him to resign. For the victory of the
Thames, it is true, the thanks of Congress Civ
en- to the General; but to procnre them, much
sollciudc was used, and for great a length of
time, that the honor conferred by that proceeding
was considered by the public as of little value.
If General Harrison had qualifications for civil
Office the very moderate share of military reputa-
ton to which he can justly lay claim. would not be
Objectionable; but when an attempt is made to mis- |
lead the People, by throwing around the General a
glare Of military glory" to which he has no just
claim, becomes the duty of every elector exam
inc at least into his qualifications for civil office.
Besides that it should not be forgotten that the very
men who are endeayorlng to excite this military fe
yer, condemned the course of action by the |
friends of General Jackson. They formerly oppos- |
cd the cry of herosm, raised by the Jacksoniaus,
with zeal and ability worthy of better cause, and
now they are in full cry of Hero themselves, in a
vain hope Of producing like favorable result by
the name of Harrison. This shows these men to
be dishonest as they have charged their oppo-
ncnts to be.
But we have no fears that General Harrison will
become prominent candidate for the Presidency,
should he continue in the field, and not be Withdrawn
for the benefit of Mr.. Clay. He will receive the vote
Of no State in the Union except in Kentucky
Whatever may be said of this prediction now, the .
result will show the truth of it.
There remains but candidate of whom we
have not spokcn-Mr. Van Buren, Of New York
he present Vice President. He was not our first
choice, and we could assign many reasons which
ire connected with the public interest, why pre-
cr Judge Mclean; but it is unnecessary to do so
We do not like the mode of his nomination, nor the
1roscrptvc policy which is part of his political
ystem but we are compelled to say, notw ithstan-
ling these and other objections which might be sta
cd that we greatly prefer him to Webster or Har-
ison or even Judge White. He is the candidate
# the party with which we have acted for many
ears, and the objections to him are much less
ycighty than those which lie against each of the
,thcr candidates Some of the friends of General
Harrison, and particularly the Editor of the Cincin
,at Gazette, object to the Baltimore nomination,
the score of mmoralitics charged against of
he nominees; but it is very extraordinary that this
objection should be urged by any one who advocates
he claims of the General. The Generals friends
houtd be mute on this subject for their own sake,
Is well as that of their caudidate.-We might chal-
enge comparison in thsrespect between Colonel J
Johnson and General Harrison, which could not but
'osut greatly to the advantage of the former.
Upon full and mature consideration of the sub
ec shall 60, under existing circumstances, with
good conscience and honest efforts, for Van Bu-