The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-26

IN one word, there STOOD calm and collected n
the midst OF coniending hosts, the gallant HAIR
RisoN.
He was there 10 resist an invasion of his ma
tive land, to rcpel his countrys foes TO save 70,
us the boundless plains Of the green and bud
ding West that here, in the midst of peace
and abundance, the sons of freedom Of every
chime might find heritage and home. liz
was there, not to protect a cultivated garden
spot Of earth from the tramp of the enemy, non
TO save from wreck the palaces of rich and
luxurious people, but to defend those who, like
himself, drew their sustenance by patient labor
from the lap OF their mother earth-the honest,
hardy, and worthy inmates OF the log cabins
which then were scattered over the fertile re-
gions OF the land for which he fought. He was
then, as he had before, and has ever since been,
emphatically the friend and defender of the
humble cabins, against those who would DESTROY
their peaceful repose. He occupies now the
same position AS in war he opposed his breast
TO the ruthless invader, so now, in peace, his
name IS an impossible barrier 10 the progress of
those reckless foes of the happiness and pros
perity OF the land, who would PROSTATE alike
high places and humble habitations, stately
mansions and homey cabins, in the attempt to
fix the yoke Of their power on a confding peo-
pie, and on the Blended necks of a snbjaga,sd
nation to build the fabric Of their despotism.
This man is now, after years of neglect, pre-
sented TO the people Of the United States, for
whose homes and happiness he fought, as a can
didate for the first Office in their gift Eleven
years ago, when discharging the duties of an
important station abroad, in which he had been
placed by an enlightened administration of the
general government, he was, after an arduous
service Of his country, through period of thir-
ty-eight years. driven by the will Of one man,
INTO the rural retirement Of his early home,
whence now he is called forth, by the sponta-
neous voice Of millions of freemen, expressed
through convention, which in intelligence,
virtue and patriotism, has never been exceed
by any equal body Of men assembled in our
land. They who composed il had but one mind
and one heart, and that was for their country's
good Their deliberations were characterized
with the oftiest spirit of selfdenial, and self
sacrifice. They were literally without fear
and without reproach." Ii seemed that the spi-
rit, which, in an age just passed, had given il
sell utterance in pledge Of lives, and fortunes,
and sacred honor, to sustain our independence,
had revisited the land, and taken temporary
abode in that body Of high-souled, unbending
patriots Amongst them the Vaccinations OF
the willy politician would have been as unavail-
ing as in other bodies, pretending to popular re-
presentation, they had been successful. Power
then could have exerted no influence; for il
would have broken itself in pieces on the iron
shield Of patriotism which covered the delibera-
tons that were going on. The stealthy tread Of
the fox, and the startling roar Of the lion, would
have been equally unseen and unheard.
BY body thus constituted, embracing in it.
self every element of greatness and every sec
tional interest and feeling--comng fresh from
the fountain Of all power, the interrupted peo-
ple-was the name of the veteran hero Of the
west sent before the nation. The effect that
followed the annunciation was as instantaneous
and powerful as the lightning's fash. The man,
his deeds, and his glory, came up in the memo
ny OF thousands; reviving recolections that
walked their very soul; stirring up long for
gotten feelings; and heraldng the, near at
tainment of the end they aimed at the restora-
ton Of the government to it's original purity.
Banners were opened to the breeze, bon-fres
were kindled, and from hilltop to hilltop over
the whole land, the beacon lights of freedom
cleaned, signalling to the myrmidons Of power
the approach of their downfall, and to the friends
of true republicanism, their return to the places,
which for eleven years had been desecrated by
the presence Of corruption and the grasp Of mis-
rule. AS the waters of the majestic sea are up
heaved by the tempest's lash, so il seemed were
the hearts and the impulses of the people. In
the midst of intense suffering and universal stag
nation, they heard in the name of HARRISON an
old and well-remembered sound that, in times
long past, was tower of strength against the
approach of their country's foes. That name,
they knew, had not been nourslIed into life in
the hot beds of self-consttuted and spurious de-
mocracy. There was no glory around it Dor
rowed from service under any chief; none which
it had not earned in the council halls, and on
the blood stained fields of our country's honor
In the few letters that composed il, they read
volumes of Mountaineering and soul-st;rring his
tory. Turning TO the imperishabe records of
departed time, they found il spread all over their
pages in bright and living characters. To it an
American might ever point as the Roman
mother did, when, in her children, she displayed
the jewels which she had for Rome. 1t was
name on which there rested not single shade
or stain which had been tried in the balance
Of upwards Of thirty years arduous service and
was never found wanting; which was written
with indelibe impression on the hearth stones
of ten thousand habitaions, made peaceful, con
tented, and happy by the bravery of him who
bears IL; and which, TO sum up all, was worthy
to be inscribed on the great Wing banner, I'M
der whose ample folds the American people are
destined speedily to return to the glory of their
brighter days.
Such is the man whom we have met this day
to honor; such the enthusiasm with which his
name has been and is heard over the length and
breadth of the land Why this enthusiasm
Why these irrepressibe and imposing outbreaks
of popular feeling2 Why are the great deeps
of the peoples emotions thus heaving with tu-
mutuous agitation? And why do the cohorts
of power turn pale and waver and fall back /?
The reason IS plain, pure, tried, brave and
faithful man, from among The people, is before
them. He is, empbatically, one of them Their
sympathies are all with him. Their hearts feel
for him, and their judgments approve him. The
brave man who went forth TO battle under him,
see once more in the field their brother in arms,
their fellow-soder, and their friend their daunt-
less and manly General their unconquered
leader. They remember the battles that he
fought and won; they know that in war he
"nerer sustained a defe0t" The Log Cabin