The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-25


Surely good character need not fear public
scrutiny. Like pure gold such aclarac.er shines
the brighter the more it is rubbed. Tie real great
ness Of Washington appears in no instances more
conspicuously, than in those where he meets the
attacks of his enemies with moderation and for
bcarance; and Cardinal Rctz showed the real
greatness OF mind in no instance better than when
he made the remark, that he did not wish to ST.
lcnce his enemies, because they were the only
ones who pointed out to him his errors.
Now how has Gen. Harrison horne the attacks
of his opponents! Has he, like a man conscious
of rcc,itutc, borne them with moderation and for
bcarancc, or turned to his benefit those attacks
Ne. "From the rAtinous and fabe charges urged
against him" he says, he "was compelled to APP
pear in sclf-dcfcncc." That is, the General had
watched the conest--hc saw his opponents had
pointed out too many of his crrors-his friends
could no longer contradict--hc became uneasy,
and, instead of taking Cardinal ReA plan to cor
rect his errors, he can no longer conain himsdf--
his passion masters him--hc breaks down the bar
rcr that kept him within the bounds of propricty
-cnters the political arena in person, and fro,lls,
and foams, and swecpingly dcnounces his oppo-
ncnls as villains and liars! We leave it
with those who believe that forbcarancc is II viz
tue, to say whether such conduct is worthy of a
man occupying the position that has been allotted
to Gen. Harrison.
But if the thousands OF Inherent wing stump
orators and the whole wing press, aided by tie
Central Franking Committee" and the liberal
the British iundmongers abroad, were not able to
do Justice to his character, and it was really ncccs-
sary that he should appear in self defence, it would
naturally be expected that he would contradict the
charges urged against him, and place himself in
clear light before the people. Has he done this
Search through his speech. You find nothing
absolutely nothing. With sweeping assertion
he pronounces list of charges, some of which
were never made, ENORMOUSLY, Internationally
false" but no explanation is given, no proof is ad-
duccd. Are all those charges false Is it false
that the General has refused TO declares his prin
cplcs when called upon! Hc did not answer the
queries of the Oswcgo Union Association; the
committee of Elizabeth City county, Va, have re-
ccivcd no answer; the committee from Louisville,
KY, were pcrcmptorily refused; and every other
committee or individual has been refused in the
same manner. True, the General did write few
letters containing contradictory views Oh tie sub
cct of Abolition, but they were accompanied with
strict injunctions "not to publish
The fact is, instead OF dcfcnding himself, which
the General declared was his only object, his ire
overcame his discretion, and in his rage he pours
out his gall on the Democratic press, the Admin.
straion, and particularly on the President, whom
he dcnounccs as "a monarch and dcspot at plea
sure!' lie repeats the exploded hunbugs of
":'tanding Army" a ''union of Purse and Sword
"Coruption Corruplion!" ''Dclauiicrs Default
tcrs." knowing at the same time that not a single
officer appointed by Van Buren, ii known to have
deiraudcd the nation out of one Plcayunc.
We believe that this speech, anstcad Of lettering
General Harrson's cause, furnishes still stronger
proof Of the correctness of Ex-Governor Taze-
wells opinion, 'that Gen. Hnrison is both PLY.
sicoiiy and intellectually incompetent 10 perform
the many, paried arduous, and important dutisS
mhich must derofre upon euery President Of The
United S'dteS.'