Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-06-04

''THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
May they ever remember that to preserve
their liberties, they must do their own voting
and their own fighting.-W. H. HARRIsoN.
FROM THE WING.
The Personal Character Of the t,co candidates
for tie Presidency.
The atrocious war of personal defamation
waged against Gen. Harrison by the Federal
press, would justify retaliation on the part of
the Wings. But they have generally refrain
ed from Initiating the bad example of their
opponents, however strongly provoked. They
have consented, without inquiry or hesitation,
to permit MIR. Van Buren, to pass as gentle
man, in the common acceptation of the term.
Whilst they have heard their favorite SANDER
ed as the murderer of Col. Joe. Davis, and
villifed as an old granny, coward, a dotard,
and what not, they have been content merely
to obje ct to Mr.. Van Buren,, his Federal prin-
ciples. and still more Federal measures
These, they justly conceived, constituted am
pie arguments against his reelection.
Without departing from this rule, in pub
fishing the following well authenticated an
ecdote of Gen. Harrison, we are irresistibly
provoked to challenge solitary instance in
the personal history of Mr.. Van Buren, to ev-
idence as much kindness and generosity of
heart. When and where did he ever display
feeling of expensive philanthropy, or of
sympathy for the sufferings of his fellow menu
When did he ever protect the widow and the
orphan When did he ever aid the distress
sed and the unfortunate, from the generous
promptings of a noble soul So far as our
information extends, his whole life is barren
ola single incident of the kind. HIS eulogist
and dependents have never ventured to fab
ricate an anecdote of the kind-feelng that it
would be repugnant to, and be contradicted
by, the notorious selfshness of his character.
In this conneXlon, we are reminded of
letter from Washington, which contained the
following sentiments:
'That Mr.. Van Buren, has no sympathies
In common with the farmer or the poor, is ev-
ldent by his acts in private as we'll as in pub
lie life. In his fine coach on Pennsylvania
Avenue, when Vice President, he ran down
a respectable, but humble, market man from
the Virginia side of the Potomac, and refused
to remunerate him, in the presence of Mr..
Forsyth, for the loss caused by the expense of
repairing his carryall (some few dollars.')
The following anecdote was narrated by
Judge Burnett, as being within his own per-
sonal knowledge. The life of the old Cen
eral abounds with such incidents. In the
North-W estern States, where he is PERSONAL
ly known, he is not more admired by the
great body Of the people, as a successful and
gallant commander, than he is beloved as the
good Man-whose uncalculating generosity
and benevolence of heart have endeared him
to all who know him. These private virtues,
if not recommendations for the Presidency,
oughtnot surely to detract from his abilities
as Statesman.
".4necdote If Gen. Harrison.-Many years
since while the tide of emigration was flow
Irrr o
the Thames having, for awhile, exchanged
the arduous duties of statesman and gene
raj, for the more peaceful pursuits of agricul-
ture, was on hot summer evening, at the
porch of his "Log Cabin" asked for shelter
and meal, by minister ofthe Gospel ofthe
Methodist Episcopal persuasion. The faded
appearance of the steed, and the soiled gar
rnents of the rider, proclaimed the fatigue of
the day, and with his usual courtesy the old
General welcomed the stranger. After plain
and substantial supper, the guest Joined with
his host In social conversation, and the latter
laying aside the character of the soldier and
statesman, willingly listened to the pious in
struction of the traveller. They retired to
rest, the good old soldier thankful to NUM-
ficent Providence that he was enabled to adj
minister to the wants ola fellow creature and
the worthy minister of Christ invoking the
o0"Iias "a upon Htdu Oh his Kind
benefactor. Morning came, and the minister
prepared to depart. He was in the act of ia
king leave, when he was informed that his
horse had died during the night. The loss.
however severe, considering that he had vet
two hundred miles to travel, did not discour-
age him in the exercise of bis duty but TAX
ing his saddle-bags on his arm he rose to de-
part with thanks for the kindness of his en-
tertainer. The old General did not attempt
to prevent him, though he offered his condo
lence upon the loss, but an observing eve
could have detected a smile of inward salts
faction, which the consciousness Of doing
good alone produces. The guest reached the
door, and to his astonishment, found one of
the Generals horses accoutred with his own
saddle and bride, in waiting for him. He
eturned and demonstrated, stating the inabil-
ty to pay for il, and that in all probability he
hould never again visit that section of the
ountry.-But the General was memorable,
nd reminded the astonished Divine, that 'he
,ho giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord,
ent him on his way, his heart OVERLOOKING
18th gratitude, and his prayers directed to
eayen for blessings on the venerable hero" !