The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-06
S~eatp-str Congress.
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WEDNESDAY,, June 3, 1870


'ft WEDNESDAY, june 3, 1870
CHARACTER AND OPINIONS OF GENERAL HARRISON.
The debate which sprung up yesterday on the pcti
ton Of Mr. Reynolds, Of Ohio who had been arbiirs
rIy removed from Office by Amos Kendall, was turned
by Mr. Allen OF Ohio into discussion in reference
10 the character and conduct Of General Harrison II
was renewed To day with great spirit
Mr. ALLEN asked Mr.. Cnttenden to say whether
the letter which has been gong the rounds Of the
press and which was read by the Secretary yester
day-the letter signed by Messrs. Wright, Gwinn
M. CRfTTENDEN answered that he had no per
sonaI knowledge on the subject. He had not
General Harrison for ten years nor had he been adj
sised from any source TO the letter. The Senator
from Ohio knew az much about Il as he did He pre-
sumed il was genuine, and he challenged any one to
point out any thing improper or exceptonable IN ~ II
some OF the intimate friends Of General Harrison did
relieve him IN some degree from the burden OF an
tensiye correspondence there any thing wrong in
that II there was, he had at least distinguished au
thority for t-not less high than the example Of Gen
Jackson himself
But he submitted to the country and to the Senate
whether il was to be expected that who had
spent his whole life in the service of his country
whose opinions and principles had been openly g.
cared and avowed, and stood on record in votes, in
speeches in. public Ieters-whose conduct had stool
in full blaze of light before his countrymen-was il
10 be expected required that a tried and so
known, should throw open his door every interro-
gator whether prompted by merely idle and impcrti-
nen curiosity by the sinister desire of discovering
something which might be turned to his dsady antagc?
Was 10 be expected that all the political adversares
Of General Harrison and the political friends Of Mr.
Van Buren, were TO require the industrious farmer
North Bend to devote his time to answering every
question they choose to put
What subject is it they wish to be informed upon
in regard 10 which his opinions perfectly well
known2 And do gentlemen seriously imagine that
the people Of the United States will find fault with
..ss... sxlls Al.
impairment curiosity?
No. they had no idea of such an abuse of hospitality
and freedom.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN well said that those who are
pretending much anxiety to know the opinions of
Gen. Harrison, and who making such clamor
about alleged concealment DISCUSSES, &c. &c, are
neither honest nor sincere. They seek for declara
tons from him. for the sake Of information, but in
the hope Of finding something to carp at and quarrel
with. Their designs illustrated in the they
have made Of the letters he has published the sub
iect Of abolition The very letters which contained
the expressions Of his most decided hostility to the
schemes Of the abotonists have been taken, and By
mutilation and garb,ing actually employed to demon
from the documents that these letters had been thu
perverted and abused.
Mr. CRITTENDEN maintained that Gen. Jack
son had pursued the very same course which is now
made topic OF such heavy accusation against the
peoples candidate
Mr. c. read an extract from a letter Of Gen. Jack
son TO the Illinois Legislature in which he declared
that in answering then questions, because they We're
friendly he departed from fixed determination not
to answer inquiries" Yet Gen Harrison was re
qured answer all the questions Of all his enemies
Mr. g. also read extract from Mr.. Van Buren,,
opposed TO Clinton ON account Of the Canal and IN
favor of Rufus King, in which "fppant professions
sighted worthless and the life and conduct
set up the proper standard of the merits and
qualifications of public man. But Gen. Harrison
had avowed his sentiments expressly and fully for IN
his reply to the nomination of the Harrisburg Con
vention he had made direct reference to of his
letters written in 1885, for the sole purpose of making
full and public avowal Of his opinions which rcfe
by him rendered those two letters authentic
expose Of his present sentiments
Mr.. CRrrrENDEN again asked, Is man of high
character, selected by large number of his fellow
citizens their candidate for the Presidency to sub
init himself to be examined like n suspected witness by
every enemy who may think fit to become his interro-
gator No. Mr.. Van Buren, himself has declared it
TO be g commendable dccacy and orbearance'' in
candidate for high Office to refuse to do any such thing
and the sentiment did honor TO Mr. Van Buren,
Professions easily made with fippancy, and dis
regarded without scruple and ought rather to dis
trust public man who comes forward with golden
store of all sorts Of opinions and professions tempting
this one and the other. Take mans life and con-
duct and judge him by them, that is rule Every
other is unsafe.
Mr. CRITTEsDEN then entered upon glowing and
triumphant vndicaton of the peoples candidate against
the groundless imputation Of conceaing his opinions
The views, the sentiments the principles of HARRISON
he maintained, are well known to his countrymen.
His reputation is not of recent growth II is the pro
ducton Of half century. The people have him
in the council and in the field. They have seen him
discharge the highest and most responsible duties
soldier and as statesman. They have seen him pos
sessed Of power, and in the midst of temptations that
have seldom encompassed any man and he has passed
through the ordeal proved man, tested man. with
out stain, without blemish, without n spot As a
civilian, what have you in his conduct but wis
dom, purity, and integrity As commander of your
armies what have you had but victories under his lead
and direction Yes, and victories in fields of hard
ship and danger, of which the present generation
form no conception from actual experience, Men sit
ting here quietly surrounded by the rappngs OF State
and all the appliances of wealth and luxury read
of battles; and they comfortably turn the pages,
they may wonder how any great degree of public
honor and glory spring from having participated in
the described The pers the tolls, the suffer
ngs of the old soldier unknown and unfelt by the
aspiring demagogue, who fippantly deprcciates his
character and claims and so may the little politicians
of the hour disparage the title the gratitude of his
countrymcn which General HARRIsoN won by stand
ing up for years in the service of his country.
Mr. CRrrEsDRN alluded very happily to those
bright features of our HARRsoN's noble character
his moderation and his humanity. Where is the in
stanccin which all that great power and popularity
which he obtained had been employed for the in
jury or oppression Of single human being No,
one example can be given and this fact constitutes
proudcr monument to his honor than all his ilustrous
actions in war, or his distinguished services in peace