The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-06-09


He explains the whole history ofthe Medals inihe
most satisfactory manner, and upon his motion me
Medals were voted to Shelby and Harrison by me
unanimous vote of the Senate. Will our Loco'o-
co papers now cease their clamor upon that sub
iect?
Mr. Dickerson was Secretary ofihe Navy under
Jackson and Van Buren,. When lie called up the
resolutions, he made some remarks, from which
we take the following passages. The whole may
be seen in Niles Register, vol Id, pages 1876.
"GEN HARRISON AND GOV. SHELBY.
"Remarks Of Mr. Dicherson, an the Senate MarcA
"a, on, the resolution Of a Uotc of thanks TO Gen
Harrison and Geo. Shelby
"Mr DickerSon, agreeable to notice given yes.
terday, asked leave to introduce resolution offer
ing tho thanks ofCongross Major General VIM.
Henry Harrison and Isaac Shelby, late Governor
of Kentucky, for their distinguished bravery and
good conduct in capturing tho British army, under
the command ofMnior General Proctor, al the bat
tie of the Thames, in upper Canada, on the 9th OF
October, 1913
sI should not, said Mr. Dicterson, ut this late
day, highly Think fthose officers, who, in CO.
operation with the hero OF Lake Erie, turned the
tide of war in our favor, bring forward tho present
resolution, If no similar attempt had heretofore
been made in their favor, but wond leave lheIr
fame to rest npon the testimony OF impartial his'o-
ry which has always done ample justice to their
characters
oTwo years ago. resolution like The present
was repo ted to this House by the chairman OF the
committee military affairs, by direction OF ;hat
committee. The resolution was opposed on two
grounds, applying solely tie General Harrison, as
have been informed (fnr had not then the honor
of being a member of this body)-the first, that an
enquiry was that time depending before the
House of Representatives, into the official conduct
ofGeneral Harrison, as commander IN chiel nf the
north western army, upon charges which, II wen
founded were calculated essentially To inlure his
characters the second, that rumor prevailed that
General Harrison had discovered some reluctance
in pursuing Proctor and his army after Perry $
victory on Lake Erie, aud that he had heen forced
to the pursuit by the circumstances of Gov shelby
and, that this information had been derived from
the declarations Of Gov Shelby.-1heSe charges,
a.ttsrly u,l(ounGed asthey turned cut to be, ,cere
dss,neG sufficient reason for postpontnga dec,s1n
of the reporE 0fthc committee atutI tie result Of Tie
inquiry before the House of Representatives should
Mt least be- knolcn The resolution, after some dis
cusson was referred to :hc committee who report
ed it, ul Their TO consider and report thereon AS
the session was near its close, further report
was made, and, indeed, no further report could
with propriety have been made, until the investlga'
ton before the House ofRepresentatives should be
brought to a termination This did not happen MI
the Odd of January, 1917, little more than a
month before the termination Of n very important
session, when the public business of the most pres
sing kind required the attention of Congress, so
that this subject could not with prppriety have been
renewed until the present session..
GAS TO the first objection, that an investigation
was pending in the House of Representatives, into
the official conduct of General Harrison, the result
of that investigation was in the highest degree hon
cradle to his character. The committee TO whom
the subject referred ,cere unanimously or IN
opinion th0 Gen Harrison stood a6oue suspicion o
being Implicated in the charges exhibited dgatns
hian, and that in his whole conduct AS comman-
der in chief of the north western army, he wa'
governed by most laudible zeal for, and devotion
to, the public service and interest. ~
tThe second objection made to the passage OF the
resolution, if we'll founded, was calculated to give
81 SbehE S R& SRtSf pA@ @
my. But Shelby generous as he is brave, dis
CLAIMS this exclusive merit, and in a letter which
/ will beg leave read denies in the most positive
terms, having used tho language ascribed to him
and gires to General Harrison the highest prdiS
for his promptitude and vigilance IN pursuing Pro
tor; for the skill with which he arranged III
troops for meeting the enemy nndtor his distin
guishcd bravery during The battle. lie states ha
the duties Of Gen Harrison commander in chic
of the north western army, were in the highest de
gree arduous; but that, from the zeal and hdeit
it'll which they performed, they c"u'd M
hare been committed to better hands. OF these par
ticulars one could have known better, no on
could Judge better than Gov. Shelby. "
The resell uon presenting she medals ailerward
passed the Senate unanimously, and the Ho"s
with single dissenting voice.
This, then, is the whole history of the vote
ofthe Senate striking out tho name OF Tia
rison from complm entary resolution. III
vote to strike out reversed week after, in
fuller Senate; the committee in curing into his co
duct acquitted him of suspicion Of misconduct an
then the medal was voted to him unan i'm ousy
ono House, and with only siuglo dissenting roi'
in the other.