Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-08


myself authorized to shy TINT every member ofthe
committee in fully satisfied that the conduct OF
General HARRISON in relation to the subject nnter
OF this inquiry, has been that off, BRAVE, HONEST,
and HONORABLE MAN and That. instead OF deser-
wing censure, he merits the THANKS and APPLAUSE
OF his country"
Subsequently to this, on the I'D March, 1918,
the Hon. MnIon Uickcrson Of N. J. (lnte Score
tary of the Navy under Gen. Jackson,) introdu-
ced nnew the resolution Of thanks, with gold
medal to llnrrison and Shelby, and in speech,
said;
! "Two years ngo, n resolution like the present
WAS reported to this House by the chairman of
the committee on Military Affdirs. by rcciion of
that committee. This resolution was opposed on
two grounds, applying solely to Gen. Harrison, MS
have been Informed, Tor was not then mem
Der ofis hody the first, that an inquiry was nj
that limo depending before the House Of Repre-
seniatives into the Official conduct of General iiar
risoi US Commander IN Chief of The Norihwcs-
tern Army, upon charges which, if well founded,
were calculated essentially to nure his character !;
the second, that IL rlnhor prevailed that General
Harrison had discovered some reluctance in pur
suing Proctor aud his army, after Perrys victory
OH Lake Erie, aud that he had been forced to the
pursuit by Governor Shelly; aud that this infor-
mntion had been derived from HE declarations OF
Governor Shelby These charges, utterly mjoun.
ded as they turned out 10 be, were deemed II suli-
Glen. reason for posipOning decision on the re-
port of the committee until the result of the in
quify b fore the House Of Representatives should
At lcnst he known. The resolution, after some
discussion, was referred to the committee who re-
ported it, further to consider and report thereon.
Az The session was near TO its close, no further re-
port coull with propreiy have been mnde, until
the Investigation before the House of Representa-
tives should be brought to termination. This
ali M Inn Ill fnI Iun
little more than month before the termination of
II very important session, when public business Of
the most pressing kind required the eutire nuen-
ton OF Congress SO TINT this subject could not
with pIopiely have been renewed until the pres.
en session.
"As 10 ihc first objection, that m investigation
was depending in the House OF Representatives
INFO the official Conduct of Gen. Harrison, the re-
suit of that investigate was in The highest degree
honorable 10 his character"
'The second objection made to the passage OF
the resolution, il well founded was calculated 10
give To Gov. Shelby the entire and exclusive mer.
it OF having urged the pursuit of Proctor and his
army. But Shelby, generous ms he is brave, dis
cnis this exclusive merit, ind, in letter which
will beg leave to read, denies IN the most positive
terms having used the language ascribcd to him.
and lie gives to Gen. Harrison the higher praise
for his prompiitude and rigiiance in pursuing Proc
tor, Tor the skill with which lc arranged his troops
tor meeting the enemy, and his distinguished bra.
rery during the battle. lie states tha the duties
of Gen. Harrison, as commander-iiI.cllief al the
northwestern army, were in the highest degree
nrduous; but that, from the zeal aud fidelity with
| which they were performed, they could NOT have
been committed to better hands. Of these par
ticunrs, 10 one could Judge better Than Gov. She-
ny. J hnye many other documents aud papers to
show that Gov Shelby was nor mistaken in the
Statements which no has made. which will read
4 IL lNttI hall ! - -,
| trust, however thu, no snrh doubt will he en-
tcrislned, and am confden, that honorable gentle
men will now, upon full knowledge OF tie facts,
leel pleasure ia awarding 10 <ien. Harrison that
testimony ot applause which Il sens of duiy in
duced them formerly 10 withhold"
The resolution was then UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPTED, and copy Of i, is contained in the
appendix to Mr.. Corwin's speech, published in
our Iaet piper In accordance 18th it, a gold me
dial was prepared, and President Monroe present
ed it to Gen. Jessup, to he Ny him delivered to
Harrison. Onihis OCCASION abe following pro-
ceedings took place:
.Nedat 10 General Harison-.4ddress of The Pres
idtnt.
"GEN. JEsuP:-ln compliance with resoln
'Ioh OF Congress, present 10 you for Gen. Hdrri
son. hs Metal, IN testimony Of The high sense en-
ie Mi"ed Of his guiiantry and good conduct in The
battle on The Thames, in Upper Canada, on the 5h
of Octnher, 1913. The disposition of his troops
was iudcious, and his success, by the drleu, OF
the British army and Indians acting with il, and
the capture of lis baggage and artillery, complete
The consequences 8hich attended his rictory rrere
Of The highest Importance II not only put us in
possession of IL considerable portion of Upper
Canada, hut relieved the whole OF that frontier
from the incursions and ravages ofasavage enemy.
The gallant troops who fought under his command
merit the highest commentator.
JAMES MONROE"
.4nsiver f.. Gen. Hd,ris n.
"Mr. President As un officer Of the army
commanded by Gen. Harrison, il affords me the
sinceres pleasure to receive for him this iesIirnO-
mini OF the high sense entertained by Congress Of
his services in the campaign OF 1873. / shall
avail myself Of the first opportunity TO deliver il
to him hnd shall not fail to inform him OF the
very tluilering manner in which il has been pre-
scented.
"If, sic, actions he estimated by the consequen.
ces, and surely l!ere is no other correct standard,
| by which we estimate them, then iDW The name Of
Harrison fill cne Of the .(airest pages Of our hisio-
ry With an army composed nj recruits, nilitin,
aid volunteers, without single veteran soldier, he
not only captured and dispersed the British and
indinn force opposed TO him, hut nut US ip posses.
sion of tie faireht portion OF one Of the enemy Is
provinces, give peace 10 the bleeding frontier
more than Thousand miles in extent, and resior
ed 10 the Onion an Important aud valuable terrific.
~, WHICH had been lost in The preceding paign.
70 ynn, sir. who occupied SO elevated station,
and who performed so distinguished part during
the whole war, it is hardly necessary To say how
important were these services Ut that period how
decisive IN their results
"Ths token OF NATIONAL gratitude would, under
any circumstances, he considered by Gem Harri
son rs n rich reward; but situated as he has been,
il derives additional value from the fact, that il Is
practical illustration OF tho excellence of our in
stiluliouP. Improves that, under our happy form
Of government though deiraciion may triumph far
a season. truth must ultimately wepgH, apl that
the representatives Of II free people, when cor.
recily informed, ARE always just