The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-23
SPEECH OF GENERAL HARRISON AT
FORT MElGS


FORT MEIGS.
We copy from the correspondence Of the New
York Commercial Advertiser, the following no
&c Of the address of General Harrison 10 the
lmm.ase Gathering the People at Fort Meigs
Very early on Thursday morning the throng
fea.sembl.i. and the general estimate OF our
pest men ana the military is, that $4,000 were
on the ground. ~ light the stand was taken
by the leading men from The various States, and
President, Vice President, and Secretaries
were chosen. ! can only say Thomas Ewing
was President, and Governor Woodbridge first
Vice Pretident Al III, the marshal brought up
the military TO clear way to the stand, and in
few moments fine cavalcade brought up the
glorious old hero, still in his homespun suit of
gray. Never did | see such transports in the
people as when he uncovered and took his sta
ton. The venerable pastor Badger, who served
as Harrison's chaplain at the fort, made a very
brief and deeply affecting prayer, in which he
most fervently prayed for the deliverance OF this
land from ga wicked, corrupt and ruinous ad-
ministration," and heavens blessing on all pro
per means to elevate the honest man whom the
people were assembled to honor. The general
then came forward, and we were most delighted
to hear strong and powerful voice, such as few
young men can boast. | have often heard Clay
and Webster, but never listened 10 those Won
drous men with more pleasure, though il Is but
proper to say they have never had such an OPP
porfunity for popular address. His powers Of
oratory are quite uncommon at advanced age.
The General is &C, but | sincerely believe he
has hardly any equal for calm sef-possesson and
address. | stood at his side on the stand, and
will try to give you sketch, or mere outline of
his address, which think you may regard as
tolerably correct:
Fellow citizens:-I am not here in conso-
nance with my own wishes. have ever sup
posed that the President Of the United States
should not be man who seeks the Office, but
one who is sought for by the people, by whom
the honor should be freely awarded II had
remained in a body at home, yet should have
been here in spirit. come at the request Of
large circle Of friends, and at the soicitous nvi
ration of the committee at the convention at
am deeply affected when I look around me-
What spot on the globe can excite the same
emotions in my bosom2 cast my eyes to the
very spot where appeared on the battle ground
with the hero Wayne, and attempted TO become
humble follower Of his virtues; there | saw
our banner triumphant there the foundation laid
Of our Western prosperity, there the indignant
eagle, frowning upon the British hon. mere our
youth carrying out what they had learned from
Wayne, the best lessons an American youth
can acquire,-to die for his country when he IS
called TO do il for her good. Here the General
saw an old companion in arms down in the
crowd, and called him up by his side; It was
Gen. Hedges, who was at the siege The hero
resumed by observing that some OF his feelings
were Of a different character; where were the
companions of his youthful days upon this river!
He would now drop a tear to their memory,
which the etiquette of the soldier might at their
death have forbidden
In 1898 he was appointed aid to General
Wayne at the battle of Maumee, and nine
teen years after he was the commander-in-chlel
Of the Northwestern army. The music AZ a
r.. Ia nla cd mo trD1
standing the speaker, and | only knew that he
was stating that he had found bravery in all
ranks Of the people, in the regulars and militia
All around me are glorious "reminiscences
would there were no painful ones expected
TO find these associations nj this place. did ex
pect to find these thousands. these kind evi
dences of your regard My anxiety on this spo
.aw receives il reward the only reward that is
and power an any man OF feeling ask VIVA
obedience of ',,,,.,ader feels Will the glitter
NJ NJ " masses On ...~ovent it? Will tn,
sp wine was often more than ariSsp. from it
b;l;,'. anguish. All men of sense and sens;
oiity IN Europe, and especially in Amer. aens'
aerstand the kind Of anxietv 10 which ~ cn
III what materials was my army conna.d1
iney were American LAWYERS. who Ia;J s''I
.hei. orieis physicians, who had eft ,ho;a d
.lents mechanics, who had laid as;dn ,e" IL pa
,,io LIS farmers and aborers, who had leli ,he;,
puuSm IN tne furrow, though their families do
help their country
could point TO spots before me where felt
thls anguish OF anxiety, when rejecting on the
consequences of mistake on my own part. or
want OF Judgment in others. | thought Of wives
expecting their returning husbands mothers
looking Tor the boys they had equipped for the hat
ue. ! thought Of the glory Of my country far
nished In view Of all this. my army was ar
ranged by myself, and by no colonel. as | can
appear 10 many present to prove; my steps,
good or i'll were all my own and belonged ~
no other Again, to-day think of revolution.
airy patriots. Would TO God they We're rewarded
as they Deserve but they who survive were
long the monuments Of their couptry's ingroti
nude. But why was our bounty when il came
r.estrctedl Why not afforded to Wayne's sol.
diers They suffered more than any from spe
clal causes. The American revolution, properly
speaking, which commenced at Lexington. only
ended on this river, under WAYNE, on the 10Th
OF August, 1874 The poor remnant of that
army had few advocates. The revolutionary
soldier SAID to candidates for Congress, stake
care take care or we will drive you from Office .
Only humble few noticed the claims of Wayne's
men did what could When his men were
wounded they had TO go forth and wander in
ms savage land for warmth and shelter, so ne
cessary 10 the sufferer even before he gets medi
cal aid. The revolutionary soldier found .
hearty welcome at every house in the settled
colony, and never found the string OF he |
latch pulled an !" but Wayne's men were in !