Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-08
POLITICAL.

POLITICAL.
SPEECH OF GEN. HARRISON, AT FORT GREENvILLE
From the Cjucl,nqr; Ga:,'.cJ
After the meeting was organized, II. DELL, Esq,
rose and introduced Gen Harrison and addressed h'I
as follows:
General Harrison: Having been commissioned by
aroe and respectable portion of my teowcltIzens OF
Dark county tender unto you upon this occasion their
hospitality and good Wishes in their name and stead
welcome YOU 10 "Od Fort Greenvi!le. The citizens
of Dark ike those OF tn" West generally, are gene.
rous people Need assure Won, then, that they viii
hail with sladness the of their ancient and we'll
beloved friend Need declare to YOU on this occasion,
that the invaluable services which you have rendered
not only them but your country a!so-y"ur whole
country-are not yet no, and never Will DC forgotten:
Sir some among US have witnessed your achievements
most of US have read your hstoy-and all have learn
ed the pleasing tale of your high renown-and we re-
gard YOU, therefore than any other man, our BE-
Iefactor And hence affords the highest pleasure
10 greet you here TO day
Twenty seven years have elapsed since The aus
picious period We are this day met 10 commemorate
Twenty.seven years ago, how different, how unlike to
what il now is was this region of country And no."
how changed the scene, Little, indeed, at this time re-
mains, TO remind you aa your comradcs OF other day
of your pas, deeds Nay, few of those comrades
survive TO meet and shake hands with their old acluan
ance on the theatre Of their former action Alas The
greater part are gonethe silver thread Is cot-tbe
.rolden bowl is broken. a few precious few, Of them
yet lve-sca,lered, the fallen leaves OF the forest
over the contiguous plain Here is a little remnant Of
,hem gathered around you. They are come to bd you
perchance last farcmsN The winter of Tame has
frozen their locks To wteness. The have almost
paid The dett of Nature These are the whom first
you led to victory. They batted with you IN our intan
cv and restored peace the frontiers. When Danger
threatened they flew 10 the standard Of their country
With you that couatrys foes they braved. w'th y"r
they fouGht-witiI YOU ticy Suifrrcd-and with you
they iriumpLcd, Yes and with you they will triumph
gam They were faithful to you in yontn, and they
will prove constant IN age. y nation cries unto you
10 BECOME its dcliverrr: The People echo The cTy-Gen
Harrison will obey Again BID YOU welcome--thrce
welcome To vour Old Treaty GrounG.
Mr.. Bell having closed, Gen. Harrison bowed 10 The
conrrega,ed thousands-and after moments survey
of the immense auditory, he addressed the hrong tc
the following effect
FRiENps ,xD FHILow-C!rizESs: lii with no Sigh
emotion that undertake 10 address You this coca
sion. Nor am | h,tle embarrassed for words where
with TO express my deep sense of your kindness to
wards me- manifested by the trrendllness and magma
nimitv of your greeting must recelvea different ma
tire, become something more or less than what am
than what any man, while living, can be, before cal
cease To remember and appreciate the too favorable re
gard and the kind demonstration OF respect tor me 0
nv fellow citizens here present. My heart yields vi
10 YOU the homage of its deepest gratitude, though my
tongue expresses II not.
Fellow citizens you all aware of the position that
] occupy before the American peope-belng candi-
date of potion Of them for the Presidency oil thu
United States II will doubtless be SAID ny some tina
am here for the purpose of reconeering for myself
that have come to solicit your votes, but believe me
gentlemen this is not the present on tins
occasion but invited guest othe citizens OF Dark
1t is deliberate opinion and sincere desire that The
bestowment of Office should be the free act Of the PEG
pie; and | have no wish to bias their judgment un
Justly in my favor. But, Notwithstanding my wisi
and determination not 10 engage as politician in thu
pendnr canvass for officers to administer the Genera
Government, although ! would have preferred To re
main with my family in the peace and quiet OF on
loo cabin at the Bend rather than become enEuned il
political or other disputes the advocate of my OWL
rccttude of conduct, yet, from the continued orren
of calumny that has been poured upon me, from TIT
SANDERS abuse and obloquy which have been pFomnl
gated and circulated to my dScrdit, designed TO as
perse and backen my character, and from the vainou
and false charges urged against by the pensione
presses of this Administration, my attendance AZ TN
celebration appeared to have been made an act o ne
cessty step which compelled to take for sell
defence. Chiefly for this purpose have come anon
you and trusting you will MI perceive the proprey
this course it seems superuous to add any further rea
for its adoption.
Years ago, ftl low citizens, when left this spot
for aught knew, for the last time-l had little idea Q
the surprising change which would be wrought in It
appearance during the time which has supcrvened
Never did expect to stand here and behold such
as this 1t resembles somewhat the recent Ste@
of "Old Fort Meigs' | sixtv-seven year
Of ugc. have therefore lived TO behold much Of tn
glory of my country have the palmy days Q
this Republic; and especially have | witnessed man.
of the brilliant events which have characterized tn
growing greatness Of the lovely West, but this yer
day and lis incidents mark epoch in my own his
tory. The like of which have seldom experienced |
Is now twenty five years since last | at For
Greenyle-then surrounded by dense forest, dar
and drcar At that period there was scarce log ca
hin between Greenville and Cncinna!i-all between
was one entire unbroken wilderness How wonder
fully and how speedily have the giant woods bowe
their stately tops to the industry and enterprise
Western pioneers as if some magic power had cieavr
them from the earth And now in their stead VIVA
do we behold: Broad, cultivated fields, howery gar
dens, and happy homes. Delightful pctnre-gratty
ing change! Proud reflection that this transition 0
ple-of American freemen.
Fellow itizens, you have undoubtedly seen IT often
times stated in a certain class of newspapers an
yery decrepid old man, obliged to hnbble about OF
cru,ches; that was Gagged up, and that could no
sneak loud enough be heard than four or five ee
distant in consequence Of which last misfortune an
stigmatized with the cognomen of "General Mum. :
Won now perceye however, that these stories are false
RI. there are some other serious matters charged
aranst me. which shall take the liberty to prove un
true You know it has been said by some, that have
mn nrincplss; that dave not avow my principles; AND
that am kept under the Surveillance OF "com'
,n;tt.e" All this is alse--uncondtonay notorious
~ fslse The charge Of my bsing in the keeping OF