The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1840-02-21
HISTORICAL.
From the Boston Atlas.
William Henry Harrison

Il
born on the ninth day of February, l773,
: Charles City County, Virginia, at a place
I, on the James river called Berkeley about
seventy miles below Richmond. His fathel
was Benjamin Harrison, lineal descendani
of the celebrated General of that name who
held commission in the parliamentary ar
mics, during the English civil wars, and who
for his devotion to republican principles,
persisted on the scaffold BENJAMIN Harri-
son was a distinguished citizen Of Virginia,
much honored and highly trusted BIZ his
fellow-citizens. He was bFotheF-in-law of
Peyton Randolph, the first President of
Congress, and was himself member ofthat
body during the years l774, 177J and I7'76.
1t mas principally through his influence that
John Hancock was chosen to preside over
the Congress, as successor to Peyton Ran
Idolph. He was Chairman of the Commit
tee of the whole House, when the Declare
Ition of Independence was finally agreed to !:
land his signature is borne upon that
celebrated document. Having retired from
congress, he was elected a member of the
Virginia House of Delegates, over which
body he presided as Speaker until 1852,
when he was elected Governor Of the State.
Benjamin Harrison died poor, leaving
three sons, of whom William Henry Harri-.
sion was the Youngest. At his fathers
death he was minor, and was left by his
fathers will to the guardianship of Robert
Morris the celebrated fnancier He had
selected the practice of medicine as pro-
fession, and was diligently pursuing bis stu.
dies with That object, at Hampden Sydney
College, when the disasters of the Indian
War on the North Western frontier, and the
call for men and officers, for the defence of
the settlers, induced him to enter into the
military service. His guardian would have
dissuaded him from this determination, but
Washington, his fathers friend, approved
of it, and gave him commission of Ensign
in the fifstregiment Of United States Artil-
leFy, then stationed at Fort Washington, on
the present site Of the city Of Cincinnati,
and under the command of General ST. Clair |
Governor Of the North West Territory, and
commander-in-chief of the military forces in
that section of the country.
As soon as he received his commission.
young Harrison, who was at this time but
nineteen years of age, fastened to Join his |
regiment, and arrived at Fort Washington
shortly after the disastrous defeat of St. |
Clair, near the head waters of the Wabash
This was a time of great danger and alarm.
Shortly after his arrival at Fort Washington.
he was appointed to command the escort of
a train of pack horses, bound for Fort Ham,
ilton, some twenty or thirty miles North of
Fort Washington. which difficult service he
performed with such credit as to attract the
prrticular notice of the Commander-in-chief |
y s
rank Of Lieutenant, and in 1893 he joined
the army under General Wayne. His spirit
and enterprise soon attracted the notice of
that able commander, who appointed him
one Of his aids-de camp, IN which difficult
and responsible post he served during The
war. His services, especially at the battle
d! the Maumee Rapids, By which the con-
test was brought to close. are mentioned
with emphasis, in Gen. Wayne's account of
the victory. After the close Of the war,
Harrison was promoted to the rank ofcap-
lain, and was placed in command of Fort
Washington, the most importantofthe vest
ern country. While in this command, he
married daughter of the celebrated John
Cleves Symms, the founder Of the Miami
settlements,.a lady in whom be has ever
found faithful and affectionate companion.
In1796, Harrison resigned his commission
in the army, and was appointed Secretary Of
the North Western Territory, and ex-oficio
Lieutenant Governor. The next year the
North Western Territory entered tho
second grade Of Territorial Government, and
became entitled to a Congressional delegate.
Gen. Harrison was chosen to all this impor-
tant station. He remained in Congress on
IL one year, but during that time he render
ed very essential service to his constituents.
AS the law then stood, the pulic lands could /
only be purchased IL tracts of four thousand
acres, very great hardship upon the poor
settlers, who were thus obliged to purchase
at second hand, and at an enchanced price. /
Harrison brought this subject before Con-
gress, and moved committee to considerI
Il. Ofthat Committee he has himself APP
pointed Chairman; the only instance, Il is I
believed, in which such an honor has been
conferred upan Territorial Delegate. Hel
madea Report, accompanied by a bill au-
thorizing the public lands to be sold in az |
ternate tracts Of three hundred and tsDentyl
and one hundred and sirty acres. The rel
port attracted great attention, as did HaFri-
sons speech in supportofit, but the bill wasI
yehemently opposed. Il passed the House
however, by a large majority. In the Senate
the resistance was SO great that at length a
q committee Of Conference was appointed.
Harrison was one Of the Committee, and a.
nally compromise was agreed to, by which
the public lands were to be sold in alternate
whole and half sections, that is, in alternate
tracts Of $40 and $50 acres This was :
great improvement upon the former law,
and is at this time settlers began 10 flow Ea-
pidly into Ohio, its beneficial results were
Instantly felt.
At this session Of Congress bill was pas
sed for dividing the North Western Terrific