Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-06-26

niltu tnc cOiuHluS Vi the newspapers and
misrepresented his character and copduc, y
He alluded 10 the story Of his famous conf.
Dental committee" as they called il. "Tb.
story goes" said General Harrison, .fba,
have not only committee Of conscience.
keepers, but they put me in cage, fastened
with iron bars, and keep me in that" fTo
one tba, looked at his brigh, and sparklos
eye---the light which beamed in its rich ~.
IRRESPONSIBLE emile which played unon n.
countenance, blending the lineamenis Ofbe.
nevoleDce and 6rmness--w who remembers
also that he was listening to the voice Of
son OF old Gov Harrison. 6nc OF 'rhe sion.
ers," the pupil Of old Mad Antbonv.n II,
hero Of Tippecanoe, The defender Of Fon
Meigs, the conqueror of Proctor--tbe ide,
Of William Henry Harrison in a csgeI wa,
irresis,ibly ludicrousr
When the laughter had subsidized Tho
General proceeded: 81 have no committee.
fellow.citizens, confidential or other. II !,
true that employed my friend, Mimic,
Gwynn. 10 aid me in returning replies 10
some oilhe numerous questions propounded
10 me by letters But 10 such only ne any
man could answer as well as another
There is scarcely a question Of political
nature now agiIaling the public mind, on
which have no, long since promulgated
my opinions, BY speec hes, published letters,
or official acts. A large majority Of letters
addressed TO me purported 10 seek my views
Of abolition, Uniied States Bank, and Other
matters concerning which my views wen
already in possession Of the public. Tn,
most suitable answer to lhese-and 10 well
in,rntioned persons lhe most satisfactory
was reference to the documents in which
my opinions already expressed were TO be
found. Such answers | entrusted 10 my
well-iried and faithful friend, Maj GwyDb
Letters requiring more particular attention
answered myself Every body who know
Major Gwynn knows that he is not one
whom | would employ 20 write a political
letter He is a srlf-mnde mana solder
and genileman--but neilhe. politician
nor a scholar asked the service of bin.
because he was my friend, and confded IN
him, and it was plain and simple. My habit
is TO receive. open and read my letters my
self Such as require special attention.
reply 10 myself Such rs may be easily an
swered by another, hand 10 my friend, With
an cndorsaiion indicating where the iniOr
nation sought may be found-as thus
Refer the writer 10 speech at Vincennrs'-
or "ihe answer is seen in my letter TO Mr
Denny" &c.
But ii seems that Major Gwynn was chair
man OF committee ofthe citizens OF Cincn'
natl or Of Hamilton county. When the Ia
| N ws
read, and as usual with such letters, en-.
dorsed it and handed il 20 Major Gwynn.-
But. il seems. when the answer wss prepared
il was signed also by his colleagues Of The
county or city committee. OF all this
knew no,hing-nor in their capacity Of CON-
miltee bad they my thing 10 do with my
letters Yet by liue mistake and much
perversion, these gentlemen have been erected
into committee Of my conscience keepers
and made to shut me up in a cage, 10 pre-
vent me hom answering interrogatories-
Gen. Harrison remarked that. had he, IN
deed, called 10 bis assistance the services Of
friend 10 conducting his correspondents
be would have bad high authority to JUSTLY
him in the measure.
II had been said Of General Washington
that many OF the papers which bear his 'lg
nature were written by others. and be BE-
lieved il had never been coniradclrd; aud
Gen Breckenridge, aid to Gen. Jacksonn
the lule war. had represented himself TO "
the author of much Of Gen. Jackson's cor
respondence But he bad net done so 10
any other sense than as he had now explain
ed tin requesting Major Guyan 10 e
| fer those addressing inquiries 10 him, 10 The
public sources Of information And 10
would here say, that in all his public llIs
civil aud military. there was no letter, re
port. speech or order. bearing his namt
which was no, written wholly by bis own
hand. He said. 10 open, lead. md ansrd
all The letters received by him was physE'f
ly impossible. though he should do nothing
else " hatcyer. To give his hearers an idea
the labor it would require. he said, gen
lleman then present was with him the morn
| ing he left Cincinnati, when he ,oek from
the post Office 10 feners-there were usual
ly half the number at the post Office nes,
his residence-24 letters PER day. C"ula
any man. he asked, give the requisite a''sn-
lion to such daily correspondence, even 70
the neeleet OIL every othet tuSase""'
True it was. thai many communication
were sent him which were not entitled 10 ~
no,ice--sen, by persons who had no olns'
object but to draw from him somelh'ss
; which might be used TO his injury ana p'
injury of the cause wah which he WAS 'a.u'
iified-yct there were enough OF those w,o
claimed his respectful consideration io' ~
sources from which they came and the su0
ects 10 which they referred, to occupy i nS''