The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-04
THE VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKING FOR
HIS OLD COMMANDERi

The manly letter of Colonel JOHNSON in re-
ference TO General HARRISON, his courage, and
measures, and general conduct as Command
ing Officer, and his devotedness TO duty, regard
less OF all danger, will arrest the attention of our
readers. This honest man and brave soldier
though opposed in the present political contest
10 his old companion in arms--dsclaims the
calumnies and falsehoods with which the I'M
prlncipled mercenarles and poltroons who scrib-
DIE In the Globe and other Administration organs
assam the character of Gen. Harrison. The
candid and gentlemanly course of the Vice Pre-
sident forms striking contrast to the conduct Of
PRESIDENT VAN buren, who keeps in counte-
nance and IN pay, couple Of miscreants to viii
" and abuse his competitor, and to send thou
sands upon thousands of their libels, UNDER
FRANK, to every nook and corner Of the country.
But Il should moi be forgotten, that Colonel
Johnson could not have adopted a different tone
IN speaking Of General Harrison, without doing
injustice TO himself. The Vice-President's let
tiers to his commanding officer, during the war
are part OF the history of the country.
ITO be ready to move with you to Detroit and
Canada, wrote the Colonel to his commanding officer
on the 4th of July 1873 against the enemies of our
country, is the first wish of our hearts. Two great
objects induced us TO comeirst TO be at the regain
ing OF our own territory and Detroit and at the
OF Maiden; and secondly, SERVE UNDER AN OFFICER
IN WHOM WE HAVE CONFIDENCE. We would not have
engaged IN the service without such prospect when
we recolected what disasters have attended us for the
want of good generals. We did not want to serve
under towards, drunkards old grannies nor traitors
BUI UNDER ONE WHO HAD PROVED
HIMSELF TO BE WISE, PRUDENT, AND
BRAVE"
In October following, COLONEL JOHNSON again
wrote to General Harrison, in behalf of the first
battalion of mounted riaemen from Kentucky.
1--WE cannot leave the army without expressing the
confidence ne feel in your erertonS your country
cause--and having again (by serving the period for
which we enrolled ourselves) become citizens feel
satisfaction IN expressing high appreciation OF
your conduct as a man, and your unremitting exer-
tons as the commandment chief of the Northwestern
army. Next TO having obeyed the call of duty and
honor, in serving much injured country we feel
the highest satisfaction haring obeyed the orders OF
commander rto knops his duty and trho has capaci-
ty and frmness to execute IL. Whatever may have
been our confidence heretofore in your military ar
rangements, and as friend to your country never
should have known the value Of your services had we
not been eye WITNESSES to them.
May the army under your command continue their
march TO glory, to honor, 10 fame, to victory. May
their arms and their valor avenge the blood and
wounds Of their injured country. May they immor-
talze themselves by showing that they are worthy of
defending the cause Of their country, Of independence
and of freedom And may you, sir, continue in their
confidence as expressed by them, and administer to
their wants as you have done. And may you surpipe
NE glorious conflict in irhiet you engaged, to be-
hold the rights ola republic firmly maintained IN ar
and In peace; AND TO RECEIVE THE PLApDiTs YOUR
COUNTRY IN HAVING BEEN ONE OF THE DIsTlNGuI SHED
WARRIORS IN THEIR SUPPORT"