The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-11-12
From ME Richmond Wig.

ID tue proof, Whlch mas already been spread
before the public, on the point to which il
refers, that we had concluded it was use.
less to give it publicity. But some gen.
tlemen, who saw il during the Convention,
have since made public alluson to it, and
on their account we insert it.
Mr.. Page, the writer, is a gentleman Of
tie highest respectabliiy-of unimpcach-
ed and animpoachabIe yeracty.
JANEvnLF, Clark County, Va. !
September 30th, l540.
Dear Sir-ln answer TO your enquiries
as to the truth Of the charges which have
been made respecting the Federalism of
Gen. W. II. Harrison, and Of his wearing
Black Cockade in the years Of 1889 and
1900 now make the following statement;
In December, 1883, | went as Repre-.
sentative in Congress from Virginia to the
sixth Congress, then sitting in phadel.
phla, and upon my arrival al Francis lio-
tel, the stage office, met with the Hon.
DAVID Holmes, tormcT acquaintance, and
moreover a Representative from this STATE,
who informed ne that lie was then board
Ing at that house with number Of the
members Of both Houses friendly to Mr..
Jefferson, and that Mr.. Jefcrson's room
Oor he had not then arrived) was then un-
occupied, which could have the use of
for several days, during which ! could Sc
lect boarding house, which would be
more acceptable, for he well knew that |
was then, as | have always since been,
Fedcralst-hut | was not such a Federal
ist as we see al present, IN favor Of Mo.
narchical Government, but a Federal he
pubiicaH--ln favor of the Constitution Of
the United States, and my opposition to
monarchy had been testified BIZ my con.
duct during the Revolutionary War, when
volunteered as a common soldier IN q
troop Of Cavalry which joined the army
under the command of the Marquis De
Lafayette, then encamped in the county Of
New Kent, below Richmond.
After remaining few days at Francis
Hotel, ! went with several Federalsts
from Nrginla, as also with Messrs. Har-
per aud Bayard to boarding house called
Franklin Court, where | resided during
the winter Of 1899, aud in the spring Of the
year $500, many Of Us removed to ii house
on North and Market streets, where
found Gen. Harrison as a boarder. This
brought me more into contact with him,
where | saw him daily for considerable
time. had known him before as a dele
gate from the Northwestern Territory,
where | understand he was elected by the
Ami Federal party in opposition to the son
Of Coy. st. Clair who was supported by
the Federal party. During the whole Of
the first session Of the sixth Congress, |
affirm most solemnly that he wore the
dress OF citizen, and not that Of Mill
tary man-that be never to my &nowIcdge,
during that time wore Co, llade or any
other Military badge, nor did see any
such badge worn by any other member Of
Congress, nor do | believe he was ever
considered as belonging to the Federal
party Asa delegate from Territory, lie
had NJ right to vote, although he was per-
mitted to receive the emolumeuts as also
the privileges of member from State.
But he came on to Congress principally (as
UNDERSTOOD to produce a change in the
law for selling the public lands, which at
that time las | belieye) had provided for
the sale of four thousand acres as the /.
smallest quantity which could then be nur-
chased, and Gen. Harrison succeeded in /
reducing the quantity, SO that man Of
small capital could procure n small farm
from the Government iastoado of purchasing +.
at a much higher price from spectators. /.
In this he rendered great service to the !
poor Emigrant who vert 10 settle in that /
country. At that time the spirit OF party .
was not so yeuomous rs at present, because F..
neither party suspected the other seriously :
Of being riondrchiStS. Even Mr. Jefferson,
in his Inaugural Address in the year 1901,
speaking of the parties, admitted that we
we're all Republicans, &c. Gen. Harrison,
during the year 1900, was nominated by
the elder Adams as Governor of the North
western Territory, not because he was a
etleTlIISI. nlli D't1USt tie IlHN tN'Gli tlttltN
by the people of that Territory, and thus
evidence Of his popularity among
the people of that section, This was the
rule then, in nomination TO Office, without
regard to party--but this rule is now re-
ycrscd, when we see men who have been
rejected by the people advanced to honora.
bic and lucrative offices, as In the cases of
Seldcn from Virginia, Niles Of Connect
cut, and Cambrelcng of New York.
BIT among the SANDERS which have
been propagatcd against Gen. Harrison, it .
has been said that he advocated the Alien
and Sedition Law; but this law, by an en-
animation of the laws of Congress, was
passed eighteen months before Gen. Har-
rison went to Congress. The Seditlon Law
did not touch the subject Of speaking what
Il man might think against the President,
&c, but prohibited the publication of any
thing which might bring those high public .
fmctlonaries into disreputo, and moreover
provided that the defendant should have
the benefit of trial by Jury, and that he
-, lpnpc. hi't If