The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-16
GENERAL HARRISON AMONG THE
PEOPLE

We noticed the fact the other day that Gen.
Harrison had left his home to visit the site OF
old Fort Meigs. He arrived AT Columbus on
o'clock next morning, The short period he was
present in that city was remarkably interesting.
At the moment when he vas about 10 depart,
he was constrained 10 answer the calls OF the
sovereign people, and he accordingly addressed
them nearly an hour in the frank and manly
spirit Of a soldier, We have read his remarks
with unalloyed delight No man, OF any party,
who has a heart, can peruse them without an
honest emotion of satisfaction. What relief
is such speech from the bitter TRADES of party
slang -whangers We throw aside crowd of
other matter TO give place to the following,
which we find in the Ohio Confederate, of the
18th inst.
Gen Harrison left Cincinnati on Thursday
he arrived here, distance of l20 miles, at five
o'clock, p NJ. on Friday. He was on his feet,
receiving the calls and congratulations OF our
citizens, for hours after his arrival In the
evening he repaired, bv invitation To the Log
Cabin, where additional hundreds had congre-
gated to meet this beloved and venerated patriot.
Here, with the frankness and unreservedness
which have marked his character through life,
did he mingle for two hours with the ''Log
Cabin boys of the Capital. Long before the
SUM- and before our youth were astir, the General
was, on the morning of the morrow, up and out
Having brcakiasted with friend al remote
part of the CITY, he was soon again surrounded
by the multitude OF our people who refused TO
be satisfied without seeing and communing with
him The period of his departure was at hand
al A,,r1 cod h,t
in the brief interval every one could be present.
ed individually 10 the General and all were
anxious TO see and hear him. At the instance
of friend, who noticed the popular solicitude,
the General from the platform of the door of
the National Hotel, addressed the people for
half an hour or more. We wish that every man
in America had heard that speech How would
the detamers Of this great and good man have
dwlndled IN their estimation into merlted inslg
nifcance: How would the slandereIs who i'm
pute to him motives which never actuated him,
and opinions which he never held, and designs
which he never entertained, and principles which
he never cherished and who UNANIMOUSLY ascrbe
TO him imbecihty and decrepitude and colrdrd-
ice-how would these slanderers have been in
dignantly rebuked by the righteous Judgment OF
an honest and insulted people! But as they did
not and could not hear it, we will endeavor to
possess them of its subs stance. We took no notes.
Neither General Harrison nor any other person
thought of his making public address two mi
nutes before he commenced it, 1t arose out of
the circumstances which surrounded him at the
moment-and signally illustrated a quality OF his
character to which we have before alluded--the
ability always to say and TO do exactly what is
proper TO be said and done The reader will
bear in mind, therefore that we profess only 10
give him The subject matter, not the style and
expression Of
GEN. HARRIsON'S REMARKS.
Gen. HARRISON said he was greatly indebted
TO his fellow-cltizens of Columbus and Franklin
County--the most cordial hospitality had at all
times been accorded TO him by them. SO long
ago as the time when he was honored with the
command OF the Northwestern Armvn and
held his headquarters at Franklinton, on the
other side of the river, il was his fortune to find
in the people of Franklin County not only good
citizens, but patriots and soldiers. Their unva-
yng kindness to him had laid him under many
previous obligations, and their generous atten-
tons on the present occasion he cheeriullv and
gratefully acknowledged
He said he had no intention to detain his
friends by making speech, and he did so in
obedience to what he understood to be the desire
OF those whom he addressed. He was not sur
prlsed that public curiosity was awakened in re-
ference TO some things which had been lately
published concerning him. nor was he unwilling
10 satisfy the feelings of his fellow-citzens by
such proper explanations as became him. in his
present position before the country He con
fessed that he had suffered deep modification,
since he had been placed before the people as
u candidate for the highest Office in their gift
nay, the most exalted station in the world-that
any portion of his countrymen should think il
necessary or expedient TO abuse, SANDER. or vii
my him. His sorrow arose not so much from
personal-dear as was to him the humble repu-
tatlon he had earncd-as from public considera-
tions. He might draw consolation, under this
species Of injury, from the revelations of history
which showed that the best of men, who had
devoted their lives TO the public service. had
been the victims of traducton But virtue and
truth are the foundations OF our republican svs-
tenn When these are disyegarded, our free in
stitutions must fall he looked, therefore, at
symptoms of Generalization with sincere re-
greet, as betokening danger to public liberty. A
part of the political press, supporting the exist
ing administration, and certain partizan Of Mr.
Van Burun, also a candidate for that high office
10 which some of those whom he addressed de
sired TO elevate him, had invented and propa-
gated many calumnies against him. but he pro
posed on the present occasion 10 speak of one
only Of the numerous perversions and ISLANDERS
which filled the columns Of the newspapers and
misrepresented his character and conduct. He
alluded to the story Of his famous "CoNrlDEN-
rrAL COMMITTEE" as they called it. F" The
story goes" said General Harrison, "tha
have not only committee Of conscience-kecp.
ers, but that they put me in a cage. fastened
with iron bars, and keep me in that" (T6 one
who looked at his bright and sparkling eye-the
light which beamed in is rich expires sion-the
smile which played upon his countenance blend.
ing the lineaments Of benevolencc and frmness-
who remembered also that he was listening tc
the voice Of son of old Gov. Harrison, one o.