Litchfield enquirer., 1840-07-23

 was, that many communications were sent him which were not entitled to his nouce- sent by persons who had no other object but to draw from him something which might be used to his injury and the injury Of the cause with which he was identIfied-yet there were enough of those who claimed his re- spectful consideration for the sources from which they came anc the subjects to which they referred, to occupy more time and la Dor than any one man could bestow upon them.
 Gen. Harrison said he had alluded partic- ularly to this matter Of the committee be- cause it had so recently been the occasion of so much animadversion hy his political ad- verSaries. But it was ono only of the many misrePresentations of him, his conduct, his principles and his opinions with which the party press was teeming. He said it would occupy him many hours to discuss them, iii were necessary Or proper for him 10 do so.-- lie referred, however, to the Richmond En- quirer, and expressed his surprIsc at the manner in which his name and character had been treated by that paper. He did so, as it afforded an example of the prostitution of the press to party purposes. That paper, which formerly did him more than justice, and paid him the highest compliments as soldier and civilian-whose editor ut one time could designate no other man whom he 1 considered so well qualified for the responsi- ble place of Secretary of War-was now lending itself to the circulation of the most discreditable calumnies against him, and en- deavoring 10 persuade bis countrymen that he was coward and tcderalist. He allu- ded to the evidence upon which the Enquirer sought to faSten the accusation that he was black cockade tederalist-i. c. the remarks of Mir. Randolph in the Senate of the United States. He said that the attack of Mr. Ran. doiph was met at the moment it was made, and effectually disproved. He passed high cncomium upon the genius ot that re- markablc man, and said, that those who knew MT. Randolph, knew that he never gave up point in debate, or reccded from his ground auy where, until convicted of error. The fact that he made no reply to his answer to the charge, is proof to any famil- far with his character that he himself was satisfied that he had erred.
 1 Gen. Harrison explained the foundation of
 MT. Randolph's charge, made at moment of temporary irritation. He said that old
 Mr. Adams refused to adopt against France the measures which his party desired, and showed himself in that respect, at least, more an American than a partisan. It was that course of policy of Mr. Adams which con- manded his appreciation and induced him so 1 to express himself at the time. Mir. Ran- ] dolph remembered the expression, but proba- bly, forgot the particular subject of it, and thus the very fact which proved him to be. long to the republican party of 1900, long I years aftcrward is separated from it's attend ant circumstances, and used to prove him a federalist. Gen: Harrison expressed himself with much earncStnesS on the injustice which was thus attempted to be inflicted on his character in his native State, in which, when truth and virtue and honor had suffer- ed violence every where else, he had hoped they would survive.
 Gen. Harrison alluded to several other in- stances of gross misrepresentatiOns or absO- lute falsehoods-induslriousl and shameful Iy propag"ted ny party press. " It seems
 bui t 9frsa,Dies g ,ss 6ng speech S m ing several columns of a paper, two short ] sentences have been taken from different parts of it-these two sentences, separated from their context, are put together, my name attached 10 them, and published throughout the land as an authentic docu- mcnt." He deplorcd that state of public sentiment which could tolerate such n sys- tenn of party action, and trusted for the hon. or of his country, and the hopes of liberty, that the reformation of such abuses would soon be wrought out by tho force of pure ulu ueultny puolC Opinlon.
 "Why, fellow citizens" said Gen. Harri- son, "l have recently, in that house (point- ing to the State House) been charged with high offences against my country, which, if true, ought to cost me my life. "Yes," con- tlnucd he, "accusations were laid to my 1 charge, which, being established, would subject me, even now, to the severest pen alties which military law intlicts--for I have always held that an officer may not escape the responsibilities of misconduct by resigning his commission. These char ges were not made by my companions in arms-by the eye-witnesses of my actions, by the great, good and brave men who fought by my side or under my command. They tell different story. But their evi- testimony of Gov. Shelby, the venerable hero of Kings Mountain, of the gallant Perry, and many brave and generous spir- its who saw and knew and participated in all the operations connected with the battle of the Thames-the evidence of impartial and honorable men, the concurrent records of history, and the authority of universal public opinion, are all cast aside, in defer ence to the reckless assertions of those who were not in being, or dandlcd in tho arms of their nurses!
 Gen. Harrison said he acknowledged that these calumnies were disagreeable to him. His good name, such as it was, was his most precious treasure, and he did not like to have it tsmangled by such calumniators- Were 1t his land which they were seeking to destrey--were it the title deeds to his farm that they are endeavoring to mutilatc, he could bear their efforts with patience, and smile even at their success. But he