Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-01-16
From The Boston alias.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

City County, Virginia, al place on the James
river called Berkeley about seventy miles below
Richmond His father was Benjamin Ilar-I
rson, linea descendant of the celebrated
General of that name, who held commission
in the parliamentary armies, during the Eng
Iish civil wars, and who, for hisdevo;ion to, re-
publican principle, persisted on the scdffnld.-l
BENJAMIN Harrison was distinguished citizen
Of Virginia, much honorod and highly trusted
by his fellow citizens. He was brother in
law of Peyton Randolph, the first President o
Congress, and was himself member of thatI
body during the years IVA, 1875, and i7s6. i
1t was 9ripGiYally through his influence i9atI
John Hancock was chosen to preside over the
Congress, as a successor to Peyton Randolph,
He was Chairman OF the Committee of the
whole House. when the Declaration Of lndepen-
dence was finally agreed to, and his signature
is borne upon that celebrated document. llav-'
ing retired from Congress, he was elected a
member of the Virginia House of Delegates,
over which body he presided as Speaker. untll
1882, when he was elected Governor Of the
Stale.
Benjamin Harrison died poor, leaving TIRES
sons, of whom William Henry Harrison was
the Youngest. AT his fathers death he was Il
minor, and was left by his fathers will to the
guardianship Of Robert Morris, the celebrated
hnancier. lie had selected the practice of
medicine as a profession, and was diligently
pursuing his studies with that object, nj llump
den Sydney College, when the disasters Of the
Indian War on the Nenh-Weslern frontier,
and the call for men and officers, for the de-
fence Of the settlers, induced him to enter into
l.L NNfonld hn "a
7 dissuaded him from this determination, but
Washington, his fathers friend, approved oil IT.
and gave him a.commisson OF Ensign IN the
first regiment of United States Artillery. ther
stationed at Fort Washington, OIL the prcseh
site Of The city of Cincinnati, and under the
command of General ST. Clair. Governor of tho
North West Territory, and COMMANDMENT
chief of the military forces in that section o
the country.
As soon as he received his commission
young IIarri son, who was at this TIME but nine
teen years of age, FASTENED join his regiment
and arrived At Fort Washington shortly aitei
the disastrous defeat Of st. Clair, near The
head waters Of the Wabash, This was time
Ior great danger and alarm. Shortly after hi
arrival at Fort Washington, he was appointed
TO command the escort Of train of pack hor
SEES, bound for Fort Hamilton, some twenty o.
Thirty miles North Of Fort Washington; which
difficult service he performed with such credi
as TO attract the plrticllar notice Of The com
mander in chief
j In 1899 Harrison was promoted TO the ranl
sf Licutenant and in 1898 he joined the new
Army under General Wayne. His spirit, en-
lerprise and sagacity soon attracted the notice
Iofthat able commander, who appointed him one
sIof his aldS.decamp, in which difficult and res
ponsible post he served during the war. Iii:
services, especially at the battle ofthe Maumet
il Rapids, by which the contest was brought TO /
close, ale mentioned with emphasis, in Genera
Wayne's official account Of the victory. Altel
the close of the war; Harrison was promoted t,
the rank Of Captain, and was placed id com
nand Of Fort Washington, the most importan
4 post of the Western country While in thi
command; he married daughter Of the cele
j brated.John Clevcs Symms, the founder oftht
Mami settlements, a lady in whom he has eyol
found faithful and atiectionate companion.
j In 1897 Harrison resigned his comhiissior
4 in the army, and was appointed Secretary, o.
the North Western Territory, and ex-oiicel
| Lieutenant Governor. The next year the
North Western Territory. entered the second
grade I'd Con- ressional Delegate. General
/ Harrison was chosen to fill this important sta
ton He remained IN Congress only one year,
but during thattime he rendered very essential
service to his constituents, As the law then
stood the public lands could only be purchased
introcts Of four MowsdAd acres, very great
Hardship upon the poor settlers, who were thus
obliged to purchase al second hand, and an en-
hanced price. Harrison brought this subject
before Congress, and moved Committee to
consider it. Ofthat Committee he was himself
appointed Chairman; the only instance, il is be-
llieved, in which such an honor has been con
ferred upon a Territorial Delegate. lie made
a Report, accompanied by a Jill, authorizing
the public lands to be sold in alternate half and
quarter sections; that is, in alternate tracts OF
three hundred and hceaty and one hun red ana
SiGty acres. The report at!aacted great at,en'
ton, as did Ilarrison's speech in support Of it.
but the bill was vehcmcntIy opposed. 1t passed
the House, However, by a large majority. In
the Senate the resistance was so great that al
length Committee Of Conference was appoin
lied. Harrison was one Of the Committee, and
finally compromise was agreed TO, by which
1.-THE public lands were to be sold in alternate
whole and half sections, that is, IN alternate
tracts Of $40 and 800 acres. This was grea
Improvement upon the former law; and is a
this time; settlers began to flow rapidly int
I Ohio, its beneficial results were instantly left
AT this.sesson Of Congressa bill was passe,
for dividing The North Western Territory. 0
hio became d Territory by itself; while all tn,
, rest of the North Western country, inchdin,
the existing States Indiana, Illinois and Mich
i..rr, lhn &c Niccc,,a,r,