Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-10-29
INrEREsrING ceRREsPoNpENcE.

"a Methodist preacher by the name WI
MANS behaved with great gsllantry IL
setzing 4 m1sket and standing in defenc,
Of the ladies'. when sn instant attack wa,
anticipated from the savsges." Mr.. LEV
c. HARRIS OF Raymond, Mississippi. adj
dressed letter TO the Rev. WILLIAM WI
MANS OF the same State, REQUESTING tc
know II he were the clergyman alluded
TO IN the s'atemen,-snd asking at the
same time his opinion OF Gen. HARRIsoN' S
character. sc.
Mr.. WiSANs IS well known as a Ne.
tbodist Minister Of grea, eloquence and
ability. primitive 10 his manners. and en-
ergeiic IN character. lie was a mem ber
OF the General Conference Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church which sat in this
city last Spring. and was distinguished
among the many able men in that body.
We have room for some extracts only
from this letter. in reply to the interroga.
tories Of Harris. He saws:
am tho Winans, spoken Of in the Biography
CT Gen. Wm III. Harrison, a. present the
occasion above referred TO. I was during the
year 1910. travelling as a Methodist i:inerani
preacher on The Circuit which embraced the
town Of Nincennes-the place Of General, then
The conference or ccuncil mentioned IN your en-
qoiry, was enjoying, a. ! oflsr did, the hcspi-
tally OF The Governor. The council was held 10
his yard. not more than hfty yards from his
door. The number Of Indians belonging TO the
parry OF Teeumihe was sixty or seventy; and
there were from fly to sixty. whose party had
not been OPENLY taken; though little doubt was
entertained that most Of them would JON that
Chief, IN case Of collision between him and the
whites.
In the course OF the discussion, Tecumihe,
who, well rs the rest Of the Indians, was seat
ed upon the ground, sprang 10 his feet and an
,grly pronounced Gen. Harrison a liar, or what
he bad Just said a hs. The Indians, Of his par
~, followed this movement OF their chief, and,
by tone and gesture. indicated, hostile purpose
Nearly all these Indians were armed for close
conflict; whereas, not more than about twenty
Of the iehiies had any sort OF arms wasstand-
ing at the back OF General Gibson, Secretary OF
the Territory, who had been some twenty years
prisoner among the Shawnee Ind ans and
who, consequently, knew their manners well;
and heard him say TO Lieutenant Jennings,
Have your men" (alluding 10 a SergeanI's
command who we're then on guard) Have
your men ready-Ihere is danger"
About The same instant, the Governor rose
and babe the interpreter tel Tecumihe that "the
Council was dissolved for he would sit no lon
ger with such a SOUNDED" All believed that
there was probability Of an attack from the
Indians, and l have now no doubt there would
have been, had not the position of Tecumthe and
the other Chiefs been such with relation to the
Sergeants guard, as 10 render il almost certain
that they would fall in the onset. No man could
have acted with more cool, deliberate bravery
than did Governor Harrison on this trying &C.
casicn spent the evening and night OF this
dreadful day IN his famis; and though the Indi-
ans were encampFd within half n mile of the
house, there was not in him, during the whole
time, the slightest indication Of a want Of cour-
age, though there was providrni and judicio
care taken TO Se ready for a night attack, should
one have been made by the Indians, as was ap-
pretended would be The case.
lie goes on 10 say Of Gen HARRIsoN-
( Thirty years ago. considered him equal to
any public man Of his years; and hrs publ con-
duct since, both IN the Camp anil in the Senate
has satisfied me that my opinion was well found
ed. II will be difficult, think, 20 FIX upon any
individual, who, during the last forty years. has
counselled more wisely, acted more pruden,ly
/ or efficiently, or committed fewer errors than
General WILLIAM HENET HARhsoS. And, my
observation, during recent intercourse with him
afo rded me The gratifying assurance that his
mind has lost little if any OF its activity or eneT-
gy, by the wear and tear Of sixiy-seven years
Indeed, he might well pass for man Of moi
more than fly years Of age, il judged Of by ell
Their his corporeal or mental vigor or elasticity.
In speaking OF the private character oil
Gen. HARRISON. he observes:
or his justice and bsRerOIsnee no question will
be made among those who have enjoyed the
pleasure of knowing his social qualities. There
lives not, probably, one man who can rise up
and charge The General with injury, in regard "a
his property, hiss person or his reputation. On
the other hand, all who know him we'll will bear
ready testimony 10 the Kindness. the condescen-
sion, the active benevoience OF his conduct to-
wards those whom Providence has placed in less
eligible circumstances than those in which he
was placed.
OF he patriotism Of General Harrison, the his.
tory Of the West for nearly fhy years. iS the
impartial record, and, as I have no claim to pc.
cuiiar Information 10 that matter, shall no, ar
front yonr intelligence by dwelling upon the in
stances that might be cited from thai ample vo-
lume, IA illustration Of his character IN that re-
spect will only say, that whether you con
slder him as the Governor OF a Territory, ARen
OF Indian Affairs, The Commander OF an Army
a Member Of the State legislature or a Senator
IN Congress, you will ind lore Of country III,
leading star Of his movements--the mainspTinJ
Of his actions. To this. he freely sacrificed
wealth and ease, and what was Ear dearer to
man under the impulse II political ambition,
that popularity With his immediate constituent
upon which he depended for continuance in Of
fee. This last sacrifice he did emphatically
make, when contrary 10 what he knew were tn,
wishes Of his Ohio constituents he voted IN the
Congress 81 the United States Tor the admission
Of Missouri INTO the Union as a iisreholding Stat
How admirable the grafiiHds Of Southern poliii-
Clans opposed 20 his eleruon TO the Presidency
Who grafuiiousig denounee him as an .9boHhoaisf
How noblY dry resard such self.sacrhcing pa
irIoGsm, in the dirrisrtiisa defender Of hsi
rights and privileges
II will thus be seen that The testimony
Of Ms WiSASs COMEDIES With that o.
every unprriudieed observer who has bac
an opportunity OF beiGg personally a wit
ness Of Gen. HARR,soN's memorable &C
lions. The fact that The brave old here
achieved ;he most Of bis great exploits Ia
remote wilderness. or tblnly peoplec
Territory or the native modesiy Of hi
character, which never permitted him q
blszon forth bis own deeds n the world
these two considerations Or both together
must have induced on the Part Of BIS op