State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-08-02
From the Rochester Democrat
GENERAL HARRISON.

ne nluInef III WHICH the character OF
this brave man has been ussailed from the
moment he was announced by the people
as an opposing candidate to Martin Van
Buren,, is melancholy illustration of the
bitterness of party spirit. No epthet has
been conceived too gross to be employed
against him. lie has been charged by ig-
norant and reckless partiZans with the most
loathsome crimes, which have not the
least shadow Of truth, and denounced as
an nristocrut, federaliSi, an ignordmuS
and cOiCdd. There has been day when
the man sufficiently fool hardy and unprn.
cipled to utter such malicious libels, would
have received the universal iiOwn of an
indignant nation, and none would have
been louder in the expression of that in
dignation than many of the very men who
now iUink at those who make these ungen-
erous and wicked attacks. That day
however, it would seem, is past. Then he
was retired and unassuming citizen en-
cased in the bosom Of his own home. The
period for n generous and universal eX-
preston of the peoples gratitude for his
valuable and gallant services had not ar
rived. His popularity was not barrier in
the way of aspiring demagogues, There
was then no motive to delract from his fair
fame, OF to tear the laurels from his veteran
brow. His fame and glory were the fame
and glory of his country. lie hung a bril-
liant star in the bright ga aXy of heroes who
have established our nations prowess, and
secured for or ensign the respect of the
World. He was ranked with Washing
ten, a Lafayette, Kuskusko, a Marion, Il
Shelby aud Green. The nation respond
ed to Colonel Johnson's just tribute to his
patriotism, his bravery, his prudence, and
and his wisdom, and perpetual infamy
would have stamped the character Of the
man who dared to Witty the beloved 'WaSh-
ington ollie WeSt.'
But the times have changed. The virtue
ofthc patriot has become Il crime, and his
bravery, cowardce. His name has been
stricken from the list ofthe nations heroes.
The lustre Of his glorious deeds have sud-
denly become dim, and the 'ddmired ~ all
GdmirerS,' has been in n m ment transform
ed into II fit object for the peoples scorn.-
lie is no longer to he ranked with the brave
spirits whom the nation delights to honor
but is classcd with an Arnold and a Hull,
and the obloquy ola traitor and Il coward is
heapen upon his venerable head How
long shall such ngratltude prevail Or
when shall these calumnators receive the
just reward of their guilt?
The whole history of General Harrison
stamps with fslsehood these infamous eff
forts OF The Van Buren, party: and the very
words and acts of many ofthe prominent
members of That party throws back uron
them the lie direct' We have heretofore
alluded to some ofthem. Wenow submit "a
resolution offered in the United States SEN
ate on the 24th Of March, 1918, by Mr.
Dckerson, at present one olthe members of
General jackson S cabinet He accompanied
the resolution with speech full ofdcserved
encomilms upon the bravery of the gallant
General, whom he Justly remarked Inherited
euery mark Of distinction ,rhich Congress and
grateful country could beStOW.' Such
compliments, uninfuenccd by party consid-
erations, and induced solely from a regard
to justice, should forever silence the hired
ISLANDERS ola corrupt and ungenerous party.
Here is the resolution which was unanim-
ously adopted:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, that the
THANKS of CONGRESS be, and they
are hereby PRESENTED to niaorGeneral
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. and
ISAAC SHELBY, late Governor of Ken
lucky, and through them 10 the officers and
men under their command, for their gallan-
try and good conduct in defeating the com
bined British and Indian forces under Major
General Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper
Canada, on the 9Th day of October, one
thousand eight hundred and thirteen, cap
turing the British army with their baggage,
camp equippage, and artillery and thatihe
President of the United States he requested
to cause TWO GOLD MEDALS to be
struck, mathematical of This triumph, and
PRESENTED to General HARRISON,
and ISAAC SHELBY, late Governor of
Kentucky.