Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-07-16
had been the fortune Ofhis lifelto have confer
rndL L.


had been the fortune ofhis lifeto have confer
red upon him.
He referred to q very recent story--got up
IN his own northumberland sent forth to the
world, corroborated by the sanctity Of an aft.
Idavlt--which represented him as confessing 70
a young man on steamboat that he was an
abolltionist, and that, although he voted against
restrictions on Missouri, he did so in opposition
10 the suggestions ofhis conscience, &c. He
said the narrative bore on its face the proofs
oiits absolute falsity--and when he pronoun-
ced II a fabrication, without the semblance oil
fact or word for its basis, it was not because
he thought it required contradiction, but 10
evince the recklessness and desperation Of his
political enemies, who seemed to have given up
every ground of hope, save that which they
found in viilifying his name sit is melan-
lcholy fact, felow-citizens," said Gen. Harrison,
shat the advocates Of Mr.. Van Buren, should SO
far forget what belongs to the character Of an
American citizen, and do so much violence 10
the nature Of our free institutions, as TO place
The great political contest 10 which we are now
striving upon an issue such as this. | would
not accept the lofty station, 10 which some of
you are proposing to elevate me, il it came to
me by such means ! would not, If had the
power to prevent it, allow the fair fame Of my
competitor to be unjustly assaed and wounded
even for the attainment Of that lofty aim Of a
noble ambition. Nay, have often defended
Mr. Van Buren, against what believed to be-
the misrepresentation of my own mistaken
friends and others Fellow>citizens, il Mr..
Van Buren, be the better statesman, let US say
SOL shall be the last man praise an objection
against it, or to desire to impose restraints up
on the utmost independence Of Thought and ac-
ton, and the freest expression Of feeling and
opinion. | love frank and generous adver
sary--such man delight to embrace--and
will serve him, according 10 my ability, as
cheerluily as my protested friend. But that
political warfare which seeks success by foul
detraction, and strives for ascendancy by the
ruin Of personal character, merits the indigna-
ton Of honest men, is hateful to every gener-
Gus mind, and lends too surely to the destruc-
ton Of public virtue, and, as consequence, to
the downfall ofpublic liberty"
Gen. Harrison apologized for occupying his
iellow'ci,lzens sopong, He said he would but
mention one more ofthe latest SANDERS which
had come to his knowledge. German paper
published in Cincinnati, almost under his own
eye, puts it forth with apparent sincerity, that
Seen. Harrison, now candidate for the Presi.
dency ofthe United States, was, many years
ago, when young man, an aid to Gen. Wayne,
ldurlng his Indian wars--and that, whenever
young Harrison found that battle was com.
ing on, he always ran off into the woods
again there was loud and irrepressible laugh.
ter) Tho editor forgot, said the General, when
he served up this little dish, that the only pos
sibe security to young Harrison's scalp, on the
approach of u battle with the Indians, was,
in keeping out Of the tOoods! Such story
as this can only excite q smile here, it is
true, said Gen. Harrison, but this paper Cir
culatcs no. alone in the United States--cop-
les of il are probably read in Europe, where
our hisoryis less known, and where the con-
tradiction Of such silly fasehoods may possibly
never como.
at has long been proyerbial Of old soldiers,
fellow-citizens, continued Gen. Harrison, "that
they delight TO go back to other days and fight
their battles over again. When began this
address to you intended only to speak Of my
and the "IRoN CAGE in which they confne
me, but have unwittingly taken advantage Of
your kind disposition to listen to mo, and extern
ded my remarks to other though kindred top
les. will only add that, although they have
made wide mistake who make me dwell in an
"Iron Cage" the unlucky wight who put me in
a Log Cabin was a little nearer the truth than
he supposed himself to be. 1t is true that a
part ofmy dwelling house is log cabin, but
as TO the hard cider, (he laughter which
followed the Allusion to the "hard cider"
branch Of the story drowned the voice Of the
speaker.)
But, said Gen. Harrison, admonished by the
proverb, that you may ascrlbe my long speech
TO the common inirmity Of an old soldier, and
bring me under the suspicion Of the loquacity
Of age, will conclude these hasiy aud un-
premeditated remarks by thanking my fellow.
citizens Of Columbus for their politeness on
tho present occasion as we'll as for the friend
ly feelings o. which they have uniformly and
often heretofore given me 50 many gratifying
proofs.
The General retired, leaving the crowd,
which had continued to accumulate while he
spoke, delighted with the prompt and satisfac-
tory manner in which he had met the wishes
Of the citizens. The uppermost idea in the
mind ofevery one with whom the writer inter-
changed thought, was the wish that every
man in the Union had heard the unpremedita-
ted and exiemporaneous address. Upon every
candid mind il impressed the conviction that
the opposition candidate for the Presidency was
the last man in tho world to be made the instru.
menl Of committee Of conscience keepers"
or to conceal his opinions OF public measures