Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-06-11
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-STAUNTON
THURSDAY. JUNE IL, 1910.
GEN. HARRIsoN's DEMOCRACY


W some OF the organs of the Administra.
uon party, which seem to hold their Democr,.
cy by sort of patent, and to use. it onlv as
an article of trade, are continually boldino
up Gen. HARRIsoN as an old Federalist of the
black cockade stamp. They say he was a
supporter of old John Adams and an oppo-
nent of Mr.. Jefferson. The following letter
from Judge BURNETT, of Ohio, effectuallv
demolishes that falsehood
CINCINNATI, Feb. 81, 1910.
My dear sir Il remark, in reply to your
letter of this morning, that durinG the contest
between MIR. Jefferson and the elder Adam,s
Gen. Harrison and myself were resiJing in
the North Western Territory, and of course
mad not the privilege of voting. At that time
was In habits of great intimacy with Gen.
Harrison, although was Federalist. (bon.
esuy SOL and he Republican of the Jeffer-
son school. supported Adams warmly and
ne' win equal warmth, supported MIR. jeffer-
sun. Durng that controversy, from 1896 to
iooo inclusive, conversed and argued with
MIN Tunes without number-he SUSTAINING
Mr. Jefferson, and l MIR. Adams. You NAV
assure your friend, that there was not moro
consistent, decided supporter of Mr.. Jeffer-
son, In the North Western Territory. than
Gen Harrison. For the truth of this declara-
tlon' most willingly pledge my reputation.
state to you what saw, and heard. and
Know. When the Alien and Sedition law
passed, the General was not member Of
congress. Heneither voted nor had an on
portunity of voting on that law.
Your friend, J.BURNET.
80 we see that Gen'l. Harrison, when the
old party names of Federalist and Democrat
flrst arose in the country, took the side of the
Democrats.
Inc following extract of letter from Gen
HARRISON himself to Mr.. MADISON. while tho
latter was President, shows on which side he
(Harrlson) was, under his Administration
81 have no other motive for writing this let.
ter' than TO assure you that my resignation
was not produced by any diminution of the
lnIe[ res mare arrays taken in the SUCCESS
oF YOUR ADMINISTRATION. or of re-
spect and attachment to your person IT,
former can only take place when forge, the
hepuChcon principles an achich / hare been ed
ucated, and the latter, when shall cease tn
regard those feelings which must actuate ev.
cry honest man, who is conscious of fayors
that 1t Is out of his power to repay"
Thus it is established that durinp the whole
time the old distinctions of party existed,
Gen. Harrison was democrat. Nor is this
all.-ln 1922, when he was a candidate for
reelection to Congress, we have this farther
declaration from him
81 deem myself a Republican, of acltat is com
monty cailedhe old JeGersonian school, and be-
lleve IN the correctness of that Interpretation
OF the Constitution which has been given by
the writings of that enlightened statesman,
who was at the head of the party, and others
belonging to it, particularly the celebrated re-
solutions Of the Virginia Legislature durino
the Presidency of Mr.. Adams
Now on what principle is it that testimony
like this IS to be set aside 2 We are not one
OF those who place much virtue in mere
names i've would much rather look to the
acts than the professions of man to ascer-'
tain his true principles. But there are those
who cling to Mr.. Van Buren,, although op-
posed to all his measures, merely because the,
believe him to be the Democratic candidate
and 1t Is to such especially that we address
ourselves. We wish to demonstrate to them
that the cry of Federalism raised against Gen.
harrison has no foundation in fact, and that
on thelr own principle he has higher claims
70 their support than Mr.. Van Buren,. And
nave we notdone so 2 We defy the friends
OF that gentleman to make out for him &c
clear title 10 democracy, as is here estab.
llshed for Gen. Harrison. They cannot do
1t. His support of the Federal Peace-candi.
date for the Presidency, De Witt Clinton, in
1912, against James Madison, is little item
in MIR. Van Buren's history which M t,pe
Democrat can easily reconcile with proper de-
votion to the faith.
Under Mr.. Monroe's Administration. it will
be recollected that the old divisions Of party
became obliterated. Gen. Jackson's agency
in producing this result cannot be FORGOTTEN. |
His letters to Mr.. Monroe are familiar tn CIV.
cry reading man in the country. And we
nave thought that it was owing to this cir
mainly, that so many of the old !!
Federalists fell into the ranks Of the now do
nlnant party. They had been prescribed
lass of men, and they no doubt felt grateful
o Gen. Jackson for his agency in breaking
Town the barriers which so long existed to
heir political advancement. And that Gen.
Jackson did not, in turn, overlook or foroet
hem, when he came into power, the history
1t his appointments fully ottests. They were
he chief men in mis- cabinet-in his Diploma
Ic corps=and In all the varinns nnst. ofl