The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 183?-1840, 1840-05-29

pAAtsl ot Dill tl1 pftnctpai 0o3ect Q4 Is
which vas 70 reduce the size of the tracts oi
public land offered ior sale, to such small
eI number Of acres al would place them
within the reach 81 actual settlers. This
mastery report, which was the joint produc-
ton Of himself and AiF. Gallaiin, together
With the great ability and eloquence With
which be defended bis bill from the power
ful opposition Il encountered in the House,
gained Mr.. Harrison reputation rarely at
famed By so young 4 statesman. The bill
vas carried triumphanlly ii the House, and
finally, after some amendments, passed the
Senate. The result was. that the public
lands, instead Of being offered only in large
tracts, Of which four thousand acres was the
smallest size, were now to Be sold in alter
nate sections and half sections--she former
containing $40, and the latter 500 acres
each. The point gained was Of immense
Importance, since, from the low price OF
these lands, and the small amount Of puF-
chase money required TO be paid. they were
now within the reach of nearly all the poor
CT emigraRts and actual settlers, who felt 2
natural desire to own the fee simple Of their
homes, and of the lands they subdued from
the wilderness. Thousands of the hardy
and industrious farmers Of our Northern and
Middle States. and many ofthe poorer plan
tiers of the South, ayaiied themselves OF Inc
fair field which was now opened for emlgFa-
ton aud enterprise; and we may Justly con-
slider this huppy result, which Alr. Harrison
was so instrumental 10 producing, as one Of
the leading causes of the rapid settlement
and prosperity Of our Western country.
In the year 1900, the Northwestern ter.
ritory was divided. That part Of the old
territory, included within the present boun-
daries Of Ohio and Michigan, retained its
former name; and the immense extent OF
country Northwest Of this, was made Sc
parate territory, and received the name Of
Indiana. Soon after this division had taken
place. Mr.. Harrison resigned his seat in Con-
press, and was appointed Governor of the
new territory. This appointment gave great
satisfaction to the people Of Indiana. with
whom the patriotic exertions of Mr.. HarTl-
son had rendered him deservedly popular;
and it was at the same time, the strongest
evidence Of the confidence with which the
General Government relied upon his integ-
rity, prudence and capacity for civil govern
ment.
The extent of Indiana was almost bound
less. The small population it then contain
ed was thinly scattered through vast will
demess, and only three settlements OF any
note existed within its territory. One OF
these was at Vincennes, the capital; another
at the Falls of the Ohio, one hundred niles
from the capital. The communication be-
tween these remote points, was, at all times
difficult and to!lsome, and often attended
with great danger. There existed no prac
ticable roads, and nearly all the intermedi
ate country was occupied by the Indians, o.
OYer-run by their hunting parties. Most O
those savage tribes, though protesting to be
friendly, were restless and dissatisfied; anc
their leading chiefs still nursed a moody
hope of revenge for the Notifying defea
they had sustained, six years before, at the
battle Of the Miami. Artful and treacher
Gus, numerous, warlike and thirsting TO
plumber, they kept this remote frontier il
continual excitement and alarm. The an
CRY feelings of our hardy borderers were fire.
quently reused by some robberyor atrociou!
violence committed by the more evil-dispos
ed among their savage neighbOrs, and quar-
Tels often ensued, which threatened The
peace of the whole community.
Such was the existing state of things il
Indiana Territory, when Mr.. Harrison wa
appointed to the administration of its gov
eminent. AS Governor of frontier terrific
~ SO peculiarly situated. Mr.. Harrison wal
invested with civil powers of the most i'm
portant nature, as well as with military au
thority. Besides the ordinary powers which
he held er-OfEciO as Governor, he had the
sole power Of dividing the district into
counties and townships, and was appointed
the general superintendent of Indian affairs
He bad likewise the unusual power of con.
ferring on a numerous class of individuals a
legal title to large grants of land, on which
they before held merely an equitable claim
His sole signature was sufficient, without
any other formality, to give a valid title to
these extensive and valuable tracts Of land
Possessed of this immense power, opportu-
mites were continually before him OF accu.
mulating a pFincely fortune; but the scru.
pulous sense of honor, which has always
characterised Mr.. Harrison, would never
permit him to speculate in lands over which
he had no control. And ii is fact worthy
of note, that during the whole time that be
held this important trust, he never availed
himself of bis peculiar advantages to acquire
single acre Of land; no shadow Of snspi.
cion was ever cast upon his disintercsted
ness, and not murmur ever accused him
Of partiality, or even unnecessary delay, 10
the performance Of this delicate duty. We
mention this only to show, that the integrity
Of Mr.. Harrison isnot merely theoretical but
practical; and thatit has always shone with
the puFest lustre when assailed by the
strongest temptations.
IN 1903, Mr. Jefferson appointed Cover
nor Harrison sole commissioner to enter
into any treaties which may be necessary
with aug Indian tribes, Northwest of the
Ohio. and within the territorv of The limited