Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-09-15


rumor prevailed, that general Harrison had
discovered some reluctance in pursuing
Proctor and his army, after Perry's victory
on lake Erie, and that he had been forced to
the pursuit by the remonstrnnccs of governor
Shelby, and, that this information had been
derived from the declarations OF governor
Shelby.-These charges, utterly unf0undcd,
as they turned out to be, were deemed SUI
fcient reason for postponing decision of the
report OF the committee until the result OF the
enquiry before the house Of representatives,
should at least be known. The resolution,
after some discussion, was referred to the
committee who reported il, further to consid.
er and report thereon. As the session was
near to its close, no further report was made,
and indeed no further report could with pro-
priety have been made, until the investigation
before the house of representatives, should
be brought to a termination. This did not
happen till the Odd Of January, 1917, little
more than month before the termination of
very important session, when the public
business of the most pressing kind, required
the entire attention Of congress, so that this
subject could not with proprety have been
removed until the present session.
As the friends of general Harrison have in
their power completely to obviate every objec-
ton heretofore made to tho passage of this
resolution, it is their duty to bring this sub
ject again before congress, more especially rs
the journals Of this house, ifleft unexplained,
imply a ccnsure upon the conduct Of general
Harrison, which certainly was never intend
ed will confess, for one, from pcrusal of
the journals Of this house, the military reputa-
ton Of general Harrison, sunk in my estma-
ton; and believe this confession might be
made by three fourths Of the citizens Of the
United States, who read the proceedings of
congress, and who had not an intimate know-
edge of the character and conduct Of general
Harrison. | should reproach myself for hav-
ing suffered such an impression to be made
upon my mind, if the means of correcting it
had also been found upon our journuls those
journals did not then afford the means Of cor
rect information upon this subject, nor do they
till this day.
II AS to tho first objection, that an investi-
CATION was depending in the honse Of rep
resentatives, into the official conduct Of gen.
eral Harrison, the result of that investigation
was in the highest degree honorable to his
| character. The committee to whom the sub
ject was referred, were unanimously Of opin-
ion that general Harrison stood above snspi-
con of being implicated in the charges ex-
hibited against him, and that in his whole
conduct as commander in chief Of the north
western army, he was governed by lauda-
BILE zeal for, and devotion to, the public SER
vice and interest.
The second objection made to the passage
Of the resolution, if well founded, was cacu-
lated to give to governor Shelby the entire
and exclusive merit Of having urged the pur-
suit of Proctor and his army. But Shelby,
generous as he is brave, discams this exclu-
sivc merit, and in letter which ] will beg
leave to read, denies in the most positive
terms, having used the language ascrbed to,
him, and he gives to general Harrison the
highest praise for his promptitude and vigil
lance in pursuing Proctor; for the skill with
which he arranged his troops for meeting the
enemy, and for his distinguished bravery
during the battle. He states that the duties
Of general Harrison, as commander in chief
of the north western army, were in the
highest degree arduous: but that, from the
zeal and fidelity with which they were per-
formed, they could not have been committed
to better hands.--Of these particulars no one
could know better, no one could Judge better,
than governor Shelby. have many other
documents and papers to shew that governor
Shelby was not mistaken in the statements
which he has made, which will read if any
doubt shall be expressed upon this subject
| trust, however, that no such doubt will be
entertained, and am confident that honorable
gentlemen will now, upon full knowledge
Of the facts, feel pleasure in awarding to
general Harrison that testimony Of applause
which a sense of duty induced them formerly
to withhold.
II ] shall not pronounce any encomiu,ns upon
the gallantry OF the venerable patriot, the
intrepid hero, governor Shelby. His distin-
guished services during the late war, as well
as those of the revolutionary, will be remem-
bered to the latest posterity-of him and the
brave officers and men who, under the COM
mand Of general Harrison, achieved the,
glorious victory ot the battle Of the Thames,
one sentiment pervades the union, that they
merit every mark of distinction which con-
gress, and a grateful country can bestow.
II Mr.. Dickerson then offered the following
resolution:
Resotued by the senate and house Of repre-
sentatives of The United States Of .4ne,icd, in
congress assembled, That the thanks of con-
gress be, and they are hereby presented to
major general William Henry Harrison, and
Isaac Shelby, late governor Of Kentucky, and
through them to the officers and men under
their command. for their gallantry and good
conduct in defeating the combined British
and Indian forces, under major or-genera Proc
tor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada, on the
fifth day Of October, one thousand eight hun
dred and thirteen, capturing the British army,
with their baggage, camp equipage, and arti!-
fery; and that the president of the United
States be requested to cause two gold med
ais to be struck, emblematcal Of this triumph,
and presented to general Harrison and Isaac,
Shelby, late governor of Kentucky.
i Which resolution was subsequently u
! o.., pt.,I