The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-25

thar have always deemed il wrong Tor any man -
10 be permitted TO solicit or accept inc ONCE =.
| President of the United States longer than ior
one term. | desire the election OF HARRISON not
indeed because he has been nominated by an
/ irresponsible body Of men calling themselves
| NofionoI Conrenfion of Whigs, Convention
unknown 10 the Constitution oil the Oh'eo
| States. which sacred instrument contains ample
nrovision 10 enable the People and the states 70
make am election according 10 the law OF the
land. but because believe him to be a Uhig m
rr;ucipie. as Washington, and Pendleton, and
Henry were-a Democratic Wing, Tor ms
country against the world, but never for the pur-
| noses OF an ntolerant party. wish him 10 De
| elected, because he has proved himself TO be an
honest man, and 10 possess that high degree Oh
moral courage which Will prompt him to encoun-
ter any danger to do his duty honestly and iaith-
fully and because | am sure he does not pos
sess that airocious hardihood-Inisnamed cour-
age--which would prompt him reckiessiy 70 RIO
late the Constitution. II he should be elected,
am convinced he will appoint to once no man
but such as he shall be assured is h0nesf ana
capable, and faithful 10 the Constitution ana
laws, and am equally sure he VIII remove none
from Office but such as he may find TO have been
incompetent, or such as were appointed uPon,,
mere party principles ; and, above all, ne Will
do whatever is lawful, necessary, and proper, 10
put the country in state OF defence and aiiord
effective protection 10 the frontier settlements,
and prove by his official acts, rather than by
promises that may be broken, that he viii De the
President of the United States, and never the
President of party"
stIt will be recollected by some OF General
Harrisons once seemingly devoted, but late
Questionable friends, that, while under his i'm
mediate command in 13, Iendeavored to shield
him from the intrigues of some OF those dan
gerous friends, by resisting their attempts to
forestall public opinion by lawless combination
10 vindicate, in idle rords and opinions, his
conduct, which could be indicated in proper
manner only by actions and which he was
then preparing to vindicate, and did soon vnd-
cate, by vigorous movement upon the enemy.
then commended, and do still contend, that the
right way to vindicate public officer is, to sup
press no fact, sustained or sustainable by truth
' nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice.
ITO give him vigorous support by acts, ra-
ther than by lpOrds, then Withheld my sigma
ture, and strenuously opposed the signing, on
the part of certain inexperienced general and
field officers of the army, paper which we
could not sign without violation Of military
law. But now that am no longer under the
command of General Harrison--now that hun
dreds of acrimonious scribblers are endeavoring
to cover him with defamation, and among them,
mournful TO relate one who, with slenderer claims
upon the magnanimity Of his enemies, or the
sympathy Of his friends has been himself res
cued from the fangs Of detraction, and honored
with unmeasured tokens of public appreciation
one who, though deemed by his friends to have
been lid
Born for the universe has narrowed his mind
And to party given up what meant for mankind,
has volunteered to throw the weight of has once
gigantic influence into the scale of rancorous
party scandal against the honest the amiable,
the illuminated patriot, WILLIAM HENRY HAIR
RsoN, who has calmly remained in dignifed re-
tirement for many years and for more hard and
more faithful service than any United States of
fcer now living has ever rendered has remained
unrewarded and unnotced, or noticed only with
the alternate smiles and buffetings Of contend
ing factions under these circumstances, | can
not hesitate, though unsolicited by him, to write
a letter for his vindication, having, with equal
cheerfulness, in the year 1928, at the request of
General Jackson, written more than one letter to
vindicate his conduct against the attacks OF his
and my old friends"