The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-06

CHARGE AGAINST GEN HARRISON FOR
VOTING TO SELL WHITE MEN FOR
SPEECH OF MIR. MASON. or OHIO.
ON the General Appropriation Bill
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, April a. 1910.
Mr. Chairman: In the discussion Of the bill
now under consideration, wish TO call the at
tention of the committee TO that clause OF me
first section which relates to the charge Ihaf
General Harrison rofed 10 sell irhife men .for
debt"
And. sir. If YOU should not, after examination,
find the charge specifically provided for in the
bill YOU NAV see h, with all its variations, IN
the printed speeches Of several gentlemen who
have preceded me in the debate. It's, however,
with a feeling akin to that Of humiliation, that
| find myself engaged in defending distin-
guished statesman and virtuous citizen against
an oft-refuted and most wanton calumny. Nor
would | have consented now to nolice-it, but
for the persevering industry with which the
enemies Of that individual continue to urge the
charge in certain quarters Of the Union, and
especially in Maryland, Virginia, and North
Carolina.
In the manufacture Of this story its authors
evidently desired TO contribute truth and false
hood in such proportions as to secure for il some
degree Of currency, without, at the same time
subjecting themselves to the charge Of wilful
Misrepresentation. And il must be admitted
that their effort has not proved entirely unsuc-
cessful. But the inventors and perpetrators OF
the fraud cannot escape the condemnation thai
awaits the guilty. This charge had its origin
in vote that General Harrison gave, as mem
Der of the Senate of Ohio, in January, 1871
The journal Of that session is now before me.
But before proceeding further, allow me to say
that this charge was fabricated and thrown into
- T.
first candidate for the Presidency. II emana-
ted from the friends Of Mr.. Van Buren, in that
State, and from men, too, who had doubtless
searched the journals with patient diligence in
the patriotic hope that its dusty pages might
furnish them with materials for accusation
against one Of the purest men Of the age. And
has dG hoy End II regard ihf ]. Industry
rote authorizing the sale OF iohite men for debt;
but they found "A vote that was suscel tble of
Misrepresentation, and therefore, well suited to
their purpose. Now, sir what opinion did these
accusers of General Harrison entertain in re-
gard to his votes, as found recorded on the jour
nal? Did they honestly believe that il was
justified by the circumstances under which il
was given2 Did they believe it was indefensi
BILE, and that il would render him justly obnoxi-
GUS to censure2 If such had been their real
conviction, then why, with the journals before
them, did they bring false chargel Why, if
they believed the vote was incontestibly wrong
IN principle, or mischievons in policy, did they
not go before the Public with true statement
81 the case, and rely on these objections? Think
you they would have resorted TO garbling and
Justification, if they had believed that true
statement could hare been made useful 10
their cause a faisehood? This supposition
would make them sin without temptation, and
practice wickedness without any motive. Few
men can be found imagine, depraved enough
TO utter deliberate falsehood in case where
the truth would answer their purpose just as
well, or even better. From all which, ! am
brought TO this practical conclusion, namely, that
people residing out of the State of Ohio may
well believe that there is nothing very objection
able in the vote of General Harrison, which his
opponents in the State have admitted by their
resorting to acts of misrepresentation, that they
could not successfully assail with the weapons
of truth.
In regard to the estimation in which this
charge is held by the People Of Ohio, consisting
Of men of all parties, and especially by those
who have been most notorious for their zeal in
propagating it, shall have something to say
hereafter.
Sir, wish now to call your attention TO the vote
Of General Harrison, and the circumstances un-
der which it was given. The attention of the
Legislature Of Ohio, during its session Of 1920
FL, was anxiously directed to the consideration
of some plan for the relief of the People, then
suffering under degree Of distress and enbar-
rassment unexampled in the history of that
State. With currency deprecated and de-
ranged, the financial resources of the State
crippled, and Treasury exhausted the People
loudly complained Of the almost intolerable bur
den Of taxation; they demanded retrenchment
and reform in the expenses incident TO the admi-
nistration OF the criminal laws ofthe country. In
this posture Of public affairs, with gradually in
gro Qclu IL.
punishment Of offenders, and n penitentiary
crowded with, convicts, that had become an an
nual charge on the Treasury, the Legislature as
sembled, and undertook 10 provide a remedy for
the grievances complained of by instituting a re-
vision Of the entire criminal code Of the State
The task was one of great difficulty aud labor
but il was accomplished with as much success
as was attainable in the then condition OF the
country. The great object in view was TO di.
minish the public expenditures, in criminal
cases, by reducing TO the lowest point consis-
tent with the ends proposed to be secured by the
due and proper administration of punitive JUS
nee To effect this, the House Of Representa-
hves passed a bill entitled "An act Supplemental
Ty 10 me act for the punishment Of certain of
FENCES merein named and sent il 10 the Sc |
nate Tor concurrence. Several new provisions
were introduced into this bill BY il, certain Of |
fences which had before been punished by i'm
prisonment IN the county jails. Jurisdictions of
assaults ana oauefies IN certain specified cases
WAS conferred on JUSTICES of the peace, with
power TO impose fine if the accused should
plead guilty and persons committing assaults
and batteries were authorized to do. what y.s
an offer at common law, namely, 10 .aoree
compromise, or settle with the party injured ),
and then all further proceedings were to cease
Also, grand juries were prohibited from finding