The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-16

Meigs, the conquerer Of Proctor-the idea Of
VIM. HENRY HARRISON in a cage! was irresisli-
bly, ludicrous!
4 When the laughter has subsidized, the General
proceeded. /" i have no committee felow-citi-
zens, confidential or other II L true thai | en-
ployed my friend, Major Gwynn, TO aid me in
returning replies 10 some Of the numerous ques-
tons propounded 10 me by letters. But TO such
only as any man could answer as well as another.
There IS scarcely question OF a political nature
now agitating the public mind, on which have
mol long since promulgated my opinions, by
speeches, published letters or official acts. A
large majority of letters addressed TO me pur-
ported 10 seek my views of Abolition United
States Bank, and other matters concerning which
my views were already in possession of the
public, The most suitable answer 10 these--and
10 well-lntentioned persons the most satisfactory
| was reference to the documents in which my
opinions already expressed were to be found
Such answers ] entrusted TO my well-tried and
faithful friend, Major Gwynn. Letters requir-
ing more particular attention answered myself
Every body who knows Major Gwynn knows
that he is not one whom would employ TO write
a political letter. He is selfmade mana
solder and a gentleman-but neither politician
nor a scholar. | asked the service of him, be-
cause he was my friend, and confded in him,
and il was plain and simple, My habit is to re-
ceive, open and read my letters myself. Such
as require special attention, reply TO myself
Such as may be easily answered BY another
hand 10 my friend, with an endorsaton indica-
ting where the information sought may be found
las thus" Refer the writer TO speech al Vim
cennesn-or the answer is seen in my letter
| TO Mr.. Denny" &c. But il seems that Major
Gwynn was Chairman of a Committee of the
Citizens Of Cincinnati or of Hamilton county.
When the famous Oswcgo letter was received,
il was read and as usual with such letters, | en-
dorsed il and handed il 10 Major Gwynn. But,
II seems, when the answer was prepared il was
signed also BY his colleagues of the County or
City Committee. OF all this knew nothing
nor in their capacity Of Committee had they any
thing 10 do with my letters. Yet by little mis-
take and much perversion these gentlemen have
been erected into a committee Of my conscience
keepers and made TO shut me up in cage TO
prevent me from answering nterrogatores.-
Gen. Harrison remarked that, had he, indeed.
called TO his assistance the services OF friend
in conducting his correspondence, he would have
had high authority TO justify him in the measure.
1t had been said of General Washington that
many of the papers which bear his signature
Were written by others, and he believed il had
never been contradicted; and Gen. Brecken-
ridge, aid to General Jackson in the late war,
had represented himself to be the author of much
OF Gen Jachson's correspondence But he had
not done so, TO any extent or in any other sense
Major Gwynn 10 refer those addressing inqui-
ries TO him, TO the public sources of information.
And he would here say, that in all his public life,
civil and military, there was no letter, report,
speech or order, bearing his name, which was
not written wholly by his own hand He said,
10 open, read and dnsrer all the letters receiv
ed by him was physically impossible, though he
should do nothing else whatever To give his
hearers an idea of the labor it would require, he
said gentleman then present was with him the
morning he left Cincinnati when he took from
the Post Office 10 letters-there were usually
half the number at the Post Office near his resi-
dence2i letters per day. Could any man. he
asked, give the requisite attention TO such daily
correspondence, even to the neglect OF every
other engagement True it was, that many
communications were sent him which were not
entitled to his notce--sent by persons who had
no other object but to draw from him something
which might be used TO his injury and the injury
of the cause with which he was ldentihed-yet
there were enough of those which claimed his
respectful consideration for the sources from
which they came and the subjects TO which
they referred, 10 occupy more time and labor
than any one man could bestow upon them.
Gen. Harrison said he had alluded particularly
to this matter of the Committee because it had
so recently been the occasion of so much ami
madverson by his political adversares. But it
was one only OF many misrepresentation of
him, his conduct his principles and his opinions
with which the party Press was teeming. He
said II would occupy him many hours 10 discuss
them, if il were necessary or proper for him to
do so. He referred, however, TO the Richmond
Enqurer-and expressed his surprise at the
manner in which his name and character had
been treated by that paper. He did so, il
afforded an example of the prostitution of the
press to party purposes. That paper, which
formerly did him more than Justice and paid him
the highest compliments as a soldier and civilian
whose editor at one time could designate no
other man whom he considered so well qualified
for the responsible place of Secretary of War
was now lending itself TO the circulation of the
most discreditable caumnies against him and
endeavoring to persuade his countrymen that he
was n coward and federalist He alluded 10
the evidence upon which the Enquirer sought TO
iasten the accusation that he was bfdck-cocE-
abe federaiist- e.-the remarks OF Mr. Ran
doph in the Senate of the United States. He
said that the attack of Mr.. Randolph was met at
the moment it, was made and eifecually dis
proved He passed high encomum upon the
genius of that remarkable man, and said, that
those who knew Mr.. Randolph, knew that he
never gave up point in debate, or receded from
his ground any where, until convicted OF error.
The fact that he made no reply TO his answer
to the charge, is proof TO any familiar with his
character that he himself was satisfied that he
had erred. Ten harrison eApalnPd the Ioun-
dation of Mr.. Randolph's charge, made at mo-
ment Of temporary irritation He said that old
Mr.. Adams, refused to adopt against France the
measures which his party desired and showed
himself in that respect, at least, more an Anne
rlcan than Partlzan. IL was that course OF po-
licy of Mr.. Adams which commanded his APP
probation and induced him so TO express himself
at the time. Mr.. Randolph remembered the ex-
preston but probably forgot the particular sub
iect Of it, and thus the very fact which proved
him to belong to the Republican party Of 1900