The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-05-14

il may be said with truth, that during his
service in Congress, be distinguished him.
self by his eloquence, talents and attention
10 the business OF the country. No subject
during Harrison's congressional life occu.
pied more Of his attention, than the Pension
system for the relief of the Officers aud Sol
diers Of the Revolution. As a Soldier, he
knew the dangers and priyations OF war
as a Statesman, he realized the value Of our
glorious Constiiuiion-and as Patriot, bis
heart was filled with grateful admiration oil
the tortitude and valour, and with deep sym.
patty for the des,tuton and poverty, too
often the LOT Of the remains Of that noble
band of heroes. Hence, be took an active
part in forwarding every plan for their re.
lief, aud IN giving the most extensive opera.
ton to the public provision in their favour.
Ia 1928, he was appointed by Mr.. Adams,
Minister to the republic Of Colombia, from
which station being recalled by Gen. Jack.
son, soon after bis accession 10 Office, Gen.
Harrison has not since been in public life.
4 While in Colombia, Harrison addressed a
letter TO Bolivar, the military dictator OF
that country, breathing the puresi spirit OF
attachment to our republican Institutions,
aud showing Just estimate OF the nature
Of those public services by which claim 10
confidence is established. | wish that time
would permit my submitting to your atten.
ton the whole OF this admirable letter.
Take these quotations as specimens OF the
whole, and avail yourselves Of the first op,
portunliy to become acquainted With every
| sentence it contains. . contend that the
strongest Of all governments is that which
is most free. We consider that of the Uni
ted States as the strongest, precisely be-
cause il is The most Free" /" In bestowlng
the palm Of merit, the world has become
wiser than tormerly-the successful warrior
is no longer regarded as entitled to the first
place in the temple Of fame" 80 be es
teemed eminent!y great, II is necessary to
be emnently good. The qualities Of The
hero aud the general, must be devoted TO
the advantage OF mankind, before he will
be permitted TO assume the title of their
benefaclor and the station which he viii
hold 10 their regard and affections, will de-
pend, not on the number aud splendour Of
his victories, but upon tho results, and the
use he may make ofthe influence he acquires
from them"
Thus l have given you an imperfect
sketch Of the chief events in the life of Har.
rison ; bu, to understand fully his claims up.
on our confidence and regard, We should
attentively consider his whole course, both
public and private. We should recoiec'
that his services against the enemies of his
country have been rendered under more
than the usual difficulties, dangers aud pri.
vatlons attending war-tbat he al all times
voluntarily surrendered the superior com.
forts which his rank enabled, and (in the
minds Of most meu) would have justified
him IN using. In the wn,er campaigns of
a northern latitude-in the midst Of snow
and tempest, his whole wardrobe occupied
but single yalise, and bis bedding consisted
Of but single blanket, strapped during the
day upon the saddle on which he rode
that as he shared the priyaiions, so be met
the same dangers with the common soldier,
and that always whore the public service
either required or permitted; ds he was
first in station, SO was he first in peril, 10
tolls, in sutferings, for the country he loved
and served. Ii should be remembered also,
that the civil offices he held, conferred on
him the largest discretionary powers, de.
manded the utmost judgment and fortitude,
the brightest qualities of mind, the steadlest
determination of a patriotic spirit. The
Governor Of Indiana from 1900 TO 1912,
had no soft and luxurant post of power and
patronage without danger and difficulty, but
one, on the contrary, requiring continual
sacrifices OF comfort, of personal convenience
aud satety-and bringing daily r2on him
the anxieies, incident TO such border adj
ministratlon, of providing for the safety of
the settlers and their helpless wives and
children, from the cruelty and crimes Of
numerous warlike and hostile tribes Of H..
dams. II should be recoected too, that as
Governor of Indiana, and er ofcio Chief
Agent for disposing Of the public lands, be
had daily opportunities OF enrichng himself
by speculatlon-and yet such vas the puri.
ty ofhis principles, that even the busy malice |
of his personal enemies and party assailants
has not insinua,ed that his integrity, even in |
a single instance, yielded TO tempia,on.-
We should dwell upon the reflection, that
armed with large powers, c,vIl aud military,
for many years, no instance is known or pre-.
tended, in which he ever offered wrong or
insult even TO the humbIest Of his fellow. clti.
zens--:hat his powers and influence have
been always used for the advancement of
merit-for smoothing the way of honest
poverty in its movements towards indepen.
dence--tor the promotion of the common
good of all classes of his fellow. citizens. -
And we should pause with tender pleasure
over the victorious General, when, after the |
battle of the Thames, be resigned his soil.
tary blanket to a wounded British officer,
and thus realized most touching concep.
ton OF tina, noble beneyolence which belongs
to true courage, and which sees in a suffer,
ing enemy a friend and brother. Fellow.
citizens. cannot such man be trusted I'll