State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-17


fdtherS-his fame would have survived
his name would have been loved and cher
shcd and his country, at least the western
country, would have erected a statue to
his memory: but he survives, and hundreds
of thousands who are now enjoying the
fruits of that benificent measure, planned
and carried through by him, know not by
whose agency they obtained it. The rec
ords of Congress show, and many witness
es still living can testify that it was Harri-
son. He secured the boon and, in justice
to him, the public should be advised OF
the fact-every man in the nation ought to
know it.
In the year 1900, Congress divided the
northwestern territory, by creating the
Territory of Indiana, and our friend, Gen.
Harrison, was appointed its first Governor;
but before we look at his conduct in this
important affair, suffer me to notice a false
hood, relating to this period of his life,
which his enGmi have recently propaga-
ted. In one of the resolutions adopted by
the Jackson convention of Kentucky, they
assert that che was federalst of the old
black cockade order, in the time of the
elder Adams.' A more uniounded false
hood was never invented. My personal
acquaintance with him commenced in
1876, under the administration of Wash
ington. The intimacy between us was
great, and our intercourse was constant,
and from that time, till he left Cincinnati,
| was in the habit of arguing and disputng
with him on political subjects. | was a
federalist-honesIly so, from principle,
and adhered to the party till it dissolved
and its elements mingled with other par
ties formed on different principles. | can,
therefore, speak on this point with absolute
certainty, and | affirm, most solemnly,
that under the administration of Washing
ton, and under the administration of the
elder Adams, William Henry Harrison
was firm, consistent, unyielding Republi-
can of the Jefferson school. He advocated
the election of Mr. jefferson, and warm
ly maintained his claims, against Mr. Ad-
ans.
Let us now follow him to Indiana and
take concise view of his conduc: while
at the head of the government of that Ter
ritory. Time will not admit of much de-
tail = it must suffice to say, that he was
Governor of that Territory about twelve
years, and during the whole of that time
superintendent of Indian Affairs. The du-
ties of those offices were discharged with
intelligence and integrity, and secured the
unqualified appreciation both of Jefferson
and Madison, under whose administrations
he served. During that time he had made
more Indian treaties, and obtained for the
! United States, larger districts Of land, and
on better terms, than any other agent il
the employ of the government. Plain anC
republican in his manners and intercourse
and vigilant and intelligent in the dis
charge of his duty, he secured the conf
dence and affection Of the great mass o
the people.
From the necessity of the case, grea
discretionary powers have always beer
vested in Territorial Governors; such "A
the people ofno State have trusted to the
Chief Executive Magistrates; powers cas-
lily abused aud perverted TO purposes o
( oppression powers tempting to an ambi
tious mind, and grateful to tyrannica
one. Hence, the frequent and bitter quar-
rels bttween such officers and the people
whom they govern. 1t may be affirmed
with safety, that Governor Harrison wa
the first of that description of officers, VIII,
applied his discretionary powers, eXclu
sively to the public good, rendering then
blessings, instead of curses; he was tn
first Territorial Governor who retired from
office with the praises of those whom h
had governed resting upon his head. Fo
the truth Of this statement, we may appet
to living witnesses in every part of Ind
ana. Since that period, the powers of sue
officers have been greatly diminished, b
acts of Congress. In this way, he passe
! through twelve years of arduous duty i
the service of Government, and of til
, people of Indiana. As superintendent {
, Indian affairs, very large sums of none
passed through his hands every year an
such was the nature of that office, of tn
, manner in which the money was nccessar
" disbursed, and of the imposSibility,
+ many cases, of obtaining vouchers, that I'll
government was compelled to rely on tn
integrity of their agents for the correctnes
of accounts. Such being the nature of tli
7 agency, Governor Harrison might hay
saved an ample fortune without the poss
f biity of detection. But such was not III
, fact When he retired from office, he Sc
| tied and balanced his accounts, and not
+, dollar Of the public money remained
! his hands. He was as poor then as whe
5 the agency was accepted,
, Towards the close of this term of seviC
e in Indiana, the difficulty with Tccumsel
Y and the Indians under his influence, too
3 place. That highly gifted Chief had TO
S med a plan to unite the Indians from Flo
a ida to the Lakes, against the United State
a for the purpose of causing a recession of
Y part of the lands granted by treaty, and
= restricting the settlement OF the white
: within certain limits; and with that vie
t he visited the tribes in person, and was c
n the eve of succeeding in his project, so f
t at least, as related to the union he sougl
e But Harrison was not asleep; such
= movement could not evade his yigia
Y eye. He penetrated the scheme of Il
a wary Chief aud communicated it 10 Il
q government in time to defeat it, AS 500
n as the information was received by Il
=, | D.or..lnn. la Il rn,InL lnnrirnr, 10 mica