The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-08-22
GENERAL HARRIsoNs rRADUcERs.


The character of Cincinnatsss is, of all
others drawn by Plutarch, that which is best
suited to the principle of our American Repub-
hc:-disinterested public virtue, indicated by
the simplicity of the retired farmer, hero, and
statesman, whose public services had won for
him reputation which, in the moment of peril,
filed the hearts of his countrymen, and sent
them to seek him in his retirement, that he
might inspire them with new confidence, and
save them from impending danger. When the
Romans, in their alarm, found Cincinnatus at
his plough, and rendered to him the chief COM
mand of the Republic, they did not seek him
because he could make speeches, or bow, or
c-inge, or fawn, or hatter the people with lying
promises; but they sought him because they
kne,o him, and because he had faithfully per-
formed his public duty, and retired from office
with clean hands, unstained by public plumber.
They issued no manifesto of gilded promises.
They made known that Cincinnatus had come to
the rescue, and the people knew that, when the
country was saved, he would, as he had done,
return into their hands the power they deputed
to him. So it was when the people met at Har-
r1sbursh. The enemy was in possession of the
capitol, and the question was, who can save us!
Who can create in us confidence? Who among
has rendered such public service,-whose life is
so much matter of public history, and whose
hands are so pure, that, having been tried, we
may say, here is one who has passed the fire of
temptation, and not hair of his head is injured,
# fro on his .ra
The answer to these enquiries was, William
Henry Harrison. All eyes were directed to the
American Cincinnatus-to the only who
aIls the same place noso that the Roman patriot
did then And when asked how shall we recon.
mend him to the people-the answer was, the
history of his life-the records of his country are
the best recommendations-he is our candidate,
and selected because we know him by his deeds.
The announcement of his name carried terror
into the ranks of corruption. The contrast be-
tween him and them was too glaring, and hence
they resolved to hide themselves behind some
cloud which would cover their iniquities, while
it obscured the brightness of his character
Here was Cen Harrison, who had purchased an
empire-held absolute and unconditional control
over thousands and hundreds of thousands Of
dollars, and millions of acres of land, and whC
never had been suspected of appropriating SIN
gle dollar of the public money to improper use
on the other, notorious fraud, peculatioI
and corruption. 1t was necessary to get up some
new issue-it would not do to permit the public
eye to rest on this striking contrast Hence the
clamor about the Cincinnati committee and the
slanderous charge that he had refused to speak
or to make known his principles. Hence he was
represented a superannuated, imbecile old
mantle mere instrument to be used by men no
better than Kendall, Van Buren, s Co.
The very fact that they charge that Gen. Har
rison is superannuated-that if elected, he viii
fall into the hands Of other men, and be undo
their control, admits that if he is not superan
nuated, he is the man upon whom the peopl
should rally; for if they could assail him as h
is-if they could assail his past life and character
they Iwould net endeavor, by getting up falls
clamor about his old age, to make new issue
which admits that if the charge of imbecility
aisproyed, he is otherwise deserving public eel
fdence.
But the bad nen who got up this charge, ha
another object. Thsy knew that the contra:
between General Harrison and Mr. Van Bure
would be the stronger, SO long as the one live
quiet and retired in his ''log-cabin," and the 9th
er, surrounded by all the glare and patronage c
sfice, was using all the appliances of corruptio
to secure his reelection, the sympathies of tn
people would be with their candidate Henc
the attempt to force him to go before the people
that he might to be candidate-that tn
moral grandeur of his position might be sullie'
that instead OF Cincinnatus in retirement
sought out and chosen by the people, he nigh
appear candidate, eager for Office, and seek
ing it with great Importantly as Van Burel
himself. We think that General Harrison ha
done wrong in yielding to the importantly of hi
frisads; and although he has won golden opin
ions wherever he has gone, and vanquished hi
adversanes in every letter he has written, ye
do we think it would have been better for tn
& country if he had left his fame in the hands O
: the generous people who had called him to thei
service His cause is theircause, and they wou
have indicated his fame against all the Islander
of the minions of power and of the press pen
stoned by its corrupt appliances.
How striking would have been the contras
between the patriot citizen in his retirement
resting on the virtue and intelligence of an in
jured and insulted people, when compared will
the Vice President of the U. States, trayersin,
the country, making speeches, and the Presiden
1.-The first officer of the gevernment-prestitut
ing his high Office to thelowest electioneering, b
hypociitical and uneandid letters to partizan.
got up for political effect. But having yielded
so far as to appear before the people, and
take part In concentrating some of those gres
events which identify his name with the histor
of his country, we rejoice at the striking cor
trast between the dignifed department of GU
candidate, and the desperate and disgraceful ez