The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-19

GLIDING the war IN the Northwest and Upper Ca
NADIA. Being returned to Congress after the
war, first as member Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, and afterwards of the Senate, he
there displayed, in his votes, speeches, and le
gislative measures, the high traits Of statesman
ship, patriotism, aud eloquence, which distin-
guished him in his whole career Finally a.
envoy of the United States TO the Republic Of
Columbia, he finished (for the time being) his
diversified services TO the Union, to be now soon
called, asI devoutly hope and trust to the high
est station which it is in the power Of the people
OF the United States TO bestow.
do not propose, on the present OCCASION
have neither space nor time-to enter into
particular review of the eventfu life Of General
Harrison, nor to examine infinitely all the de-
tails of his public services, his opinions, and his
qualifications for the Presidency. entreat you
to do this for yourselves, as have done it; and
have entire confidence that the result will sa-
tisfy you that his experience of affairs, his emf
nence alike in camp and council, his tried patri-
otism his unblemished integrity, his republican
sentiments, his truly American character and
life, point him out as the man OF the crisis, who
is to redeem the country from its sufferings and
TO reform the public abuses under which the Go
vernment labors. fss s4 81
That, distinguished as he H. aud selected as
the candidate OF the people for the great trust Of
Chief Magistrate Of the Union, he should be as
sailed by the instruments Of the party in power,
and his reputation slandered was to be expect
| ed, how much soever il may be the subject OF
regret in every candid and impartial mind. But
the character Of General Harrison is not one
which detraction can attempt to backen with
any possibility of success. His fame is part and
parcel of the fame of his country His name is
identified with the great deeds, and interviewer
into the web of the mighty events, which do
honor to the nation and it cannot be struck out
without destroying the very fabrck Of the ma
tional honor itself
Men who never saw foughten field have pre-
sumed to impeach his courage and generalshp;
and mere politicians have prsuumed to depreci-
ate the craftsmanship of the worthy compeer of
the Jeiersons and Madisons, those bright orna-
ments of Virginia andof America To impeach
the courage of General Harrison Is it not the
very climax of absurdity, the last resort of des-
perate party phrensy, TO call in question the
bravery of one of the best blood Of Virginias
fertile growth of brave hearts? Is the race of
Virginia's sons to be thus accused? Is not only
all history of the country to be falsiied, but the
fame OF an ancient Commonwealth, and the
proverbia character of her children, to be sys-
tematically degraded to carry out this party war
fare in favor of the falling cause Of Mr.. Van
BUREN, And against whose persona WHY
against that son of Governor Benjamin Harri-
son; the protege of General Washington
the pupil in the art of war of Anthony Wayne
passed amid all the hazards of war, or Of from
tier exposure and adventure among the savages
of the Northwest! The man who abandoned
in his youth all the ease and comforts of pro-
fessional career, to fight the battles of his coun-
try, under the leadership, and as the right hand,
OF one of the most daring generals Of the Re-
voluton, and who played his part in those peri
lous scenes as became the blood Of Virginia.
The man who, for twenty years, lived in the
heart of numerous Indian tribes, TO whom he
taught respectfor the United States by his i'm
partial justice, and whom he compelled to respect
himself by his fearlessness, fortude, and spirit.
The man who wthstood and defeated all the in
trigues of the willy Tecumseh; who vanquished
the bands of the Prophet at Tippecanoe; who
led the brave men of the West against the ar
mics of Britain, through innumerable dangers
and hardships, in all which he partook with the
commonest soldier of his camp; and who con-
summated the whole by capturing the army of
Proctor, on the banks Of the Thames. To i'm
peach the courage of such man--of one whose
life has been such as this, would be absurd and
ridiculous, at best but it is monstrous thus to
seek in the bitterness of party rancor, to belitte
the character of Virginia and of America by
vain assaults and manufactured imputatons on
the character of one of their noblest sons.
Did not the gallant Kentuckians know what
bravery was? what military prowess was 2
Were they the men to flock to the standard of
Harrison, to demand, 10 require him of the Go
vernment, as their leader to battle and vet
he the man TO win, to receive, and to retain their
devoted respect and attachment through so many
battles and victories of the Northwest-he Ia be
now made the object of such miserable detrac-
ton p
And the generalship of William Henry Har-
rison, that is to be called in question at this late
day 1t is quite easy to cav at the arrange
ments of campaign, and the evolutions Of
EolI ,,f hiatt Anv .frht IL a.
There never was campaign conducted, never
battle fought, however successful in the results
that somebody, in the blindness of over-wisdom,
might not be found to criticise.
Nor might nor greatness in mortality
Can censurc scape: back -wounding calumny
The lotest virtue strikes"
But the common sense of the world tells us that
VICTORY is the best proof of the generalship
which produces it. That cannot be cavilled
away There is the hillside battlefield of Tip
pecanoe, with its bright laurels yet fresh in the
memories of the living generation, to speak to
the honor of the conquerer; there is the ground
of Camp Meigs, to commemorate the fame of
its brave defender; there is the plain of the Mo-
ravian Towns, in the heart of Upper Canada, to
testify in all future time to the glory Of the com
mander, who redeemed, in the battle of the
Thames, the honor of the American standard
by the capture of the British army, the final de
feat and dispersion of the Indians, and the com
plete paciication of the Northwest In a word,
to endeavo, at this day, TO rail off the seal of ho
nor from the name of tina; general who, il was
well said by the present Vice President of the
United States, was, during the late war, longer
in active service than any other, was, perhaps,
oftener in action than any other, and who never
su stained defeat-to try to deprecate him is,
like the envious viper of the fable, TO expend the
venom in gnawing at file.
| In this brief address, cannot, as | have alrea-
DIV said, go over the discussion of the details OF
the military events of General Harrisons life.