Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-08-07
ELEGANT LETTER FROM GEN.
HARRISON.

Rensselaer,, at Cincinnati on the I'd ult-
Gen. Harrison was among The Distinguish
ed guests invited; but for reasons assigned
could not be present. The following is his
letter declining the invitation. Ii is one oil
those elegant things which fall but seldom
from The pens OF even the abest statesmen.
Good taste will relish, and correct judgment
approve it, The opening passages are trdiy
beautiful Who can read this elegant pro.
duc,ion and believe the veteran author is
"imbecil" in mind 2-Afias
North BEND. lsl July, 1910.
Genilemen "A recent domestic affection
in The death OF one of my sons, and the pre-.
sent illness Of Mrs. Harrison. will prevent
inc from enjoying the great pleasure of be-
ing present at the dinner TO be given on
Thursday next, to my beloved friend and
old associate in arms, Cen Solomon Van
Rensselaer,. 1t is now lorty.seven years
since first met this distinguished soldier in
the army OF Gen. Wayne-he, in the capa
city OF Coronet Of Dragons, and as an
Ensign Of Infantry. Associated in all the
tolls and difficulties incident TO war. the
theatre Of which was an unbroken wilder.
ness Of ages nearly correspondent; and of
seek the same employments. the same
amusemens, and the same iellowships, =
our friendship thus formed by prepossesson
and knit in common danger, could not be
ephemeral. II was such indeed as though
we had owned the same paternity, and had
been nurtured at the same bosom And
may say with Castnlio Of his brather.
When had friend that not Polidore's,
| Or POidore a foe that was not mine 7
will not attempt, gentlemen. to give you
even a summary of the services OF Gen.
Van Rensselaer,. | will not tell you Of the
deep gratitude which is due TO him from
western men-oi his gallant bearing in the
battle of the Rapids OF the Miami, and the
blood which saw pouring from his manly
bosom upon the soil OF Ohio, or his still
more orious achievements upon the heights
of Queenstown, ennobed like those o! Abra-
ham, by the blood OF the conlending heroes.
All this you know Ii is to be found in the
records Of your country and furnishes some
of the brightest pages Of its history. But
for a moment, let me ask your attention 10
his more recent history. Aye, what is he
now? What and who is the hero OF two
wars, the conqueror of The heroic Brock, o.
ultIl Nv WHOoC VI NhOSO Sh'
lanlry. so deep wound had been inflicted
upon the military character Of our country
a year aso would have answered YOU
fellow citizens, that he was living in humbl,
retirement, in the bosom of large and hap
py family, supported by the emo!umen,s o
an humble office, the gift of n Presiden
who had himself jeopardized his life. ant
shed his blood in achieving the lndepend
cnce of his country and knew how TO appre
cute Hero's services and reward sol
diers tolls. Such. gentlemen, was the stu
alton of my friend, the defender OF Ohio Ca
: bins from the furious savage, the bearer II
his body OF the marks Of seven dislinc
= wounds when the spoilers came
When the dsbanded legions of Augusta
we're suffered TO eject the happy husband
5 men of the hiresi portion OF Italy, we hav
reason to bclieve-we know indeed-tha
some were spared. The ruthless warrio
was not suffered TO usurp the seat and VIC
s. late the groves which had resounded 10 tn
e songs of the greatest Of poets. We ma
q conclude, also, that the Scared veterans {
l. former wars were exempted from the o,he
s. wise general prescription. Indeed we mu
{ suppose that the sympathy naturally felt b.
: tween men Of the same profession. woul
have induced the usurpers TO spare the wa
!; worn followers OF the great Pompey. a
d though they had been the soldiers OF iberi,
N and the sworn enemy OF their own faclion.-
III But gentlemen, let Inc ask you now 10 pol
Is 10 an exception in the prescription which h;
~ ragged in our country for the last twel'
'e years2 Who has been spared that posses
y, ed any thing which could tempt the cupid
e Nv of The spoilers2 NV friend is the la
II victim. The reason Of this honorable q
III linction could tell 1t is somewhat ditie
IN en-, from that which induced the great Pol
re phemus 10 intend the like honor 10 the kir
ne Of lthica. But you may perhaps be an
IN ious 10 know the reason which has been q
e, signed for this outrage upon the Amerc'
=" People. Why. it was precisely that WIN
hi, has been given in all ages and in all cou
all tries, for the violent and unjust acts Of
ell lan,s 1.-The public good" 10 this case, y
W. advantage OF the democracy" In The mi'
Is of such denominations, how appropriate
re the exclamation OF one OF The distinguish
he victims OF the savage Robespierre, On
we mocracy, how many crimes are commi''
va in thy name"
ne Ii may be proper, gentlemen, that shot
add that Gen. Van Rensselaer, has account
for every cent of the public money that e'
lite came into his hands, and that he dares
c- strctesl investigation into his conduct ms
nj. officer. What Cause of deep reflection. g
a. llemen, does the case OF my friend, conlrs
'y ed with that Of others known TO be put
Ja(a,I,ars ,,ho hnye hppn retained IN OH