Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-10-08
HEAR THE TESTIMONY or ANOTHER
GALLANT OFpICEp

. AaAk
GALLANT OFFICER
We Rnd in the Commercial Advertiser m eio-
qusn, address Of the veoersbie ard brave G,-
neral Solomon Van Rensselaer,, the yeuthfuI
companion IN arms Of General Harrison, and
the firm friend q has riPet years. 1t was read
TO great gathering ct the people in The county
OF wssiehesler. New York, en- Thursday last
General Van Rensselaer, lungs having Teen
perforated with a bullet IN the battle VI Miami,
were too weak to allow him 10 speak 10 Field
Meeting. General Van corslandf, Who was enc
Of the electors Of jefferson. presided.
Il was ,ae day, too-September 2Iih-Ihe au-
spicious day.on which Major Andre Vas espiur-
el. The thrilling revolutionary events Of ,ha,
brave county rose IN fresh remembrance The
spot Of his capture was not many miles from the
J log cabin dedicated 10 defend those sacred
! rights secured TO US BY that early and bloody
struggle.
Animated and eoquen, speeches were made
, by the Hon. .. Hoffman and Others. General
Van Rensselaer, bears the following high iestirno-
ny to the military and moral worth Of Gen Har-
TisoE -.Hsdisoaiaf.
II have been the companion. ard
have been honored by the iriedship OF
General HaIfison from my earliest youth.
| When sabre and rifle clashed together 40
deadly Tray, saw Sim bearing the orders
Of General Wayne into the thickest OF
the tight-cool, collected. and undismay-
ed. lie who dares TO call him a coward
uters the creates, Of ialsehocds. and for
/ ever covers himself with shame. here
I bear witness 10 his undsunted bravery,
ADD pronounce that maa knave or fool
who asserts so base and so groundless an
untTuih. Mo- Let the administration
pension i,s presses. and scatter its Ieasu-
~ notes; and let IT perpetaate It's airoci-
ties IN what shape it will; but let il pause
+ ere IT ias,en on the reputation OF the spot.
less, or cslumniate the faycrlte OF the peo-
I pie.
/ IL vas but feS weeks since had tbs
+ pleasure OF being guest OF this great and
good man IN his cabin at North Bend.
saw him there for the first time in several
years and found, as all his friends have
found, the siriHg ofthe latch on The outside
No golden cups or silver pla;eaus decorat-
ed his simple. but generous board. The
plenty OF an American farmer. not the ex-
iravseance Of foreign manners, alone
distinguished his hospitality. Hundreds
and thousands had visited him the mast
sumn er, and none left him without ac-
krowledging the beautiful conformity Of
his life with his principles; none babe
him farewell without feeling assured they
should meet him again, not, perhaps, on
the banks OF the Ohio. but the Potomac
and there putting in practice those repub-
iican doctrines 10 which the White House
has been too long a stranger.
Il found him hard at work on his farm
rising with the earliest dawn, 10 attend 10
business, and literally earning his bread
by the sweat Of his brow. Age has scarce
ly touched him. His figure is erect and
un5ent His eye, full offre, bespeaks his
energy OF purpose, and his whole appear
snce gives the assurance OF bis being in
the vIgor OF health and strength.
In conversation he is agreeable, in.
struciiye, and kind. When be speaks in
public, conviction follows his periods. d"
J To extraordinary merit he adds the Ut
most mo1esty, and he, OF all others, SAYS
the least o! his own achievements. Init
mate as | am with him. | never heard him
utter sentence, or saw him do an action.
unworthy Of such a man: and he himself
has never sought The distinction which
the people are now resolved be shall at
Su' IA suoi'i no one can DC WIN MN
without feeling deeply the excelleney OF
his character and bis fitness for the sta
ton Of President.
Il again IePea, that be Is worthy Of his
reputation, and qualified to discharge, in
every respect. the importan. duties about
to devolve upon him. My friends, what
can say more 10 you on this subject,
than to ask whether you will permit on
OF your earliest and lruest friends 10 be
slandeTed out Of your esteem; know
you will not"