The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-05-01
nARRIsoN,s STATESMAN.

VAR - The Federal presses az usual,
are laudipg this letter to the skies, and
could they, poor souls, they would BY
some magic wand. give il wings that
it might wait its author safely into the
| Presidential chair. But 10 attempting
to prove BY this letter, that he is Fl,
man for President, they forget 10 tell,
how he managed the interests Of his
own country, while meddiing with the
business and interests Of another. No,
ihay are silent. and we'll they may be,
for History tells il and saves them the
trouble. History IS a better criterion
of mans capabilities, than one Of his
own letters. Thore we find recorded
his Craftsmanship, If he had ny-there
we find his heroism, his bravery, lfhe
had any-there we find his General
ship, il he had any-and there wesind
his diplomatic sagacity displayed, if he
lad any 10 display. But in vain may
we look among the IIst Of Heroes, Gen.
erals, Statesmen and Diplomaiists, " no
have honored their country, and immor-
! taiZed themselves In vain we look
on that list for the name of Harrison,
1t is not there--uor never will be. He
is a living dead man in The eyes Of q
majority Of his countrymen; yet those
uuprinciplec presses, are endeavoring
to frown down History, and fill up the
awful blank, with this trivial letter to
Bolivar.
The most important era iA1be civi1 life
Of Harrison was, when he was appoin-
led Minister to Columbia. There he
could have called forth those powers of
mind, which form the Statesman, and
the Diplomatist-there he could, by ac-
vancing the interests Of his country,
al that critical time have earned a pass
pert to renown; but how did he actl
10 the language ofa contemporary, who
has anticipated US in our remarks, "hIs
conduct as Minister, was lmprudent and
vicious in the extreme. He not only
lost to US many concessions, and ad-
vanlages that were eagerly sought for,
and by prudent course oil policy OBJ.
tanned by other nations, but by hrs med
ding Interference with the domestic
arrangements Of the government, and
ibis constant and oliicious identifi-
cation with the partizan politics,
of Columbia, rendered himself so
obnoxious that he barely escaped as
sassinalion; and his recall became a mat
ter of absolute necessity, rather than
that of deliberate choice. Wemust do
Henry Clay the justice to admit. that
he foresaw the unfortunate result oEsuoh
diplomatic appointment He opposed
his nomination as ma ster 10 Columbia,
on the ground of his Incompetence, and
eoquen!y urged the improperly Of such
a selection. His worst anticipations
l were realized. Harrison was recalled;
and while the blush of shame mantled
upon the cheek, and the trown Of indig-
nation darkened The brow Of every true
American at The dishonor his nation had
experienced, through the ignorance and
incapacity ofits representative; even
the best friends of the dlsgraced Envoy
concealed themselves, or kept sudinus-
ly silent, unable or unwilling toutier a
syllable 10 exlenuation Of his egregiious
EiBul,s."
"But sensible as hemust have been
of the odium he had acquired by touch
,ng The national pride ofa young though
naughty republic, cons clous ll.at he had
essentially INFUSED her interests, and
had wrought out nothing 10 benefit her
CONNER ce, or introduce abroad, on ia
Vorabie terms her manufactures, did he,
like an honest man, Too independent Ia
appropriate the wages of idleness, re-
| IIinquIsh his salary! Did he refuse 10
accept of that, for which through 'his
gross mcapacIiy. he had been unable to
render an equivalent i? No with the
appetite Of aVarice he not only deman-
, ded and received the full payment 'fol
! every day he had been misrepresenting
, mis- nation, but coolly charged, and i'm.
pudenlly pocketed his ga 65 per day
for upwards Of one hundred and twenty
} six days, duringthe whole Of which tint
: he was quietly living luxuriousfy idle a
home upon his farm OF two thousand a
cree, neglecting the duties assigned hin
+ as Minister and Envoy 10 distant go,
, ernment -
Q "These things are matters Of history
and painted with veracIIy of colorin,
too natural for dispute. We have no
e exaggerated, but have delnested ,ht
a bare proportions of group Of seriou
f facte; and ere we leave this part of III
}, subject, we would candidly ask our reat
# ers, if'a man incapable Of honorably rep
resendug the People Of these Unite
States ABROAD, is af all calculate
to hoDorably represent them at HOME
n RHODE ISLAND ELECTION =
Trha Eada avol,ata hnuo .n -. oa..; "A AZ