The Madisonian., 1840-02-20


enlightened republican patriotism.
Hence, when Louisiana was separated
from Indana, the citizens Of ST. Louis ex-
pressed their sentiments Of his administration
as follows:
:" To hrs Elecleucy William II Harrison. Governor,
aud the honorable the Judges Of the Indiana Tern.
| tory.
- .sGEyTLEnEs An srdnous public service assigned
you by the General Government OF the United States, .
about 10 cease. The Of the anniversary OF Ame-
can Independence viii close the scene, and on that
celebrated festival will be organized, under the most
spcious circumstances Government Tor the Territory
OF Louisiana Local situation and circumstances for
bid The possibility OF permanent political ooune1ion.
Tins change however eongeDia TO our wishes and con-
ducye TO our happiness will not take effect without
respectful expression OF sentiments TO you gentle
men for your assdulty Alteut 3n and dislnlefested
punctuality in the temporary administration Of the 60
yernment OF Louisiana
The officers Of the militia Of ST. Louis, on
the same occasion, at the close oil an address
10 the Governor, said:
Accept, sir, these sentiments the pledge Of our
afeciionae attachment you. and TO the magnanmous
policy by which you have been guided May the Chief
Magistrate Of the American nation duly estimate your
worth and talents, and long keep you 10 station where
you have your power gain hearts by virIuoas ac-
lions, aid promulg gate laws among men who know how
to respect you, and acquainted with the extent oi
their rights
In 1909, the House Of Representatives Of
Indiana, in a resolution unanimously request
ing of the President TO reappoint Governor
Harrison, used the following language:
/ "They (the House of Representatives, cannot for
bear recommending and requesting Of the President
and Senate most earnestly ~ their own names, and IN
the OF their constituents the disappointment OF
their present Governor, William Henry Harrison
because he the good wishes aud affections OF
great nsJonty of It's felow.czens because they be-
heye hun be sincerely attached the Union, the
prosperity OF the United States, and the administration
Of It's government because they believe him 10 supe-
ror degree capable OF promoting the interest OF our
territory, from long experience aud laborous attention
10 its concerns from his influence the Indians and
wise and dsintercsted management Of that department
and because they have confidence in his virtues, talents
an6fepubicanism"
And the officers OF the militia Of Knox
county passed the following resolution:
Resolved, That the attention paid and the unremit-
ted exertions used by William Henry Harrison, TO
game and dsclpne by frequent trainings the militia
OF the territory and The mastery skill aud military
lonts displayed IN such his exertons together With the
anxious soci,ude with which he has watched
the peace and happiness OF the territory which may
be AIDED, the confidence reposed IN him by the neigh
boring tribes Of Indians and the great facility and
with which he manages their affairs, induce this meet
Ing to have great confidence IN hun, eninently quail
talents, but also his integrity, patriotism, and firm
attachment to the General Government
| With these most honorable testimonials to
his worth and capacity as Governor of the
/ Territory Of Indiana, this part Of the subject
may well be closed, for the purpose OF pro-
ceeding to other matters Of deep and wide
interest.
COMMISSIONER AND SUPERINTENDENT OF
| INDIAN AFFAIRS.
| We have seen that, in addition to his ordi-
nary duties in the civil and military govern
ment Of the Territory Of Indiana, Governor
Harrison was also Commissioner to treat with
! the Indians, and Superintendent of Indian At
fairs in the Northwest, in which capacity he
negotiated a large number Of important trea.
ties, and conducted all the relations of the
United States With the Indians, in spirit Of
mingled dignity, decision and humanity, alike
honorable TO himself and to the Federal Co
vernment. His voluminous correspondence
with the Government on these matters appears
in the official documents of the day. and is
distinguished by minuteness Of detail the full
and accurate statement Of facts, benevolent
and enlightened policy. and consderate re-
gard as well for the rights and interests Of the
Indians themselves, as of the whole inhabi-
tants of the Territory. The same spirit Of
equity, forbearance, and maniness, in this re-
spect, pervades his addresses 10 the Legsla-
ture Of Indiana, whenever occasion called for
any reference to the subject.
Similar traits were manifested by him in
his immediate intercourse with the Indians.
This Departmental public duty, always DIFF
fcult one to discharge judiciousy, was EN-
phatically so at that period. he Northwest
was then filled, not only with the tribes who
had originally hunted there, but with the
broken remnants Of other tribes,-men whom
the alrocous policy of Great Britain had IN
weighed into war against US, and who, now
smarting under successive defeats, and scat
tered oven the country, constituted the ready
elements Of disorder, if any of the chances
Of events should offer them inducements to
raise the hatchet anew. Nor were they with
out continual excltements to hostility ii was
part OF the system of Great Brtan,-a sys-
tenn not yet renqushed,- to assemble the
tribes Of the Northwest annually at a conve-
nient point on the Lakes and there TO pay and
deliver to them regular war subsidy, as the
price of their allegiance to Britain and enmity
TO the United States. The British traders IN
the Northwest spared no pains to misrepre-
sent the acts Of the People and Government
Of the United States, and to thwart all our
endeavors either 10 keep the peace in that re-
gion, or to raise the Indians to the condition
of a civilized and Christian people. There,
too, AS almost every where else, the Indians
were their own worst enemies, by their obsti-
nate adherence to the usages Of savage life,
their reputation Of all regular government,
and their consequent exposure to the criminal
acts of bad men along the frontier, who, from
avarice and profligacy, supplied fatal nutrl-