Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-09-12
From the Cincinnati Gaaetts.
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SPEECH OF GEN. HARRISON.

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From the Cincinnati Gazette.
SPEECH OF GEN. HARRISON.
Some few days since we noticed the celebration
at Forr Greenyille, and mentioned that Gen. Harri-
son addressed the crowd. We now cut from the
Eaton Register, the Generals speech to the peo.
pie; considering it TOO coed to be pissed over,
FRIENDS AND FELLow-CITIzENs 1t is with no
Slight gnaion that undertake TO address YOU On
this occasion. Nor am | a little embarrassed for
words wherowith to express my deep sense of your
kindness toward me, manifested by the friendlness
and magnanimity OF your greeting. | must re-
ceiVe different nature, become something more
or less than what am, than what any man, while
living, can be, before can cease to remember and
appreciate the too favorable regard and the kind
demonstration of respect for me of my ellOw-cili-
zen, here present My heart yields up TO you the
homage of It's deepest gratitude, though my tongue
Expresses it not.
Fellow citizens, you are all aware of the posi-
ton that occupy before the American people
being a candidate Of portion Of them for the
Presidency of the United Safes. 1t will doubt =
less be said by some that am here for the purpose
Of eectioneering for myself, that | have come to
solicit your votes, but, believe ine, gentlemen this
is not the case | am present on this OCCASION bat
a. an invited guest of the citizens Of Dark. Itis
ny deliberate opinion and sincere desire that the
bestuWment of Office should be the free act of the
people and have 10 wish to bias their judgment
unjustly in my favor. But, Notwithstanding my
wish and determination not TO engage as p0liti
clan in the pending canvass for officers to admin
istor the General Government although would
have preferred to remain with my family in the
and quiet Of our log cabin at the Bend, rather
than become engaged in political or other dipute,
rs the advocate OF my own recttude OF conduct,
yet, from the continued torrent Of calumny that
has been poured upon me, from the SANDERS,
abuses, and Ooloquy which have been prumulgl ned
and circulated to my discrelt, designed to aspprse
and blacken my character, and from the villanOus
aud false charges urged against me by the pension
ed presses % this Administration, my attendance
at this celebration appeared 70 have been MADE
act OF necessity, step which was compelled to
take for solt-detence. Chiefly 70. this purpose
nave ! come among you, and trusting you Will ali
perceive the prnprGty Of this course, it seems su-
peridouS 10 add any further reasons for its ad0p-
lion.
Years ago, fsow-citi2ens, when / left this
spot-fos aught knew, for the last time--I had
little idea u! the surprising change Waich would
pe wrought in ITS appearance during tie time
which has pcrvened.-Never did expect to stand
here and behDd such scene rs this. II resembles
somewhat the recent sieyc of "O.d Fort Melrs -
am now SiXty-seven years Of aye. huve there
fore lived to behold much Of the glory OF my coun-
try; have ven the pa!ny days of this Republic I;
aud especially have | witnessed many Of the brli-
liant events which have characterized The gro VIM
greatness of the lovely West but this very dn,
and lis Incidents mark an epoch in my own history,
the ike Of which have seldom experienced It
i now twenty-five gears since last [ vas at Fort
lfrcenviie then surrounded by dense forest.
dark and dvear. At that period there wa, scarce
Log Cabin between Grcenye and Cncinnati--
al between was one entire, uuaruken wi ldprne,-
How wonderfully and how spe ldilY have the giant
woods bOwpd their stately tops to The industry and
erprisa of Western pioneers, as if some magic
pJNer had cleayed them from the earth! And now
in their stead what do We behold! Broad, cult.
waited field, fowery gardens, and happy homes
Delightful picturr--gratItying change Proud re.
lection that this transition Of things is the result
Of the handi@ork Of Western People--of American
freemen.
Felow-citizens, YOU have undoubtedly seen il
ptten times stated in certain class OF Dgrs
that | am very decrepid old man, obliged to hob
bic about crut,hes; that / was Gagged up, and
that could not speak loud enough to be heard more
than four or five feet distant, in consequence uf
which last misfortune | am stigmatzed with the
cognomen Of "Geueral Mum" You perceive
however, that these stories are false. But there
are some Other more serious matters CHARGED
against me, which shall take the iibe- ty to prove
untrue. You know it ha, been said BY some, that
| / nave no principles that dare not uvuw any
|
lance Of a "cOmmittee," All this is fase-uncon,
ditonoliy, VIGOROUSLY FALSE. The charge Of my
being ia the keeping Of committee is the only
one that seems to merit moments consideration
md that barely to indicate its origin. A few
nuathS past almost every mail that has come to the
pJ7, Office at which receive M etters a nd papers
mas brought me greater or less NJ u Der of let
ters--all Of which | have ope ed ana examined
Some Of them have proved abusive aud contempti-
| BILE, designed especially 70 taunt and insult anf
such were, of COURSE consigned to the flames
But, on the other hand, letters decorously written
FOR the purpose of eliciling information have beer
uniformly replied to, either by myself persona
or by some one acting under my authority and
| iheying my nstructions--communica my opin-
IONS and not his own. Is there any thing criminal
ur improper in this mode of doing business !
Surely, my friends, trow not.
Now, with regard to the political condition o.
our common country, trust there is no improperly
in my addressing you upon subjects concerning the
public veal. What means this great eommotion'