Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-09-08

of our country, as TO leave no principle STE
which opposes IFS progress and which con-
silers all means lustiiable that = IL, in the
smallest degree, contribute TO its victories.
Ii It's audacity has already reached tbs
| lengths which you have asserted, gentlemen,
of putting at nought the most authentic re
cords, and the testimony Of hundreds or of
thousands of living witnesses, for the pur
pose ofprostrating an ndiv ilual, W hat may
not be expected from lis further progress
! What but that general prescription which
has been the immediate precursor OF the
downfall ofall free governments ? Who is
there that is acquainted with history, that
does not know that the persecution OF iudi-
! 1id;iais " no arc supposed 90 staa4-ifi-iiffTU
way Of the accomplishment Of some favorte
object by dominant party, was always tho
first in The train OF those measures which re-
suited in the darkest, and most disgusting
scenes which are described in the annals of
the ancient repubIics'
"Do ! err gentlemen, in giving the char
actcr OF persecution TO the course OF vituper-
alton and abuse which is at present carried
on against me What is persecution, If
wide spread denunciatons OF ii man for Grim
inal conduct, of which he is Innocent, is rot
Ii this definition is correct, apply il to the
manner in which | have been treated for
the last three months "recrcant from the
] 90
command entrusted TO me, leaving that COM
inand TO be exercised by subordinate Off
GERS These are charges MOI only calcnla-
ted to render me infamous in the eyes OF the
world, but they are such, iftrue, as wouid
have created forfeiture of my life. No
court martial beinre whom they were prov
ed, would have hesitated 10 order me 10 be
shot And those who now believe them,
must look upon me in no other light than as
10 -al
/ his existence by the false clemency of the
chief magistrate of the country. And false
indeed wouid have been that clemency which
would have failed 10 call 10 the severest ac-
count the lerpetrator of crimes, not only
disgraceful to himself but TO the government
which trusted, and &c the country which had
nurtured him. The magistrate upon whom
the censure for this g!aring defect of duty
would fall, is James Madison, that sage and
patriot for whose recent loss, the banner
which, il is asserted, lie suffered 10 be dis
graced, is at this moment, in every part OF
( the world where il waves, shrouded in the
emblems Of mourning.
! ''But ii is not ior neslect ei duly only,
I that the memory OF the father Of our constr
tuiiOn IS TO be arraigned. l. .....st g. '-~.i-
since the journals Of congress Will show
( that in a communicate 20 that body, he al
tributes tine c"..je arrangement by which
the victory was achieved, TO that individual;
who, it is alleged, was a 'recreant, at
the distance of twelve miles from its accom-
plishment.
''N or must the Censure be confined 10 Mr.
Madison y large portion of il would fail
upon the two houses OF congress, vaich.
with a single dissenting voice, awarded tn
the same indiv iduai their thanks and gold
medal, the highest reward for successful mis-
iitary services which is sanctioned by our re-
publican institutions.
There is difficulty in determining which
most To- admire, the dark maiignity which
conceived these CalumnieS, or the consum-
mate audacity with which !hey are promul-
gated, in Inc midst OF iaa!reds of living wit
nesses, who could and do fix The character
of ftlsehood upon them. Il is however, not
difficult 10 see that the Whole is st hesDe of
deep laid cunning, and that il is not expected
to produce any beneficial results in the wes~
tern states. The fruits Of this systematic
SANDER are 10 he gathered at distance,
since Il will be thought in the remote states,
almost impossible tEdi such charges could be
brought if there was not some foundation TO
support them. But Inalignily ard cunning
often ovGrShoo The mark at which they aim
and such, have TO doubt, will be the result
in this in stance.
The appeal made ny my enemies, is to
the creduliiy, the prcjudiceS, and the party
feelings oil the people--mne IS TO their JUS
tice alene ( knpW not the source from
whence il is expected TO derive any KIND Of
support TO the charges which have been
brought against me. The usual order Of
} things seems, indeed, 10 be reversed. Here
tofnrO il has been considered necessary % OK
hihit proof in the support of charges which
are made against any Individual, but my eH e.
cmes appear 20 think that the burden O! the
o proof should rest with me IN this instance
. I waive my rights as Tie party accused, aud
. at once refer, as regards the battle Of TipPe-
canoe, to The proceedings Of the legislatures
of Kentucky and Indiana, on that subject,
and 10 the testimony Of all the officers and
settlers " no served ou ihat occasion. End
h in relation TO the command Of the north ives
4 tern army, 80 the recorded testimony nt ShCl
- by, Perry, Cues, " God, Perkins, Topper,
Ball, Paul, Owings Ct0ghan, aad ninety
r. nine out of every hundred of he officers aad
=, soldiers " ho were nj any time, employed
Il under my command
-, 81 repeat inal my appeal as to the iHsticc
y, Che pcopic aI0Hc. The deljcacy OF military
:, character viii! permit no all or support from
: feelings OF sympathy or generosity ask OF
p NY follow citizens, in this matter, nothing
D.. mors than justicc-less, am sure, they viii
. not offer.
r AN. gentlemen,
70 ~ ilb great respect
Your fellow citizen.
- w. II. HARRISON"