Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-03-26
Original Correspond ence.
WILLIAM IT. HARRISON.
II U NJ D E r T w o.

The Indiana territory comprised, as was OBJ
served at the conclusion of the first number, the
present Suites of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and
the territory of Wisconsin. There were howev
err within its limits, only three places which could
Law claim to the title of white settlements. These
were Clark Grant on the Ohio, nearly opposite
louisville, Vmcennes the seat of government
on the Wabash, about 100 miles from Clark $
Grant, and a French settlement on the banks of
! the Mississippi, more than 200 miles from Vim
cennes; there were no woods between these set
! Elements, the only communication being by means
of a beaten footpath- the territory very thin
! ly peopled, and the country north Of the settle
nents was in the possession of several Indian
nations, entertaining feelings by no means of
friendly nature toward the whites. From these
circumstances it will easily be conceived that the
duties of the governor could not have been light,
nor his responsibility trihng; that responsibility
was much augmented by the fact that on him de-
volved the appointment of all civil officers, and
all below the rank Of General in the hliltia--the
division of the Territory into counties and town
ships--and the adoption of such laws Of the
States as mis- ht be most suitable to the welfare
of the territory. Besides this, he the representa-
tive Of the general government, and had the sole
power of confirmng-by his SIGNATURE alone--ti-
ties Of lard to individuals having certain cquita-
bic claims. In addition to all these powers, in
1903, president Jefferson conferred upon him the
appointment of sole Commissioner for treating
with the Indians, an Office involving vast a.
mount Of labor. But Harrison proved himself
equal to the perfect discharge Of all duties nrust-
ed TO him By his moderation and frmness he
concil;ated the GOOD viii of the Inhabitants pre-
served the peace in his jurisdiction, successfully
counteracted, for long time, the efforts of the
British nrcnts to induce the savages to engage in
war with the Americans, and obtained from the
Indian tribes, on advantageous and equitable
terms, cessions Of land amounting, in the whole,
to more than sixty millions of acres, and cmbra-
cnr much of the richest portion OF the northwest
In short his administration proved incontestably
thai he possessed, in an eminent degree, the tai
ent of governing wisely, commanded the affec-
tons of the people, secured the appreciation of
the general government and greatly contributed
to the prosperity of the country.
! But notwiths landing the general favor which
!. Governor Iiarrisons administration obtained, he
himself was far from DESTROYS of continuing to
exercise, any longer than was necessary--all the
powers conferred upon him. An ardent friend
of the peoples rights he always wished the voice
Of the people to be heard; and we find him in
| 1868 and 1904, exerting himself to bring about a
change in the territorial government, by which
| the people should be enabled to choose a Legis-
laturc This object was attained in 1905, when
Indiana was raised to the second grade Of terrific
rial government, being allowed, Delegate in
| Congress, House of assembly elected by the
people, and Legislative Council of FIVE, appoint
cd by the President ofthe United States out of ten
nominated by the House of assembly. Under
this alteration Governor Harrison presided over
the affairs of the territory with the same success
which had attended him while solely exercising
the functions of government, nothing occurring
TO disturb his administration until the year 1906.
In the course of this year--lS06-eyents &C.
CURED which eventually involved the Indians
northwest of the Ohio in a war with the United
States, resulting IN the complete ruin of most Of
the tribes Since the revolutionary war, agents
Of Great Britain in the northwest, had been en-
cared IN stirring up the Indians against the A
merican Government, ana tien eHot'5, "ith"ugh
thev had not as yet, succeeded in bringing on a
conflict, had evidently been The cause of much
evaporation among the Indians This exaspera-
ton had now risen TO such pitch, that nothing
was required to produce direct collision between
them and the whites but the want of a leader to
| enccrrane and command them Such leaders
soon offered in the persons of Tecumseh and
ievachica--commoniy styled the Prophet