Liberty advocate., 1840-07-09
General HarriSon'S Reply.
NORTH BEND, lst June, 49,


NORTH BEND, lst June, 1910.
My Dear Sir:-When receieed your letter
of the 18th April was very unwe with a vio-
lent cold in the head, which terminated in in
termittent neuralgia, or sun pain, as it is com
monty called, which was so much increased by
writing, that was obliged for some time to do
very little in that way. When | recovered,
my unanswered letters had increased TO so fear
lu mass that have not yet been able to get
through it, even with the assistance OF my con-
science keeping committee. And although have
adopted the method Of getting rid OF large
portion Of them by committing them to the
flames instead Of the committee, such are the
constant interruptions to which am subjected
by constant stream Of visitors, that am able
to make very ttle progress in essenng my
file. You have in the above my apology for
treating you with apparent neglect which it
was impossible that ! should do, as well from
your high standing in society, as from the re
gard feel for you in consequence Of the long
and intimate friendship and connexion between
our families. But for these reasons, candor
induces me TO say, that | could never have
brought myself 10 answer the political part of
your letter at ALL am convinced that upon
reflection you will yourself think that ii was
totally unnecessary, for cannot suppose MaL
my personal friends and connexions in my natiue
State could think that | acaS less ota gentleman
or an honest man than those ardent politicians
farther South, Stanley Afford, Legare, Dawson,
King, 8c, &c, They take it for granted that |
could not suffer my Vincennes speech and 9th.
ers 10 be quoted by my friends to show my
opinions on the subject of abolitonsm, If /
did NOT HOLD THOSE OPINIONS AT
THIS TlME-they have therefore treated
with scorn and contempt, the charge OF my be-
| ing an Abolitionst, and TRULY assert that hare
done and suffered more TO support Southern
Rights than any other person north Of Mason
and Dir0nS line. have had indeed, great
number of applications from individuals (nine,
tenths, at least my opponents) requiring me to
reiterate what have said or written upon the
subject of the U. S. Bank, Abolition, &c.
have declined to answer them Of late at all "a
mongst other reasons, because it was physical
| ly impossible that should do it, and as they
all require my opinions in manuscript, particu-
arly addressed to the writer's, they would
not be satisfied with my writing one letter and
sending printed copy to each. | was deter
mined, however, to avail myself OF the first ia.
vorable opportunity, and referring to the let
ters and peeches had made on the sub jects
| have mentioned, TO endorse them all. This
have recently done in letter TO a committee
appointed by the Wing members Of the Legis-
lature Of New York.
You will probably sec it published by the
time this reaches you. In relation to the dis
cussion between Mr.. Randolph and myself iE
the Senate, of which statement is annexed
to the address, what better evidence could be
given that there is no possibility Of satisfying
my political enemies by any thing that could
write than the garbled account which they have
given Of that discussion? lfthe charge made
upon me by Mr.. Randolph is authentic, taken
from newspaper report, surely, my answer
TO him should be considered so also. 1t is wor-
thy of remark too, that Mr., Randolph made no
reply to my answer to his attack, and that he
was not a man to leave matter in that situa.
tion he could avoid it. The truth is, that |
believe he really regretted his attack upon me.
tie repeatedly told me so, and frequently sollci-
ted me TO bury the Ratchet at a friendly dinner
with him, which agreed TO do, At the dinner
were Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Hayne, and Gen. Ham.
iton, and many others, all but myself of the
then Jackson party. Our friendly intercourse
was never afterwards interrupted. In reply
to your inquiry. as to my connection with the
old Federal party, will state TO you the cir
under which received two ap-
pontments from Mr. John Adams. In the
year 1896, Gen. Wayne lett the army on Wis.,
a.
ried and rendered to him my resignation as
ls aid-de.camp, but ho declined receiving it,
saying he could very well dispense with my
services in his journey. 1t was during this
rip that he obtained the promise of General
Washington to give me civil appointment, as
had expressed my determination to leave the
lrmy. This promise, the president repeated
0 my brother, Carter B. Harrison, then in
congress, with some very kind remarks upon
ny conduct in the army. When Gen. Wash-'