The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-10-10

the gallant Harrison, and the fast friend of his
rper years. As Gen'l Van Rensselaer, lungs,
having been perforated with a bullet in the
battle of Miami, are too weak TO allow him to
speak TO a field meeting, he placed the manu-
script ofthe following address in the hands of
| Col. Hamilton, which was read 10 the meeting
| by that gentleman and received with the high
est demonstrations of appreciation. We insert
it at length with the greatest pleasure, as the
testimony of one brave man to the high mill
tary ndmoral worth of another.
| FELLOW CITIZENS:
| III have been so fortunate as at any time 10
be of service TO my country, it has not been
upon the rostrum. | am not accustomed TO
make speeches, vet, on the present occasion,
| | should do myself injustice, and the cause of
my country wrong, If | withheld my testimony
in favor of the man whom ''the People delight
TO honor"
There has nothing occurred within the re-
membrane ota long life, which has so aroused
my indignation as the attempt now making TO
Iunderrate the courage and talents, and to ials-
fy the character of a man whose public seryi-
ces, taken together, in extent. and calmly and
ldispassionateiy viewed, are immeasurahly be-
You'd those of any American living, Show me
another man, if you can, now proninentin the
public eve, who was brought up and educated
by better father-patriot rather! Show me,
if YOU can, any other candidate for Office who,
at the age Of 10, entered the service of his
country, and exposed his life to the tomahawk
and scalping knife. Show me any, who, from
that early age TO the present time, has incur
red greater dangers, held higher and more hon
orable stations, been greater iavorite with the
People, more efficiently promoted their inter-
ests, protected their frontiers, or galantly con-
quered in their cause, than Gen'l Harrison.
A history Of the far West, and the annals
Of the late war, would lose half their interest
Inf the name OF General Harrison were etiaced
frsm their pages. The spangled banner
would be deprived Gifts most glorious triumphs,
| if his achievements were to be forgotten or de-
cried. Icannot contain my surprise that any
man who calls himself an American, should
| for an instant attempt the disparagement of a
chief who has reflected such immortal honor
on his country. Parties must exist, and they
are necessary il Republics, but this is no rea-
| son why the national honor should be assaulted
in the persons of our bravest and most gallant
| defenders; none, why our national records
should be mutilated or discre ditcd, to serve the
| purposes of political Demagogues.
know that you, who hear me, would re-
sent at once any imputations on the memory
of Washington. You would not consent tina,
ten without giving him his need Of praise
You would not like 10 have your children
taught that he was a coward and an imbecile.
| Such an attempt would inhame your blood and
rouse your resentment. The wretch who
would attempt to rise on the ruin of his fame,
would be condemned TO universal eXecTation.
And shall the character or our second Wash
ington be blasted by the base attempts OF mere
political pretenders: shall the long and ar
duous, and the honorable career of a man who
never deceived the people, and never lost a
battle, be assaulted and villifed, because he has
been called from the plough, again to serve his
country? Have Mr.. Van Buren's friends no
other hope than what arises from SANDER and
Misrepresentation? and do they rate the virtue
and Intelligence of the people so low, as TO be-
lieve that they can be so duped and deceived?
| Is this their boosted confidence in their cause
that its success depends alone on ialsehood and
abuse? know too well the temper of the peo-
pie, TO believe that they can ever be brought
to dishonor their flags, forsake their friends,
or falsify their history! No! thank God! He
and they miscalculate, when they hope to tri-
umph by such disgraceful means. The ma
tonal glory and the national gratitude are
not thus to be sailed for so insignificant an
object, as the success of a mere partizan leader
Could | believe this, could wish, from the
bottom Of my heart, that the lead now carry
in my body, received in your defence, had not
left me alive to witness such infamy.
What must the enemies of free Institutions
think if we tolerate such enormities? What
must they say of free governments, when party
so Tuthlessly assails our greatest b5hefactors?
What has Mr.. Van Buren done for his coun-
try, that drawer and better man, a more ac-
complished scholar, and a prolounder states
man, is thus viIllfied, and abused Ivy the pen
stoned presses at his command? Is it come to
this, that the candidate of the people is to be
put down, if possible, by the vlest ISLANDERS,
because he is their candidate? | trust not but
should there be any here. who for moment
believe them, hold myselfready TO contradict
them at every hazard.
have been the companion, and have been
honored by the friendship of Gen. Harri on
from my earliest youth. When sabre and rifle
clashed to- ether in deadly fray, | saw him bear
ing the orders of Gen. Wayne into the thickest
0 the fight-cool, collected and undsmayed.-
He who dares call him coward utters the
greatest of ialsehoods, and forever covers him
self with shame. here bear witness to his un-
daunted bravery, and pronounce that man
knave, or fool, who asserts so base and so
groundless an untruth. Mo- Let the administra-
ton pension its presses, and scatter lis treasury
notes; and let it perpetrate its atrocities in
what shape it will; but let it pause ere it fasten
on the reputation of the spotless, or calumni-
ate the favorite of the people.
twas but ia few weeks since had the pleas
ure of being guest of this great and good man
in bis cabin at North Bend. / saw him there
for the first time in several years, and found, as
all his friends have found, the string Of the latch
outside. No golden cups, or silver plateaus
decorated his simple, but generous board. The
plenty of an American farmer, aot the extrav-
agance of foreign manners, alone distinguished
his hospitality. Hundreds and thousands had
visited him til past summer, and none left him
without acknowledging the beautiful confor-
nifty Of his life with his principles; none babe
him farewell without feeling assured they
should meet him again, not perhaps, on the
banks of the Ohio, but the Potomac-there TO
put in practice those republican doctrines, to
which the White House has been too long
stranger.
found him hard at work on his farm, rising
with the earliest dawn, to attend to his business,
hio hraa h,rf ba Of