The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-19


DER Their command for their galIanty and good con
duct In defeating the combined British and Indian
forces under Major General Proctor, the Thames,
VI Upper Canada, on the fifth of October one thou
sand eight hundred and thirteen, capturing the British
ss s he siBS s sna s
requested to two gold medals to be struck
eanstical Of his triumph, and presented to General
Harrison and Isaac Shelby, late Governor of Ken
scky H. CLAY,
A3 Speaker Of the House Of Reps
JOHN GAILLARD,
President of the Senate, pro tenn.
April 4, lsls.-Approved: JAMES MONROE.
This, repeat, is the final Judgment of Con
gress and of the nation upon the whole matter.
II IS as idle and uncandid to undertake to inn
peach this judgment now, by one-sided publica-
lions OF the facts or discussions that preceded
the Judgment, as ii would be to rip up the one
sided evidence of any other judgment of the tri-
punal which had tried and settled a cause be-
fore it,
Nor, If this were thing just and fair to be
done, IS there any thing in those facts or discus
sions otherwise than in the highest degree ho-
n0rable to General Harrison. When it was
proposed to bestow on him and his gallant army
the wel-earned thanks Of the nation, he was
made the object Of envious and groundless
charges in the Senate; as who that is a conspi-
cuous mark, and whose life is an eventlhis one,
may not be accused? The action of the Senate
was suspended to investigate those charges
They Were investigated. And we have the
unanimous vote of thanks Of Congress to prove
that the charges were false; we have the unani-
nous report of committee of the House of Re
representatives., of which Richard M. Johnson
was chairman, to prove that what of charge
was committed to them to examine was utterly
false, and that General, Harrison, in his phoie
conduct as commander, was ssgoverned by
laudable zeal for, and devotion to the service !"
we have the unanimous vote Of the House upon
that report to affirm and perpetuate its effect !;
we have the speeches of Mahlon Dckerson, of
New Jersey, Of James Barbour, of Virginia, and
of John W. Hubert, of Massachusetts, TO pro-
claim and declare, in the public presence, name,
and behalf of either House of Congress, that
EVERY THING, great and small, which had been
charged or insinuated against him, in impeach-
ment of his title to the unanimous thanks of
Congress, was utterly false; and we have the
declaration of Thomas Richie, made at that
time, in view of the whole case, testitying in
the name Of public opinion and the public press,
that "the envious cloud which had gathered
around the head Of Harrison was now FINALLY
AND FOREVER dispersed" Is there Virginian
living, so heated and blinded by party zeal, as to
imagine he can reverse that Judgments Is there
one so ungererous, SO uncandid, so unjust to
that fame of our great men which is the COM
mon property and common good OF all OF US, that
he would desire to reverse it? will not be-
lieve, II there be any such, that they will re-
ceive appreciation or concurrence from the gene
rous minded spirit which am proud to think
characterizes my native Commonwealth.
OF the craftsmanship of General Harrison, as
developed during his long service as Governor
OF Indiana Territory, and Superintendent Of the
Indians of the Northwest, as a Delegate in
Congress from the Northwestern Territory, as a
Representative in Congress from Ohio, as a Sc
nator in Congress, have no room to speak at
length. l pray you to read his published speeches
and official addresses, and to then enter into the
patriotic impulses, and the enlarged wisdom,
which mark the man and confidently believe
you will conclude with me that, as well by his
services in the field as in the council, he is APP
proved to be true disciple of Washington, JEFF
ferson, Madison, and Monroe, names Of honor
TO Virginia, and worthy to add another to the
roll Of great men whom she has sent from her
bosom to preside over the destinies of America.
| am well aware, fellow-ciizens, that my for
mer opposition to General Harrison, and some
disparaging remarks which made about his ca
pacity and fitness for the Presidency, have been,
and will be again brought up in judgment against
me, with a view to convict me of inconsistency.
Misled by the vile ISLANDERS which were perpe-
trated upon General Harrison deceived by those
calumnies which fioated in masses through the
filthy columns of party press, and ignorant alike
of General Harrison, his true character, and his
distinguished public services, | did give ute
rance, in the ardent zeal of strong party feeling,
to sentiments, in relation to General Harrison,
unjust to him, and unworthy of myself. But
with the light of truth, with the recorded evil
dence before me, that | erred, feel that, as a
man of honor, can do nothing less than retract
what | have improperly and ignoranty said,
and leave the malignant, the vindictve, and the
iery partisan to make the most off am proud,
fellow-citizens, that have lived to see the day
when can do this act of justice to an injured
man; and that among the cloud of missiles
which malignity and envy have hurled at that
distinguished patriot and statesman, the little ar
row which sped may be arrested in its fight,
and fall harmless at his feet Much more honor
able is it to retract unjust imputation, than to
Islander and defame him who had been the sub
iect of my highest eulogy. | utterly disregard
all that has been or may be said against me on
this account and leave my accusers to revel at
their pleasure in the venomous slime of their own
vindictve and malignant feelings.
In the course Of my political experience, fell
low-citizens, have never been able to learn the
modern " sink or swim" system of opposing un-
wise and dangerous principles and measures, by
eecting to the councils of the nation their friends
and advocates. cannot, for my life, perceive
how bad measures can be successfully resisted
by talking against them when voting for them.
This theory is so sublime, and the reasons by
which it is supported subtle, that they arc be-
yond my comprehension. So much so, that
am impracticable to the teachings Of the dstin-
guished professor Of the school of political casuis
try and jugglery at Richmond, and most respect
fully decline discipleshp to his system.
now, fellow-citzens, close this communica-
ton, and avow that, whatever of neal or no
may come out Of it, | will oppose with all the
energy am master Of, the reelection Of Martin
Van Buren,, and support that Of William Henry
Harrison. In this contest am exercising my
rights of neutrality-suspicious. the duties OF a
freeman, and shall not be deferred from their
faithful execution by any denunciation which