The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-18

T.
said. that the commission which made him the
Commander of that brave and patriotic army oil
Kentuekians, he had always held as the most
honorable commission which it had been the Tor
tune of his life to have conferred upon him.
He referred to a very recent Story-got up IN
his own ghborhood-and sent forth to the
wsrld, corroborated by the sanctity of an atfida-
vit-which represented him confessing to
Young man on steamboat that he was an aboli-
ZIONIST, and that, although he voted against re-
strietions on Missouri, he did so in opposition to
the suggestions of his conscience, &c. He said
the narrative bore its face the proofs of its alb
solute falsitv-and when he pronounced it a fab
rication without the Semblanee of fact or word
for its basis it was not because he thought II re-
ouired contradictions but to evince the reckless
ness and desperation OF his political enemies, who
seemed to have givea up every ground OF hope,
save that which they found in Yillitying his name
SsIt is a melancholy fact, fe1low-citizens,' said
Gen Harrison, S'that the advocates of MIR. Van
5uren 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 political contest in which we
are now striving upon an issue such as this.
would not accept the lofty station, to which some
of YOU re proposing to elevate it it came to me
bv such means I would not, if had the power
to prevent it, allow the fair fame of my competi-
tor to be unlastly assailed and wounded even tor
the attainment of that lofty aim OF a noble auhl'
ton. Nay, have often defended Mr. Van Buren,
against what believed to be the misrepresenta-
tions of my own mistaken friends and others
Feliow-citizens, if Mr. Van Buren, be the better
statesman, let us say SOL shall be the last man
to raise objection against, or to desire to inn
pose restraints upon the utmost independence OF
thought and action, and the freest expression OF
feeling and opinion. love frank and generous
alversary-such a man delight to embrace
and will serve him, according to my ability, as
8, Rxxff tnfrl
Gtical warfare which seeks success by foul de-
traction, and strives for ascendancy by the ruin
of personal charter, merits the indignation OF
honest men, is hateful to every generous mind
and tends too surely to the destruction OF public
virtue, and, consequence, to the downfall OF
public liberty"
Gen. Harrison apologized for occupying his
felIow-eitizens so long. He said he would but
mention one more of the latest ISLANDERS which
had come to his knowledge. A German paper
published in Cincinnati, almost under his own
eve, puts it forth with apparent sincerity, that
seen. Harrison, now candidate for the Presi-
deney OF the United States, was, many years
ago, when young man, an aid to Gen. Wayne
during his Indian wars, and that, whenever
Young Harrison found that battle was coming
ON, he always ran off into the woods" (Again
there was loud and irrepressible laughter) The
editor forgot, said the General, when he served
M this little dish that the only possible security
to voung Harrison's scalp, on the approach OF a
battle with the Indians, was in keeping out OF
the woods! Such story as this can only eN-
cite a smile here, it is true, said Gen H., but
this paper circulates not alone in the United
States; copies of it are probably read IN Europe,
where sur history is less known, and where the
contradiction of such silly falsehoods may pessi-
bly, never come.
tsIt has long been proverhial of old soldiers,
fellow-citizens,n continued Gen. H., ''that they
delight to 60 back to other days and fight their
battles over again. When begaR this address
to you, intended only to speak of my far-famed
seCommittee of conscienee-keepers," and the
ssiron Cage inSvhich they confine me, but have
unwittingly taken advantage OF your kind dis
position to listen to me, and extended my re-
marks to other though kindred topics. will
only add, that although they have made wide
mistake who make me dwell in an 'iron cage,
the snlucly wight who put me in log cabin,
was little nearer the truth than he probably
supposed himself to be. 1t is true that part OF
my dwelling house is a log cabin, but as to the
hard cider" (the laughter which followed the
alusion to the sshard cider" branch of the story,
drowned the ,ice of the speaker)
But, said Gen. Harrison, admonished by tho
prov erb, that you may ascribe my long speech to
the common infirmity OF an old soldier, and bring
me under the suspicion of the lequacity OF age,
will conclude these hasty and unprecedented
remarks, by thanking my fellew-citizcns of Co
Iumbus, Tor their pollteness on the present occa-
sion, as well for the friendly feeling which
they have uniformly and often heretofore given
me so many gratifying proofs.
The General retired, leaving the crowd, which
had continued to accumulate, while he spoke, de-
lighted with the prompt and satisfactory manner
in which he had met the wishes of the citizens.
The uppermost idea in the mind Of every one
with waom the writer interchanged thought,
was the wish that every man In the Union had
heard this unprecedented and sxteinporaneous
address. Upon every candid mind it impressed
the conviction, that the opposition candidate for
the Presidency, was the last man in the world to
be made, the instrument ola committee of escen-
science-keepers," or to conceal his opinions of
public measures, from sinister motives, when the
disclosure of them was called for by the proprie-
| ty and fitness of things
The General left the city about 10 o'clock, es-
corted by numerous cavalcade ON horseback,
and attended by the Mayor and the Chairman of
the State Central Committee. The escort parted
with their guest mile or so from the city, on
his journey northward
| The General was addressed, on parting, by the
Mayor, in brief valedictory, on behalf of the
citizens of the Capital, to which he replied, in
his uniformly happy manner.
From the Richmond Whig.
1