The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-01-14


THE MERITS OF GEN. HARRISON.
The remark Of Governor GEoRaE MErcALl
Of Kentucky, in the Harrisburgh Convention, o
GENERAL HARRISON, that no man who hac
done so much for his country Ind been so i'll re
qued, is no exaggeralonas any body will SCI
who looks into the history Of this country from
1890 10 1916, Gen Harrison is the father OF til,
North West, and the Stltes Of Ohio, Indiana
Michigan, and Illinois, are Under the creates
personal obligations 10 his wisdom, his self sac
rifice, and his valor President Ma Olson vested
him with almost absolute power as Governor o
the Indiana Territory, and this Dictatorship lhu
conferred upon him, he exercised with such
honesty, that VITA the unlimited power of amos
sing wealth, he added nothing TO himself, anC
with such Judgment that he made few enemies
ard thousands and thousands Of friends
There never was greater misrepresentation
of character than that which too many even o
our own friends have, who believe that Genrr
al Harrison is an inferior man. 1t is an mpos
shilty TINT an inferior man could occupy 81
rnany stations, and so creAitahly rs Gen Harri
son. 1t is mn impossihility that mn inferior mar
could keep the confidence of SO many succeS
sve administrations of the government, and oh
tain so often the suffrHges Of those who hes
diers his constituents.
No man in this country, we have before re-
marked, has filed so many stations as General
Harrison, not even John Gu incy Adams, as we
seem 10 admit the other day, for MIR Adams, SER
vices have been all civil, whereas General IIar.
rson s services have been both civil AMI nil itary.
Gen. Harrison was born ia Virginia, February .,
1878, His father Benjamin Harrison, as one
OF the most conspicuous slgners OF the ID erlara'
ton of Independence, and afterwards Governor
OF Virginia. This revolutionary patriot died in
1871, leaving his son William Henry, under The
guardianship of his friend, the celebrated Rob-
er Morris. Young Harrison educated at
-llanpden Sydney College, and was intended for
the profession of medicine, but about tho time
his studies were closing, there was Il lond de
nand for young then ITO against the IN
dinns. he took the commission Of an Ensign, in
the u. S. Artillery--ths in 1871, when only Is
years of agc, nnd has,ene,l Immediately to hi:
regiment at then Fort Washington. tie after
ward joined Wayne's Legion, and was selected
by him as his aid de camp ut the age of 10, be
ing promoted TO Lieutenancy. He acted thus
as aid de camp TO Gen Wayne ut the bloody and
desperate battle OF the Maui, and for his brave
ny in that conflict, received the special approha
lion Of his COMMANDMENT .chief and was soon
after promoted to Captanry. ..,
Gen. Wayne's success having discomfited The
Indians, Capt. HARRISON gave up his command
in the army and retired, but he was soon after
rotary, and er oGcio Lieut. Governor of the
North Western Terrilory-and while in thar sta
ton, the People almost unanimously elected him
(then 90 years OF age) their delegate 10 Con.
gress. He took his seat in the House Of Repre-
sentatves, December, 1899 and was soon APP
pointed Chairman of the ComDilles on Public
Lands, of which Mr. GallaIin n member.
The next appointment which MIR Harrison
held was Governor OF Indiana, and was invested
with civil powers of the most important
nature, ms well as with military authority. The
powers granted him We're immense, and such as
wonld have enabled him to accumulate Il prince
ly fortune, such powers indeed, man
ought to have had, hut which he exercised with
entire satisfaction 10 the public. In ]603 Mr.
Jefferson appointed him sole Commissioner TO
negotiate Indian treaties, and Harrison effected
thirteen treaties, with different tribes of Indians
and upon most advantageous terms. lie was
Governor Of this Territory for thirteen years, aud
at every successive expiration of his office, he
was reappoinied mt the earnest solicitations of
the people of the Territory. ....... .r.
When Tecumseh uutcd the hostile saVages
OF the North West in a great Confederacy Tor the
eXtirpaiion of the whites, Governor Harrison was
forced 10 take the field 10 defend his Territory
In 1911 he fought the celebrated Indian battle
OF rippecnnoe, and routed the forces OF the ia
nous Prophet, tor his services III which, Presi-
dent Madison D;ale honorable mention OF him
in his Message, and the Legislature OF Kentucky
pronounced him Il Hero, y Patriot and Il Gen,
eral, adding in solemn Resolution their swarm
esl thanks" He received n f,revet commission
Of Major General for The State Of kentnrky, and
soon after that was appointed n Brigadier Gen
era in the service OF the United States. In Moy
1873, he made his gallant defence Of Fort Mcigs,
and drove off the British General Proctor in
disgrace. ,rs.-s.... d.. .,4 .,s--.. s., ,..s,
He afterwards marched his army TO Maiden
Upper Canada, and met General Proctor again
on the river Thames when he totally. routed
him, and the 1000 Indians nnder the command
Of Tecumseh, achieving a victory, of which the
Hon. I.angdon Cheves remarked in Congress
that 'The victory of Harrison was snch as would
have secured to a Roman General in The hest
days Of the Republic, the honor OF triumph"
In lSI6--l7, both Houses of Congress voted
him n gold medal and their thanks. ,,s., s.....
In 1916, Gen. Harrison was elected a Member
of Congress for Ohio He afterwardsa
Senator in the State Legislature In 1924 he
represented Ohio in the Senate Of the United
States Tn 1928, j. Q. Adams appointed him
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tiarv ro the Rppublic of Colombia, where he