South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-09-03

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Let US now fellow him to Indiana,
and take concise view Of bis conduct
whilst at the head of the Government
of that Territory. Time will not ad-
NIT Of much detail. 1t must suffice to
say, that he was Governor of the Ter
riiory about twelve years, and during
the whole Of that. time superintendent
Indian affairs. The duties of those
Offices we're discharged. with inteli-
geoce and integrity, and secured the
unqualified appreciation both of Jeffer-
son and Madison, under whose admin
istralions he served. During that time
he made more Indian treaties and OBJ
tanned for the U. States, larger districts
Of land, and on better terms, than any
other agent in the employ. of Govern
J ment. Plain and Republican in his
manners and intercourse, and vigiIant
and intelligent in the discharge of his
duty, he secured the confidence & af-
lection ofthe great mass of the people.
| From the necessity ofthe case, great
discretionary powers have always
been vested in territorial governors !;
such as. the people of no State have
trusted to their Chief Executive Mag
istrate--powers easily abused & per-
vsried TO purposes of oppression
powers tempting to an ambitious mind,
and grateful TO tyrannicaI one.
Hence the frequent and bitter quarrels
between such officers. and the people
whom they govern. 1t may be affirm
| ed with safety that Governor Harrison
was the first Of that description of off
cars who applied his discretionary
powers exclusively to the public good,
rendering them blessings instead OF
curses-he was the first territorial Go.
vernon who retired from Office with the
praises OF those whom he had governed
resting upon his head. For the truth
OF this statement, we may appeal to liv-
ing witnesses in every part of Indiana.
Since that period the powers of such Off
GERS have been greatly diminished, BY
acts OF Congress. Ia this way he passed
through IL years of arduous duty IN the
service OF Government, and ofthe people
Oh Indiana. AS superintendent of Indian
affairs, very large sums of money passed
through his hands every year, and such
I was the nature Of that office. ofthe man
ner IN which tho money was necessarily
disoursed, and of the impossblllty, in ma
ny cases, OF obtaining vouchers, tina. the
government was Compelled to rely on
Tue Integrity of their agents for the cor
RICHNESS OF their accounts. Sucn being
the nature ofthat agency, Governor Har-
rlson nigh. have saved an ample fortune
without the possibility of detactlon. But
sucA Was not the fact. When he retired
from the office, he settled aad balanced
his accounts, and not dollar of public
| money remained IN his hands. He was
! aspoor then Us When he accepted the a.
gency.
Towards the close of his term of SER
vice IN Indiana, the difficulty with TIE.
cumseh, and the Indians under his in.
faeace, took place. That highly gift.
ed chief had formed plan to unite the
Indians from Florida to the lakes, a.
gainst the United States, for the pur.
pose of causing recession of part Of
the lands grained by the treaty, and of
restricting the settlements of the whites
within certain limits and with that
view he visited the tribes in person, and
was 90 the eve of succeeding in his
project, 50 far, at least, as related to
the union he sought. But Harrison
was not asleep such a movement
could not escape his vigilant eye. He
I penetrated the scheme of the wary
chief, and communicated it to the Go.
verDm INT in time TO defeat it. As soon
as the Information was received by the
President, he directed Harrison to RAISE
a force of about eight hundred men,
to consist Of the 4th regiment and mi.
litia volunteers and to march to the
Prophetl's town, on the river T,ppe.
canoe, for the purpose of securing
peace. That order was executed SO
promptly, and the troops marched with
such despatch, that our little army
reached their destination before the re-
turn ofTecumseh. II was the special
order of the President that General
Harrison should carry the olive branch
-iavite the Indians 10 a treaty, assure
them ofthe friendly disposition of their
great father, and on no account to pro-
| woke OF moles. them, unless he should
De actually attacked. That order was
| obeyed. 'The little army reached the
village 10 the afternoon. The Indians
were invited to meet the Governor in