Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-06-24

charge which being established, would sub
ijsct me, even now, to the severcst ,pennltles
which military law inlicts--for have always
held tlmt an officer may not escape 'ife re-
sponsibiilics of misconduct by fcsighing his
commission. These charges are not mad"
by my companions In arms, by the eye wit
nesses OF my actions, by the great nnd good
and brave men who fought by my side or I'M
der my command. They tell different
story.-But their evidence, clear, uneqnivo-
cal aud di.tinct-,he testimony of Governor
Shelby the venerable hero Of Kings Noun
tain, of the gallant Perry, and OF many brave
and generous spirits who saw and knew end
participated in all tho operations connected
with the battle of the Thamcs-the evidence
Of impartial and honorable men, the concur
rent records Of history and the authority OF
universal public opinion, are all cast aside.
lin Difference TO the reckless assertions Of
those who were either not in being OF dandlcd
~ the arms of their nurses
General Harrison said, he acknowledged
that these calnmnies were disagreeable to
him. His good name. such ns it was, was
his most precious tieasure--and he did not
like to have it mangled by such calu,nnia;ors
Were ii his land which they were seeking
To des'roy--wcre il the title deeds t, his farm
that they are enIcavoring to mutilate, he
could bcnr their efforts with patience and
smile even at their success. But he confess
ed, notwithstanding his perfect confidence
in the Justice OF his country and the decis-
ion of an impartial posterty, that these ruth
less attacks upon his military character ni-
| focted him unpleasanrly. This policy Of his
advcrsaries constrained him to consider him
Il self as now on trial before his country. lie
| was not reluctant to be tried fairly. The
II American people being his court aud jury
/ his adversaries held to those rules Of evi.
| dcncc established by common sense and
common rght-he feared not the results ol
The strictest scrutiny, and chccriully submit
10 the decision Of n vlrtnous and cEllehten-
ed community. He asked but FUR dealing
and final ju',icc-no more.
Il General Horrison alluded 10 several Other
instances Of gratuitous md unfonnGed cal
umny, h1ving no shadow Of apology in any
| fact for their invention and public ion. lie
| spoke Of the battle Of TIppecanoe- the
death Of lie brave and lnn,nted Davies
| whose fall had been nscribed to him. lie
! said the whole story about the white horse
was entirely false, and that the fate OF th c
| gallant kcn'uckian had no coDncxion what
ever with his own white mare, which by nc
cideDt, was not ridden on that occasion by
any one. In remarking upon the ISLANDERS
connected with the battle OF Tippecanoe he
said ;heir reintniononc and all, was found il
the proceedings of the legislature Of Ken
tucky, and especially in the extraordinary
confidence rcposed in him by the gallant
\ Governor and people Of that state when they
subsequently honored him with the command
Of their army, composed Of the choice spi Tits
Of the land. the best blood Of Kentucky.
! Gen. Harrison spoke with deep emotion Of
the trust reposcd in him by Kentucky on the
occasion alluded TO. and said that the com
mission which made him the commander
of that brave and patriotic army oi Kcntuc
kians, he had always hold as the most honor
able commission which ii had been the for
tune Of his life to have conferred upon him.
II He referred to recent story-got up in
his own ncighborhood- aud sent forth to the
world, corroborated by the sanc,i'y of an nf
fdavit-whlch represented him as confess
ing TO young man on q steam boat that he
was an nbolllionist, and that, although he
voted against restrictions on Missouri, he did
40 in opposition to the suggestions Of his own
conscience, &c. He snid the narrative bore
on its face the proof Of its absolute falsity-
and when he pronounced it a fabrication, with
out the resemblance Of fact or word for
required n contradiction, but to evnce the
recklessness and desperation of his political
enemies, who seemed TO have given up every
ground Of hope, save that which they found
in villifying his name. cit is a melancholy
fact, fellow citizens" sad Gen. Harrison,
&" that the advocates of Mr.. Van Barren should
so far forget what belongs to tho character
Of an American citizen, and do go much vic.
lencc to the nature of our free institutions,
rs to place the great polite ! contest in
which we are now striving upon an issue
such as this. ] would not accept the lofty
station, which some Of you are proposing 10
elevate me-, il it ca me to me bv such means.
\ ] would not, il had The power to prevent
II, nllow the fair fnme Of my competitor 10
be unjustly nssaled and wounded even for
tho attainment Of that lofty aim Of noble
ambition. Nay, have often defended Mr..
| Van Buren, against what believed to be the
misrepresentation Of my own mistaken
friends and others. Fellow citizens, if Mr.
Van Buren, be the better statesman, let us
say SOL shall he the last man to raise an
objection against it, or to impose restraints
upon the utmost independence Of thought
and action, and the frcest expression Of feel
ing and opinion. | love frank and gcner-
Gus advcrsary-such man delight to en-
brace-and will serve him, according to my
ability, as checrfnly as my professed friend.
But that political warfare which seeks sue.
cess by foul deiraciion, and strives for rs.
cendancy by ,he ruin of personal character
merits the Indignation Of honest men, is
hateful TO every generous mind. and tends
too surely to the destruction Of public virtue
and, as a consequences, to the downfall OF
public liberty.
Gen. Harrison apoloezcd for occupying
his fellow citizens so long. He said hv
would but mention one more Of the latest
slanders which had come to his knowledge.
A German paper, published in Cine innati.
almost under his own eye. puts il forth with
apparent sincerity that Gen. Harrison, now
candidate for the presidency of the United
States was. many years ago, when young
man, all aid to Gen. Wayne, during his Ind.
an wars-and that, whenever young IIarri-
son found a battle was coming on, he always
ran off into the woods" (Again there was
loud irrepressibe Ianghter.) The editor for.
got, said tho General, when he served up
his little dish, that the only possible security
to young llurrson's scalp. on the approach
OF battle with The Indians, was in keeping
out 2f The ,coods! Such a story as this can
only excite smile here, il is true, said Gen.
II H., but this paper circuaies not alone i'm tho