Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-09-08
To me Editors of The SDec,oor

"entiemen-There is no stronger evil
dence OF the degeneracy of moder, times.
than the facility with hich mea. who
would scorn any thing like deception or
ialSehood in the affairs of private life
stoop to the basest lies and caIumn;es in
political matters. This reflection has
been very iorcibly impressed upon nv
mind by the course which has been pur-
sued by The enemies Of Gen. Harrison
towards that distinguished individual.
There is no SANDER TOO gross to be pro-
pagated against him, and no imputation
too foul 20 BE- attributed to him. The re-
cords OF history are fasilied, heevidence
OF thousands of living witnessrs-wit-
nesses above reProach and suspicion-is
dlsregarded, aud even the recorded SEN
timents of Gen. Harrison himself are
mutiiated' torn from their context, per-
verted-and then held up as evidence
oil political heresies. When will am in
dlgnant people arrest the course of these
Infamous libellersl
Among the many false chargcs-char.
ges which those who made them KNEW
10 BE FALSE AT THE TINE
THEY MADE THEM, is one which
is now going the rounds of the newspa-
Pers, that Gen. Harrison was a black
cockade Federalist in 1899.
The evidence relied upon is a speecb
made In the Senate of the u. States by
John Randolph about lS27-a period
when 1T IS well known that he was mad
when the highest tribunal of our State
has Judlcially decided that he was SO en-.
uFeiy insane as to be incapable Of max
ing valid disposition Of his property by
VIII Yet this speech of this madmen
himself an opponent of the late war
Is relied upon TO support the charge that
Zen. Harrison was a Federalist ? This
100 IN the teeth Of Gen. HaIriSon's uni
form department and party connexions
OF The uniform declarations of Judge Bur
net and other distinguished Federalists
That he never belonged 10 their par
V-n the face Of his appointment by
MT. Jefferson and Mr.. Madison the
apostles republicanism, to the highest
ana most responsible offices--otIices
purel political-oflices winch it would
have been improper TO have entrusted 20
political oPponent-a Federalist
10 give the greater effect to this charge
the reply of Gen. Harrison to Mr.. Ran
doIPh is garbled-baseiy feloniously gar.
Dled-so as to make simple declaration
on ms part that he had felt sentiments
favorable to the administration of the
elder Adams-particularly III that part
OF 1t which led our nation safely through
the Periious differences with France,
and saved us from an unnecessary war
with that great nation-a nation TO
W nom we owed so many and so great
nation which had con-
tnbuted so efficiently to the establish.
ment of our national independence =
evidence of an indiscriminate support OF
all the measures of that administration
and particularly of the odious alien and
sedltion laws Can any thing be more
base than conduct like this Let il not
De SAID that The propsgators Of this ca
inmny are ignorant of its falsehood.
mat furnishes no palIiation. He who
undeit takes 10 publish charge against a
distinguished patriot-against any man
bound TO investigate its truth;
and II be gives currency to ialsehood
ne is responsible for it as completely as
ii lie had invented it,
CROGHAN