Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-11
william Henry Harrison.

I
The claims Of this distinguished citi-
zen upon the affections of the people OF
the United States, are not confined to a
single achievement Of brilliancy, or bas-
/ ed upon isolated instances of greatness.
/ They are founded upon lifetime spent
in the service Of his country-upon a
/ long and faithful discharge Of confiden-
/ tial trusts and upon a conscientious and
steady performance Of his duties as a
soldier, a statesman and a citizen. He
+ is The sou Of Benjamin Harrison, one Of
/ the sigHerS of the DECLARATION OF INDIE
PEN DENcE,---a man noted for his patriot
ism in the troubles which produced the
reyolution--who subsequently filled the
office of Governor of Virginia with sig
nal ability, and was a lineal descendant
Of the celebrated General Harrison, VINO
held a commission in the parliamentary
army in the civil wars of England, and
I died upon the scaffold for his devotion
to the cause Of liberty.
Benjamin Harrison at his death, left
three sons, in Strengthened circumstan-
ces, Of whom William Henry Harrison
was the youngest. At his fathers death.
the ilustrious subject Of this article, then
minor, having selected the practice of
medicine as a profession, repaired 10
Hampden Sidney College to prosecute
his studies. Il was whilst at this insti-
tuition. that gloom was thrown over the
United States, through the disasters
which befel the American army in the
Indian wars Of the north western from
tier.
At the first call for men to recruit the
decimated ranks of the army, he resolv-
ed upon exchanging a life of academic
ease for the hustle and privations of the
camp. A ganst the consent of his guar
dian, Harrison, then nineteen years of
age. obtained an ensign's commission from
Gen. Washington, and FASTENED to Join
his regiment. He arrived at Fort Wash
ington shortly after the memorable de-
feat of St. Clair, near the head waters of
the Wabash.
In 1892, Gen. Harrison received al
commission Of lieutenantcy, and in the
following year joined the army under
the celebrated Anthony Wayne. The
spirit and addresNvith which he execut-
ed several enterprises of moment, at
tracted the notice of that distinguished
commander, who appointed him his aid
dc-camp, IN which capacity he remained
until the close Of the war. Gen. Wayne9s
reports made frequent mention of his
courage and conduct, and his gallant
bearing at the battle of the Maumee
Rapids, which terminated the campaign.
is particularly commended. Gen. Har-i
rison was then promoted to a caPtaincy,
and Fort Washington, the most import
ant post on the frontier, was put under
his command
In 1877 he resigned his commission in
the army, and was soon afterwards aP-
pointed Secretury of the North IVES
tern Territory Such was the conf
dence Of the people in his capacity and
zeal, that he was elected a delegate to
Congress, within year after he assum-
ed the Office of Secretary. He served 1
only one session as delegate; but in that +
time he rendered his constituents the I
greatest service, by causing a moditica-
ton of the land laws, so as 10 enable the /
poorer class Of settlers to obtain land
upon equitable terms. Before he was
elected. the law prohibited the disposal +
of the public lands in tracts of less than
four thousand acres. This was a sore
grievance 10 emigrants, and through the
of Harrison was repeal
ed FROM this may be dated the apia
population of the new States.
1t was at this session of Congress that
Ohio was erected into a separate terri I
tory, and the balance of the north wes-
tern territory. comprising the present 1
States of lnaiana, Illinois, Michigan and
the Wisconsin was constituted 4 lurisdic-l
ton under the name of the Territory Of
Indiana Over this district Of almost
boundless extent. 10 which for a time
was annexed the Upper Louisiana upon
its purchase by the United States, Gen.
Harrison was appointed Governor Be-
sides the duties peculiar to the executive
of territory. he had er-ogIcio TO dis
charge those of Indian uperin;cndantrl
and the additional burden of sole coBsl
missioner 10 treat with the Indians was
also thrust upon him. Such was the
fidelity and zeal with which heacquittedI
himself in these responsible and cosnPli-