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

tSsSus picsNntS slIIhltl1 contrast To MT.
Van Buren's bold pretensions, that the Exeeu-
tive is component part Of the Legislative de-
partment.
TO HIM who has deeply and maturely studied
the principles upon which our system was formed,
the Very labored and cautious adjustment Of
power between the three great departments Of
the Government, l may confidently appeal, and
inquire whether the principles contained in the
preceding articles are not wise and judicious,
and most emphatically republican? The ire
mendous power, immense patronage, and over
wheming influence, which the Executive has
already acquired, and the great additions which
are now most assiduously and persevcringy
sought TO be made to them, in arousng the
Jealousy, exciting the fears, and prompting the
resistance Of the great mass Of our citizens to
check and reduce them. In such q struggle
these principles are all in all, and are of infinite
ly more value, if possible, than in ordinary times
In addition TO these sterling principles Of repub-
hcanism, General Harrison, in his letter to Sher-
rod Williams, avowed his wish to see every ex-
pertinent made for the successful management
OF the finances OF the nation, before resorting to
a National Bank. Being against a National
Bank, and against a Sub-treasury, the only ex-
pertinent which he could make would be to give
the State banks a fair trial If they succeed,
then all will be satisfed-if not, then some other
measure must be resorted to. Is not this the very
ground upon which the Conservatives have
planted themselves; and would they not, in the
election of General HARRISON achieve the very
principles upon which they abandoned this Ad-
ministration Most clearly they would. And
will they barter away these great advantages
these valuable principles, for some mere abstrac-
tonal differences between them and General
Harrison? | trust they will act more wisely
But, above all, will we not signally defeat the
Sub-treasury scheme, with all its appendant
schemes of Executive power and aggrandZe-
ment-its system OF prescription and discipline
enough, of themselves, to immortalize the event
in the eyes of the world and posterity?
In enumeratng the reasons why have aban-
doned Mr.. Van Buren,, and the party which
"supports him." have said nothing about its
utter disregard OF the cautious provisions Of the
Constitution, and violation of the laws, perpe
trated by the House of Representatives, in re-
fusing to permit five of the representatives from
New jersey who had as high authority as any
member upon the floor, whatever may have been
the true state of the election, TO take their seats
nor to that system of party prescription which
wars upon representative independence, and APP
propriates the emoluments of office, as the
spoiis OF party ricfory; or of that discipline
which binds the great mass to the lead OF few
captains of party. These principles and prac-
tees have been often and so fully discussed,
and their mischiefs so forcibly pointed out, that
| need make no remark about them, only that
they are fit instruments of faction and Executive
nor have stopped to inquire how the
" extremes" of the proclamation" and q nulli-
fcation," have found a common rallying ground
on the Sub-treasury system. IL is enough for
me 10 know, that there is not a sutfciency OF re-
publicanism in either to command my support,
and regard the rallying ground more anti-re-
publican and dangerous than either or both COM
bned
To repel calumny and unjust criticism upon
the courage, capacity, and military skill Of Gen.
Harrison, propose to take a short view of ''HIs
LIFE, CHARACTER, AND PUBLIC SERVICES"
The character, life, and public services of Ge-
neral Harrison, whether CITIZEN statesman,
or soldier, are such as every American, and
more especially every Nirginian, who studies
and reflects on the history of his country, with
common candor, cannot fail to contemplate with
pride and pleasure
Born and brought up in Virginia, the son of
one of her most honored patriots of the Revo-
luton, William Henry Harrison entered the
service of the United States at an early age, UNI
der the auspices and friendship Of General
Washington. He repaired, at one of the dark
est periods of our annals, to the Northwest, to
fight the battles of the nation, as an officer of in
fantry, under the veteran Wayne, against the
numerous and powerful bands of hostile Indians,
who had already defeated Harmar and ST. Clair
In that campaign he early attracted the attention
of General Wayne, and became one of his aids;
such, he took an active and efficient part in
the arduous duties of frontier service against
the Indians; received the repeated public com
mendation of Wayne for his merits, as well in
minor affairs as in the great victory which broke
the power OF the Indians, ended the campaign,
and produced the peace of Greenvle. He was
then appointed Secretary of the Northwest Ter
ritory, in which Office his signal ability com
mended him to the respect and esteem of the
people; and he became their Delegate in the
House of Representatives of the United States
Here, young as he was, and among men of the
highest talents, he eminently distinguished him
self during the short period he then remained in
the House, by originating and carrying through
a law of the most important character, to wit :
the sale of the public lands in small lots, instead
of the old system of disposing of them only in
large tracts to spectators measure, which,
right as it was in itself, and useful TO the Go
vernment and the country, was, above all tob ho-
nored and applauded as an act of equal justice to
the actual settler, to the poor man, to the many, to
all who wish to clear and cultivate the land for
themselves; and which, therefore, had a perma-
nent influence over the prosperity of the West.
After this he became Governor of the Territory
of Indiana, and so continued until, in 1912, the
war with Great Britain called him to wider
sphere of usefulness and fame as Commander
OF the Northwestern Army. Whilst Governor
of Indiana, he exhibited equal capacity alike for
the highest civil and military functions. In the
former he discharged, most faithfully, all the
complicated and numerous administrative du-
ties of his Office of Governor for a long series of
years. in addition to which, as Superintendent
OF Indian Affairs on that extensive frontier, he
not only controlled the Indians, and preserved
the public peace, in promoting the welfare of the
whites and savages both, but negotiated many
most important treaties, TO the perfect satisfac-
States, under whose instructions he acted In
the latter, when the approach of the war with
Great Britain seduccd the Indians into hosti-