Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-06-11
GEN. HARRIsON'S POVERTY.

Those who wrongly claim the name of
democrats when Gen. HARRISON was presen-
ted as candidate for the Presidency sneered
at the obscurity of his Office of clerk, at his
humble residence, and frugal fare. They
soon found that such positions were not like
ly to be favorably received by those who es
teemed honest industry and republican sim
plicity of life.
Then the tone was changed, and we heard
of the princely revenues of the ssobscure
clerkship," the splendid magnifcence of the
''log ca5in,' and the luxury of the farmers
beverage of s'hard cider.''
letter from Gen. Harrison himself, adj
dressed to friend, without the intention of
publication, on the 18th of February last,
has been printed in the Boon's Lick Times.
The correspondent of the gallant soldier,
prudent statesman, and true-hearted farmer
of North Bend, believed that he might take
the liberty of giving to the Public commune
cations designed for his own eye alone, for
the purpose of refuting the ISLANDERS which
have been so unjustly circulated.
Look at the extract which follows, from a
letter containing statements made with the
sincerity with which friend speaks to friend,
bearing the evidence of truth in it's plain and
direct style:
81 have actually, from necessity, been o.
bliged to give up the correspondence ofmany
of my best friends. Having given I'D nv
office to my son-in-law, which, from the Gre
alton of new circuit, with similar civil iu-
risdictioh, affords only to him decent sup
| port, 1t became necessary to raise the families
of three deceased sons, and one living one
| solely dependent upon me, and to pay the in
terest of some ten thousand dollars of debt,
to make the greatest personal exertions with
the means which my farm afforded. / ac.
cordingly made contracts for supplying large
quantities of stone and lime, and wood fo1
burning three millions Of brick, for the use O,
tunnel of canal which is being made
through my land. Throughout the summe,
and autumn was employed almost daily
| from early dawn until night, in this business
Every moment OF my spare time was occu
pied in, the attempt to keep up my correspon
| dence, but it was in vain. Many other let
tiers, assure you, besides yours, of the same
period, remain unanswered to this day.
Those who claim to be peculiarly demo
cratic Ieproach Gen. Harrison with the crime
OF poverty. They say that a man who doet
not take good care of his own individual in
terest is not fit TO be trusted with those Of tn,
Public. 1t is unhappily too true that Jeffer
son suffered under pecuniary embarrassment
that he parted with his noble library Il
: supply his necessities-and that he permitte,
measures to be taken which were really ap
. peals to the gratitude and charity of his Ma
, tive State and of the nation.
: Do the modern patriots mean to assert tn
general principle that poor man ought no
to receive the confidence of the people!
Whatever troubles may have disturbed In
private affairs Of General Harrison, they hav
sprung from causes so honorable to him, thu
= even those who have sought to cast reproac
upon his character cannot fail in their secrt
thoughts to admire the manly spirit whic
> has furnished them with occasion for the i,
: diligence of the bitter hatred of party hostilt