Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-03-24

granny" 1t is an easy thing TO call names
and with the weapon of Illogical ridicule to af
feet an exalted character or honorable and use
fnl measures. Inthe present instance the par.
ties who have employed it to disparage Gene.
raj Harrison have reason to vince under the
use oft by hands far stronger than their own
Mob: Adr: d Ctron:
SOME INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE
OF AN OLD GRANNY"
In the years IVA, ITS, and l776, there
was an old granny named Benjamin Harri
son, who was member of Congress, and af
forwards Governor of Virginia; he was one
of the fifty-six sCld grannies' who signed the
Declaration of independence; he died, leay-
ing but little property, for he was an sod Gran.
n.y. and devoted himself TO his country with Sc
much zeal IN those stirring times, that he did
not, like the more sensible oIfice-holders of ON
day, acquire a fortune out Of public employ.
ments. He died leaving a son named Win.
lam Henry Harrison, who was pursuing his
studies at lIanpden Sidney College when the
Indian frontier wars broke out. Young Har.
rison was placed under the care of an cod
granny named Robert Norris, and was a pro-
tege and iavorlte Of another sold graunv,' ma
med GEORGE Washington, both OF whom Ike
the father OF Harrison, had spent their lives IN
t. g active service oftheir country. Being the
son Of 'old granny and having been brought
up under the tutelage of the two 'ol1 granpies'
above named, it cannot be thought surprising
that young Harrison grew upto be an old
granny himself.
In 1893, Harrison Joined the army under
Wayne, and the General, being also an .old
granny appointed the young volunteer as one
of his aides de-camp. Inl779, he resigned his
commission, and was appointed Secretary OF
the North Western territory. The year IL
ter he was elected delegate to Congress.
Here he did thing which alone would es-
tabllsh his inferiority to the present enlighten-
ed race of Office holders. The public lands
were then divided into sections of 1900 acres,
and were never sold in less quantity than a
whole section. Consequently a man who
wished to buy farm for actual settlement was
obliged to buy 1000 acres at the government
price, or TO purchase a smaller quantity ofsome
speculator, whose means would allow him to
hold a section; the price, of course, in such
cases, was far beyond that of the government
lands. Being nothing but an old granny
Harrison never for a moment considered how
much superior the interests of a few specula-
tors were, to those of the people at large, he
obtained the passage Of an act allowing sales
ofas small quantity as 800 acres which brought
it within the means Of almost every man.
The following years this odd granny was
appointed Governor of :he territory of Indiana
which is now divided into several large States.
He was appointed repeatedly, at the request of
the inhabitants, and held the Office for fourteen
years. During this time, he was suDerinten-
dant of Indian Affairs within the jurisdiction
and sole Commissioner for treating with the
Indians during THE time The old granny nego-
ciated thirteen treaties with the Indian tribes,
for which services being an sold granny,' he
never made the government any charge. The
battle of Tippacanoe, and the overthrow of the
Pawnee Chiefs, were considered very respec-
table service for an 'old granny and in those
days were thought to give a man some claim
upon the gratitude of his country.
In 1872 when war was declared against
Great Britain, this 'old Granny was placed in
command Of large number of volunteers to
protect the Indian territory, and was after
wards appointed Commander in Chief of the
North Western army. His conduct of that
war-his turning the tide ofdisaster, and raj
sing in triumph and victory the sinking FLAG of
his country. the recovery Of Michigan, the BAT
tie Of theYThames, which destroyed the Br
lsh army of Upper Canada, were also thought
very considerable services for an old Gran
n.y.
After resioning his commission, this old
granny was again appointed Commissioner to
treat with the Indians. In 1916 he was cleo
ted a member of the Lower House of Con-
gress IN 1924 he was elected a Senator in
Congress, from the State of Ohio. In 1925,
he was appointed Minister Plenlpotentiary to
Bogota, by John Quincy Adams, the sold gran
ny, who lately presided over the House of Re
representatives..
No man IN this country ever possessed such
opportunities for making a fortune out of his
official station, especially by land speculations;
from his position in the Territory of Indiana,
and from his knowledge of the country-of its
situation, resources and growing Importance
he could have easily obtained possession OF
tracts of land, the natural rise in the value OF
which would have made him as rich as Gil
rard or an Astor. But he was an sold granny,
and having been educated in the school ofsuch
an 'old granny as George Washington, he
could not be supposed to know as much as the
land receivers and ether Office holders of our
day, who get rich on the plumber of the treas
ury, and then resign their offices and nominate
their Successors. So General Harrison retir-
ed from office as poor as he was when he en-
tered it, and now, ike a second Cincinnatus-
who, we dare say, was also an odd granny he
lives by the cultivation of the soil.
So it appears that William Henry Harrison,
the odd granny Of whom we have been speak
ing has been,
Secretary Of the North Western Territory,
Governor for fourteen years ofthe Territory
ofIndiana,
Superintendent of Indian Affairs.
Commissioner for treating with the Indi-
ans,
Representative in Congress,
Senator in Congress,
Major General in the United States ar
my,
Commander Of the North Western army in
the last war, and
Minister Plenipotentiary TO Bogota.
Thus we may see what it takes to make an
sold granny he is before the people whom he
has so long and so faithfully served, and has
been nominated as a candidate Tor one other
office, that of President Of the UHtea States.
In the long career Of eminent and successful
public services, he has never-been accused of
one dishonest action; he. stands forth with
clean hands, clear head and an honest heart
THE PEOPLES CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.
Military Services Of Gen. Van Buren,.
Our readers are not perhaps, aware that
while Gen. Harrison was barring his bosom to
a British foe, Gen. Van Buren, was busily en-
gagged in the attempt to execute a military
movement, which, thanks to the patriotlsm o
the country, sIgnally failed. His services du
ring the war were Numerically opposite tc
those ofthe glorious old veteran whom we sup