Litchfield enquirer., 1840-09-17
SPEECH OF GEN. HARRISON,

my deep sense of your kindness towards me manifested by the friendliness and magma. nimity of your greeting. l must receive 6 different nature, becoming something more or less than what am, than what any man while living, can bc, before ! cease to re. member and appreciate the too favorable re- gard and the kind demonstration of respect tor me of my fellow-citizens here present. My heart yields up to you the homage of it's deepest gratitude, though my tongue express cs it not.
 Fellow-citizens, you are all aware of the position that l occupy before the American People-being candidate of portion of them for the Presidency 1.-the United States. It will doubtless be said by some that am here for the purpose of clectioneering for myself, that l have come to solicit your votes; but believe mo, gentlemen, this is not the case. am present on this occasion but as an invited guest of the citizens of Dark. 1t is my deliberate opinion and sincere de- sire that the bestowment of office should be the free act of the People, and have no wish to bias their judgment uriustly in my favor. But, notwithstanding nay wish and determi- nation not to engage as a politician in the pending canvass for officers to administer the General Government, although l would have preferred to remain with my family in the peace and quiet of our log cabin at the Bend, rather than become engaged in politi- cal pr other disputes as the advocate of my own rec.itude of conduct, yet, from the con- tinued torrent of islander that has been pour cd upon me, from the islanders, abuses, and obloquy which have been promulgated and circulated to my discredit, designed to as- perse and blacken my character, and from the villainous and false charges urged r :v,,% mo hxy Vauciona1 prnScnc of in iS Administration, my attendance at this cele- bration appeared to have been made an act of necessity, step which l was compelled to take for self-defence, Chiefly for this purpose have come among you, and trust ing you will all perceive the proprie:y of its course, 1t seems superfluous 10 add any fur ther reasons of its adoption.
 Years ago, fellow citizens, when left this spot-for aught I knew, for the last time-l had little idea of the surprising change which would be wrought in its appearance during the time which has supervened.- Never did expect to stand here and behold such a scene as this. It resembles some- what the recent siege of"Old Fort Meigs :" I am now sixty y-seven years of age. have therefore lived to behold much of the glory of my country; have seen the palmy days ofthis Republic; and especially have wit llCSSCO IIuIy LII bAlC CtChto "HlSt have characterized tho growing greatness of the lovely West; but this very day and its incidents mark an epoch in my own history, the like of which have seldom experienced. It is now twenty five years since last ! was at Fort Greenville-then surrounded by dense forest, dark and drear. At that peri cd there was scarce a Log Cabin between Greenville and Cincinnati-all between was one entire, unbroken wilderness. How won- derfully and how speedily have the giant woods bowed their stately tops to the indus try and enterprise of Western pioneers, as if some magic power had cleaved them from the earth! And now in their stead what do we behold! Broad, cultivated fields, flow cry gardens, and happy homes. Delightful picture-gratifying change! Proud refec- iion that this transition of things is the re- suit of the handwork of Western People-of American frecmen.
 Fellow-citizens, you have undoubtedly seen it oftentimes stated, in a certain class of newspapers, that am a very decrepit old that was caged up, and that ! could not speak loud enough to be heard more than four or five feet distant, in consequence ot which last misfortune am stgmatized with the cognomen of "General Num-" You now perceive, however, that these stories are false. But there are some more serious mat ters charged against me, which shall take the liberty to prove untrue. You know it has been said by some, that have no prin- ciples; that dare not avow any principles |; and that am kept under the surveillance of n committee" All this is faise-uncondi- :f;onn;ir raiscc. The charge of my being in the Keeping of committee Is the oniy. one that seems to merit mosncnts consldera- aion, and that barely to indicate Its orlgin.- A few months past. almost every mail that has come to the post offices at which re- ceive my letters and papers. has brought me a greater or less number of letters-ail or which have opened and examined. Some of them have proved abusive and contempti- ole, designed specially to taunt and insult ; and such were, ot course, consigned to the flames. But, on the other hand, letters deco rouslv wrii,,;san, for the purpose of elici!ing information, have bce.S. uniformly Teplleo to- either by myself personally, u" hv some one acting under my authority and obeyms mJ structions-communicat my opinions, and not his own. Is there any thing crimi- nal or improper in this mode of doing busi- ness! Surely, my friends, I trow not.
 Now, with regard to tho political condition of our common country, l trust there Is no impropreiy in my addressing you upon SUD. iects concerning the public veal. What means this "grcat commotion" among the People of this great nation! What are the insufferable grievances which have driven so many thousands, nay, millions, of the American People into council for the pur, pose of devising measures for thelr mutual relief! Wherefore do they cry aloud as with one voice, Reform! Reform! Reform
 Our country IS in peril! The public morals arc corrupted. How has it been done '