State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-17
SPEECH OF JUDGE BURNETT,
OF OHIO,
at the Great Harrison Meeting IN Cincin-
natl, March 49, 1886.

Mr.. PREsIDENT,-As one of the objects
of this meeting is to support and advance
the claims of our friend and fellow-citizen,
Gen. HARRIsoN, to the Presidential Chair,
we may devote, advantageousIy, a part of
the evening to the recollection of those
traits in his character, and those acts in his
life, public and private, which we have
seen and approved, and which have indu-
ced us to prefer him to any other candidate
who has been named for that high and inn
portant station. | aim aware, sir that no
man can recite the prominent acts of his
life, and enumerate his virtues in an hour,
or a day. A volume would not contain
them all. Yet it may be useful, at this cri-
sis to take rapid glance at some of them.
But first let me repeat an observation made
by the Hon. b. Hardin of Kentucky, few
years ago, on the floor of Congress, when
discussing the bill for the relief of the wild
ow of Com. Decatur, and others. The bill
proposed to give large sum TO the widow,
and a small one to his two nieces. MIR
Hardin was opposed to the bill, but conten-
ded for different distribution, fit should
pass. He would give the large sum 10 the
neices, who We're of the Decatur blood, and
the smaller to the widow. Sir, said he, in
Kentucky, we look to the hreed-we lay
great stress on i'll like the Decatur breed
it is a good one. Now, sir, | am disposed
to adopt the rule of Mr. Hardin, and say |
admire the Harrison breed, and am dispo-
sed to patronze it. But, sir, what is it?
The inquiry may he answered in few
words: Gen. Harrison is the youngest son
of the late Benjamin Harrison of Virginia,
formerly Governor of that State, one of the
most devoted patriots of the Revolution,
&c to to cloco n Nhir
in TVS, opening his breast to the storm,
defending the liberty of his country, till the
struggle term mated in victory. | need only
add, that he was one of the Signers of the
Declaration of independence. Such is the
parentage of Harrison, ard in the language
of Mr. Hardin, you will respond the breed
is good, it is worthy of patronage.
But Gen. Harrison does not look to the
talents or the achievements of his ancestors
us a foundation on which to build his own
fame. He desires to stand or fall, on his
own merlts-he invites strict scrutiny into
his own life, the greater portion of which
has been devoted to public duties, and open
TO the inspection of the world. fit shall
have been found that he has been deficient,
either in talent, integrity, or in zeal, for The
public good, he is ready to abide the con-
sequences; but if on the contrary, in the
multiplied offices he has held, he has dis
.cfhrged his duty to his country, with great
fidelity, then he has a right to expect at the
hands of his fellow citizens, such an award
as Justice may require. His supporters,
one and all, are prepared to appeal to his
life, public and private--to exhibit it to the
American people, to invite their strictest
scrutiny, and they do it with conviction,
amounting to certainty, that he will not
only pass the ordeal, unscathed, bet will
secure the appreciation and the plaudits of
the nation.
In the year 1871, the public life of Har-
rison commenced. He had then finished
his collegiate course, and engaged in the
study of professionalism of medicine.
In that year the veteran St. Clair was de-
teated, his army routed and almost annihl-
lated, and as Il consequence, the infant set
Elements, in the North Western Territory
were left to the mercy oil the savages. Al
that gloomy period the attention of Harrl-
son was turned to the West. He saw the
danger of the pioneers his sympathy was
excited in their behalf, and he resolved
without delay, to Join them, and share thell
fate. Through his friends Robert Morri:
and Thomas Willing he applied to the Pres
ident rSAcOnmission in the army as thu
most efficient mode of contributing to theil
safety. Washington, then at the head o
the Government, informed his friends tina
the army was full, and that he had nothing
20 offer worthy the acceptance of Harrison
A subaltern's commission was all he CoulC
give. They reported the result, and advi
sed their young friend to abandon his pro
lect and continue his studies. lie rejected
their advices, and told them he was wllin!
10 accept of any thing the President coul'
give, and his resolution was unaIterabl,
made to 90 to the West. From that mo
Inent he threw aside his books, quit hi
studies, and with the commission of an en-
sign in his pocket, fastened to Cincinnati
In the succeeding winter-the Siberian
winter of l79l-2-he marched from thI
place on foot, with his knapsack on hi
back, at the head of mall detatchmen
through an uninhabted wilderness, infcste,
with hordes Of savages, to one OF the from
tier posts. This was the commencement
of his military career. Shortly after thi
Gen. Wayne arrived and took command o
the army. His penetrating eye soon dis
covered the talents and merits of Harrison
and he appointed him one of his Aids Il
the school Of that veteran commander, an
with this example constantly before hil
during the period of four years of constan
active service, he acquired the rudment
of military tactics, and learned the mos
perfect system of conducting campag
in an Indian country, that has ever bee
practiced. On that system, Wayne entere
the Indian country, and passcd through
his leisure with entire safety to his army, d
his pupil, practising on his plans, has otie
done since. We all remember the victor
obtained by Gen. Wayne in 1894, over tn
Indians, at the Rapids of the Mimi of til
Lake, which led to the treaty of Greenvil
in the succeeding year. In that engage