The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-02

We have the pleasure Of laying before
our readers letter from on houorable Mem
Der of the House Of Representatives, which
has been happily drawn out from him by a
letter from friend a, Philadelphia, who
asked for information in reference TO a
statement there made that, in the year
1877, the thanks of Congress were refused
TO General HARRISON, on the ground OF
some improper interference Of his, whilst
IN command on the frontier, with the sup
plies for the Army. Mr.. CUsuING, with
characteristic industry, stimulated by laud
able zeal to do justice to the Wing caudl
date for the Presidency, has Investigated
the whole history of this tale, and, in the
following letter, placed i, in lis true light.
WASHINGTON, March IA, lS40.
DEAR SIR: have the honor TO acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your letter, IN which,
referring to the alleged refusal Of Congress
TO pass a vote Of thanks to General HARRI.
son for his services in the last war with
Great Britain, you request information from
me on the subject; aud | shall with great
pleasure, communicate TO you the facts, as
they stand proved, incontestibly, by the
journals and debates of Congress aud the
records Of the Government.
1t is not true that Congress refused vote
Of thanks 10 General HARRISON. On the
contrary, such a vote was passed, and may
be found, by any one who chooses 10 look
for it, in the published volumes Of me acts
Of Congress for the proper year.
The allegation that the thanks Of Con.
gress we're refused TO him, is founded upon
the authority Of an imperfect, and therefore
erroneous, paragraph IN one Of the newspa-
pers Of the DAY and upon the artIhce Of
suppressing mos: of the material facts Of
the case, as they appear in the journals OF
the Senate aud House of Representatives.
When the circumstances which have
been seized upon by the political opponents
Of General HARRIsoN as The pretext for this
allegation, are examined, it Will be seen
that, instead Of jusltying reproacb, they are
in the highest degree honorable to his char.
acter and reputation.
Il is the undeniable fact, that, on the 30!b
of March, ISIS, the two Houses OF Con.
gress passed resolution, which, as after.
wards approved By the President, runs as
follows:
&" Resolution directing medals 70 be struck and,
together rib TIE Trunks Of Congress, present
ed TO MAJOR Genera! Harrison and GoUern0r
Shelby, and .tsr other purposes.
"Resolued BIZ tie Senate and House Of Repre-.
seatatires Of he United States Of america in
Congress assembled, That the thanks Of Congress
be, ard they are hereby, presented to Major Gen.
eral William Henry Harrison and Isaac Shelby,
late Governor Of kentucky, and through them,
to the officers and men under their COMMIT nd, fey
their glllantry and good conduct in defeating the
combined British and Indian forces under Major
General Proctor, on the Thames, 10 Upper Can
ada, on the fifth day of October, one thousand
eight hundred aud thirteen, capturing the British
army, with thor baggage, camp eqllpage, and
artillery; and that the President OF the United
States be requested to cause two gold medals TO
be struck emblematical Of this triumph, and pre-
sentcd to General Harrison and Isaac Shelby,
late Governor Of Kentucky.
IL CLAY,
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
JOHN GAILLARD,
president OF the Senate, pro tenn
Approved, April !, 1878.
JAMES MONROE"
This resolution is, Of course, the final and
conclusive action of Congress upon the
whole matter Of vote OF thanks 10 General
HARRISON: aud, as the journals show, il
passed each House on the same day, AM
uitkoW dirisioD.
Prior to that time, however in q prcced
log Congress, a similar resolution had been
reported 10 the Senate BY the Committee
on Military Affairs, Of vb.ch Mr.. JAMES
BARBOUR, Of Virginia, was chairman
The resolution was discussed in Committee
Of the Whole, and it IS the action IN this
Committee of the Whole, separated from
the responsible action Of the Senate Itself,
WHICH - idlitt hAtND plOt4ci UJ tflJoC W
whom your letter refers, as evidence against
the honor Of General HARRISON. The
journals Of the Senate show that, instead OF
striking out the name Of General HARRISON
from the resolution, the Senate, By vote OF
ayes and noes, refused to concur in the
amendment Of the Committee Of the Whole
to that effect that Is to say, The Senate, in
the most formal manner, expressly rejected
the proposition 10 strike out the name OF
General HARRIsoN. After which, suspend.
ing for the present a final decision on the
resolution, the Senate ordered i, to be re-.
committed, without change, TO the Com,
mlttee on Military Affairs for further con.
slteration. This was on The 20lh Of April,
1916.
The objections to The adoption Of the
resolution al that time, on the part Of Ger.
tain Of tie members Of the Senate, grew
out Of sroundless and malicious attack on
the integrity Of General lilRRIsoN by per.
sons concerned ~ some of the army con.
tracts for thu suurIv of tho NOrfhweatern