The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-22

SO much intrepldity on TINS occasion, was re-
cruited liom and disciplined in New England
by General Ripley himself. It's no doubt re-
membered also, that after this affair at Lun-
dy's Lane, Gen. Ripley was the same night
ordered, by his commander-in-chief, General
Brown,) across Niagara River, and compelled
to leave the cannon to be recaptured by the
enemy. He was also accused OF disobcdience
of orders, for which he demanded Court Of
Inquiry, eventually granted, whichsat at Troy,
and was dissolved by order before the inyesti-
CATION was half finished.
AT the sortic Of Fort Erie, while discharg-
ing duties in the face Of The enemy's fire
which another officer was afraid to attempt,
he received muskct ball through his neck.
1t entered one side, and passing through be-
tween the @sophagus and spine came out
on the opposite side. 1t was miracle that
his life was spared
AT the conclusion of the war, the General
was ordered to the command Of the New Or
to HIM for many Of the most important Of the
military, Notifications established in Louis
lana. After losing beautiful and accom-
pllshed wife at Pensacola, and experiencing
many difficulties growing out Of his suit with
the United States, and the deleterious climate
of the South at that time, he resigned his
commission and entered upon the practice Of
the law, which he has successfully prosecuted
until within few years past, Since retiring
upon plantation, he has been twice elected
to Congress by the Jackson party Of his Dis
trict, and made, notwithstanding his debility,
one Of the most eloquent speeches in defence
of the cold SOLDIER" that was delivered in
Congress at the last regular session. Ii is
much to be regretted, that the evening Of his
life, borne down with suficrngs from the
wounds received in his country's service,
should still be tortured by an unsettled charge
of deialcation, which has been harrassing him
for quarter Of a century. The Supreme
Court Of the United States have certified
judgment in his faror of nearly double the
amount of the charges of arrearages standing
against him on the books of the Department,
and still his accounts seem to be as far from
an adjustment as they were twenty years ago!
Ought not Congress to vote him bill Of re-
lief, in sum, conformable to the decision of
the Supreme Court without any further liti-
CATION .>-
On presenting the medal referred to, the
President addressed Gov. johnson in the
following neat and appropriate manner:
SIR: BY a resolution of Congress of the Sd Of No
vember 1914, the President ofhe United States was
requested 10 cause gold medals TO be struck, with
suitable emblems and devices, and presented TO Br-
gadier General Ripley, Brigadier General Miller,
and Major General Porter in testimony of the high
sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and
good conduct displayed by them in the several con-
fcts of Chippewa Niagara and Erie. In the cases,
both Of General Miller and General Porter, the duty
thus imposed upon the Executive has long since
been performed in that of General Ripley, the ex-
ecuiion of it has been delayed till this late period by
causes, which, as they are known 10 him, it is now
needless to specify 1t is sufficient to say that JUS
tice TO him required that it should have been per-
formed long since and that regret the existence of
the causes that prevented il.
The medal executed in a style, corresponding in
some measure with the distinguished events il is in
tended TO commemorate, has recently been finished
and received al the War Department, and, in pursu-
ance Of the resolution, it gives me great pleasure,
through you, to present it. 1t is highly gratifying to
me to be the agent of conveying to him this Just tr
butte of grateful people, we'll assured that should
circumstances again require, and his impaired health
the consequence of the honorable wounds received
in the public service, admit of it, he will again be
found ready to display the same consistency and cour
age in the Of his country distinguished his
conduct on the important occasions to which the me-
dial refers.
To which Governor Johnson thus happily
replied ,..
Sir It affords me peculiar pleasure to receive,
through the President of the United States, in behalf
of my absent friend and colleague, General Ripley,
this beautiful emblem Of nations gratitude. Hav-
ing known General Ripley long and intimately and
entertaining the highest respect for the distinguished
public services rendered by him in the late war with
Great Britain, and particularly in the several con-
hicls to which you have alluded; the qualification
afforded by the present occasion, is only mingled
with the regret that the General is not himself pre-
sent to receive this honorable token in person. AL
though "jusce 10 him required" that, in obedience
to the resolution Of Congress of 1871 the medal
should have been presented long silce yet, | know
not that the causes were comfortable that they are
al the present moment the subject of complaint.
The medal, so beautifully executed with these ap.
propriate Devices and which you are peasedto con-
slider the ''jus tribute OF grateful people" will,
am sure, be appreciated by General Ripley, as, next
TO the appreciation of his conscience the highest