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


made by my companions in arms, by the eye
witnesses OF my actions, by the great and good
and brave men who fought by my side or under
my command. They tell different story
but Their evidence, clear, unequivocal and dis
tinct-the testimony of Gov. Shelby, the vene-
rable .hero Of Kings Mountain, OF the gallant
Perry, and of many brave and generous spirits
who saw and knew and participated in all the
operations connected with the battle OF the
Thames-the evidence Of impartial and homo
iaDle men, the concurrent records Of history and
the authority of universal public opinion, are all
east aside, IN difference 10 the reckless asser-
tions OF those who We're either not in being or
danded IN the arms of their nurses General
Harrison SAID, he acknowledged that these ca
lumnles were disagreeabe to him. His good
name, such as II was, was his most precious
treasure-and he did not like TO have il mangled
by such calumniators, Were it his land which
,hey were seeking TO destroy-were il the title
deeds TO his farm that they are endeayoring 10
mutilate, he could bear their efforts with patience
and smile even at their success. But he con
iessed, notwithstanding his perfect confidence
IN the justice OF his country and the decision Of
an impartial posterity, that these ruthless at
lacks upon his military character affected him
unpleasantly. This policy of his adversaries
constrained him TO consider himself as now on
trial before his country. He was not reluctant
70 be tried fairly. The American people being
his Court and Jury-his adversaries held 10
those rules Of evidence established by com
mon sense and common right-he feared not the
results OF the strictest scrutiny and would cheer
fully submit TO the decision of vrtuous and en-
lghtened community. He asked but fair deal
ing and final justice-no more.
General Harrison alluded to several other in
stances of gratutous and unfounded calumny,
having no shadow OF apology in any fact for
their invention and publication. He spoke Of
the battle Of Tippecanoe-of the death of the
brave and lamented Daviess, whose fall had
been ascribed to him. lie said the whole story
about the White Horse was entirely false, and
that the fate Of the gallant Kenuckian had no
connection whatever with his own white mare
which, by accident, was not rode on that occa-
sion by any one In remarkng upon the Sian
ders connected with the battle of Tippecanoe he
said their reiutatlon, one and all, was found in
the proceedings ofthe Legislature Of Kentucky,
and especially in the extraordinary confidence
reposed in him by the gallant Governor and peo-
pie Of that State, when they subsequently ho-
nored him with the command of their army,
composed of the choice spirits of the land, the
best blood of Kentucky. Gen. Harrison spoke
with deep emotion of the trust reposed in him
by Kentucky on the occasion alluded to, and
said, that the commission which made him the
Commander of that brave and patriotic army Of
kentuckians, he had always held as the most
honorable commission which it had been the
fortune of his life 10 have conferred upon him
He referred 10 very recent story-got up in
his own neighborhood-and sent forth to the
world, corroborated by the sanctity Of an affida-
vit-which represented him as confessing to q
young man on steamboat that he was an abo-
litionist, and that, although he voted against
strictions Missouri, he did so in opposition to
the suggestions of his conscience, &c. He said
the narrative bore on its face the proofs Of its
absolute falsity-and when he pronounced it a
fabrication, without the semblance Of a fact or a
word for its basis, il was not because he thought
II required contradiction, but 10 evince the
recklessness and desperation of his political enc
mics, who seemed to have given up every
ground of hope, save that which they found in
vlitying his name. . II is melancholy fact,
feow-citizens,n said Gen. Harrison, that the
advocates Of Mr.. Van Buren, should SO far forget
what belongs to the character of an American
citizen, and do so much violence TO the nature
of our free institutions, as TO place the great po
ltica contest in which we are now striving upon
an issue such as this. would not accept the
lofty Station, TO which some of you are proposing
TO elevate me, if it came to me by such means
| would not, if had the power TO prevent II, allow
the fair fame of my competitor TO be unjustly as
sailed and wounded even for the attainment fthat
lofty aim of noble ambition. Nay, have often
defended Mr. Van Buren, against what | be-
leved to be the misrepresentation OF my own
mistaken friends and others Felow-ctiZens,
If Mr. Van Buren, be the better statesman, let
us say SOL shall be the last man to raise an OBJ
lection againstit or to desire to impose restraints
upon The utmost independence Of thought and
action and the freest expression Of feeling and
opinion. ] love frank and generous adversary
such man delight to embrace-and will serve
hin, ocnordinn n INV ability q phpprtullv n
my professed friend. But that political warfare
which seeks success by foul detraction, and
strives for ascendancy by the ruin Of personal
character, merits the Indignation OF honest men,
is hateful to every generous mind and tends too
surely to the destruction Of public virtue, and,
as consequence, TO the downfall of public
liberty"
Gen Harrison apoogized for occupying his
fellow-ctizens so long He said he would but
mention one more of the latest ISLANDERS which
had come 10 his knowledge A German paper,
published in Cincinnati, almost under his own
eye puts it forth, with apparent sincerity that
Gen. Harrison, now candidate for the Presi-
dcncy Of the United States, was, many years
ago. when young man, an and TO Gen. Wayne
during his Indian wars-and that, whenever
young Harrison found that battle was coming
on, he always ran of into the woods" (Again
there was loud and irrepressible laughter.) The
editor forgot, SAID the General, Wnen ne served
up this little dish that the only possible security
to young Harrison's scalp, on the approach of
battle with the Indians, was in keeping out Of
the ,coods! Such story as this can only ex-
cite smile here, it is true, said Gen. H., but
this paper circulates not alone in the United
States-copes of it are probably read in Europe,
where our history is less known, and where the
contradiction of such silly falsehoods may posi-
bly, never come.
1T has long been proverbial of old soldiers
fellow-citizens, continued Gen. H., that they
delight TO go back TO other days and fight their
battles over again. When began this address
,l1tnndnd only cncaL &c Cor fam ed