The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-10-31
CEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. READ!

, GEN. HAHhESON--FO thlttINBhS, READ!
When at this place on the Slst instant, some
OF Gen. Harrison's friends called his attention to
! a report excessively circulated by his enemies,
in which he is charged with being unfrieRdly to
foreign emgrant., ana with design to withhold
from them the privileges OF citizens In has pub
lis address to the people on that day, the General
replied to this charge in substance as follows:
Lancaster (Ohio) Gas
81 am accused, fellow citizens, OF entertain
ing unirlendiy feelings towards foreigners who
emgrate to this country with view OF becom-
ing citizens, and of design to throw obstruc-
tions in the way of their naturalization. Moth
ing can be more false than this charge. Indeed,
it has become the custom of my political oppo-
nents to ascribe to me opinions and feelings the
very reverse of those that entertain, and with
ont shadow of proof, on their naked unsuppor-
ted assertion put me upon my defence. " nat,
my fellow citizens, can be more cruel and uii-
lust than tlis2 have been, more han forty years
before my country, most fthe time engaged IN
active public service-and my votes, and my
speeches which are upon record and before the
public, are a true index to my opinions on this,
as well as other important subjects. And II
those who thus accuse me will point to single
vote, or any expression Of mine, which can IN
the least support their assertion, then will agree
that | am bound to come forward and explain
or admit its truth. But they cannot do this. No
such vote was evergiven by me land no such opm-
ion ever expressed. On the contrary, have ever
felt the warmest sympathy for the victims OF tyr
amy and oppression in the old world who have
fled here for refuge, and have on all occasions,
given my support, whether in the national coun-
ellis or as priv ate citizen, to all the laws which
have been passed to render their condition bet
ter or their naturalization more easy, Nay,
more: / have, on several special occasions lent
my aid to bands of oppressed foreigners exiled
from their homes, when the general laws ot our
country were not effectual for their relief.
"When Ireland was crushed in the attempt
to throw off the British yoke, and when her
enthusiastic sons, the United Irishmen, were
defeated and driven into exile, and as eAlles
sought our shore-they came poor and without
a home-I was one who sympathlzed in their
sutfsrings, and advocated law for their re-
lief-a law setting apart to them tract OF
land sufficient for their wants, to be given them
on long credit and on most moderate terms.
advocated, too, like grant Of land to the
French exiles, OH which they proposed to cul-
tivate the vine and olive. In short, whether
in or out of pubic station, have always done
whatsoever was in my power to relieve the
burdens and add TO the comforts OF the foreign
emigrant-and where could not serve them
more efficiently, have given them my coun-
sci and my symp athy, and they have rewarded
me with the strongest marks OF their gratitude
and affection.
In the last struggle of Poland for liberty, and
in the last battle fought under the walls Of
Warsaw, in which the fate of that gallant nation
was sealed, there was all eminence Immediately
under the walls, obstiuately contested, and three
times lost and won by the contending armies.
The spot was overgrown with small alder
shrubs, and every bush was stepped in the blood
of the patriot Poles. When the contest was
over, and Poland had sunk into a Russian pro-
vince her people, who mingle strong degree
of religious devotion with patriotic enthusiasm,
flocked to the spot to cut and preserve, as holy
relics those shrubs stained wththe blood of their
country,nen, who fell martyrs in the cause Of
liberty and their country.
The Russian Government, fearing the effect
of this feeling ordered the hill to be cleared and
the bushes burned, 50 that no more of these rel
les could be procured; hence those already gath
cred became, in the estimation Of the Poles,
treasure above all price. Only one of them,
perhaps, has found its way to America, and that
was presented to me bat three days ago, by
delegate of the exiled Poles, as token of their
gratitude for some services which l was able to
render them, and for the kind feelings which
they knew I entertained for them and their
country. 1t is, as you see, cross, made of small
stems of the alder, and beautifully wrought
with silver. These unfortunate men esteemed
it the most precious gift they could bestow on
one whom they knew to be their friend, and
prize it as they priced it."