Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-04-04


with which he has exposed himself to persecution |
and political prescription, in defence Of the Consi
utional rights Of the South, and the peace and safe
~ m their fresides, against all interference wheth
or Of fanatcism or political ambition, that man is
WILLIAM HENRY HARRisoN, Of Ohio.
You have doubtless read the speech made by him
at Vincenncs, in the State of Indiana, in 1885, in
which, in the face of a non -sayeholding audience,
he CALAMITY volunteered to defend the rights and
interests Of the South. Where can be found, even
IN the productions Of any southern Statesman, a
more energetic and unsparng denunciation Of the
schemes Of the aboiitionists! He pronounces them
TO be "weak, presumptuous snd unconstitutional"
illegal, prosecuting and DANGER US :" and after
depicting in glowing language the fatal consequent
ces to which they must lead, he calls upon his au-
dienre with indignant earnestness, TO "Jrown upon
measures which are to produce results much to be
deprecated" He lays down in the broadcast and
most unequivocal terms, the fundamental prn
ciple that the subject Of slavery is under the sole
and exclusive jurisdiction of the States in which it
exists and that neither the General Government
the non-slave-holdng States have any right what
ever to interfere with it, he contends that
discussions upon the subject in the non-sIave-hol-
ding States, tending in their consequences. they
DO 10 leopard the peace and impair the rights Of the
saVe-holding States, are an abuse of the freedom
Of speech and of the press, in violation Of the spirit
and perving design of the Constitution The same
declarations were made by him, and with greater
emphasis, if possible, in address delivered to an
assembly Of his fellow-citizens at ChevOt, in Ohio
on the 4th of July, 1888; from which an isolated
pgssage, lin which the author admitting slavery to
be an evil, says he would gladly see the surplus re-
venue of the Union devoted to its progressive ex-
tinction by the purchase and colonization Of the
raves, 'pth The sanction Of the States holding them,
mas been artfully culled, and given to the public,
carefully suppressing the content, in which General
Harrison maintains, in the strong and unqualified
language am about to cte that "the slave popu-
Oton is under the exclusive control Of the States
which possess them" and that "neiher the General
Government nor the non-save- holding States in
.erfere in any way, with the right of property in
slaves" and at the time denounces the schemes
of the abolitonists fraugkt with "horrors, upon
which an incarnate devil only could look with ap.
probation"
But even if the incidental and abstract sugges.
tions above noticed in the Chevoti speech of Gen.
Harrison were to be looked at, disconnected from
its context, however we might differ from him both
as to its practieability and some of the principles
involved, justice and candor would still require us
TO bear IN mind that, but few years ago, similar
sentiments were freely expressed both by the press
md pulic councils Of Virginia, and that plan eff
feeling tho same object, almost identical with that
thrown out by Gen. Harrison, was developed and
earnestly advocated by Mr.. Jefferson IN letter ad-
dressed by him. during the last years Of his life, to
Mr.. Sparks, which you will see in the 4th Vol. OF
his writings, page 3SS-39l. But again repeat,
where is the man, whether of the south or Of the
north, who in the practical assertion of the rights
of the south, and in energetic and decisive reproba-
tion of the projects of the Abotionists has gone
farther that General Harrison A Just people can
not forget the noble and self.sacricing devotion
With which he stood alone, out Of all The Repre-
sentatives Of the Western on-sldreh0lding States
and in little band Of but two three from the whole
nOn-slaveholdng region of the Union, in steadily
resisting on behalf of the rights and interests Of the
south, the memorable Missouri restriction, and the
Kindred proposition made at the same period TO re-
strict the introduction of slaves into the Territory
Of Arkansas patriotic self-devotiOn by which he
lost his seat in Congress, and incurred popular obi
and prescription, for q session. in his own State
III this Gen. Harrison did freely, from of
his duty to the Constitution of his Country. and to
he rights and interests of the southern States at
time when he had nothing to ask at their hands
What was the course of tho presest chief Magis-
rate in whose behalf General Harrison is now
ought 10 be stgmatized a an AholitioniSt, under
the same circumstances! He then, as n member
Of the Senate Of New York, voted in favor of in
structions to the Senators and Representatives of
that State in Congress, to support the Missouri re-
.triction, & year or two afterwards, as a member
of The Senate Of the United States voted in favor
OF proposition 10 restrict the Introduction of slaves
into the Territory of Florida Well, therefore,
might the south require Of him some pledge Of idel
ny to their rights, when he became candidate for
7er SURFACES to elevate him to the station he now
occupies. But what further or higher pledge can
Coal Harrison nave to give, than his conduct
a1I Unions, uniformly sustained through every
change of circumstances, and at every personal sac
rice coupled with that just and Republican defini-
ZION OF the true province Of the Presidential in
his otter to Sherrod Williams Esq, in which he
says, 1T is conservative power intended only to
be used TO secure the constitution itself from viola
ZION, aud to protect the rights Of the minority and
the weaker members Of the Union,"-a definition
obviously framed in its last clause particularly,
with clarence to that vital interest," Of the South
~ which he has proved himself through good and
through evil report the disinterested and patriotic
champion"
Another denunciutory charge against Gen. Harrl-
son, and alike destitute Of foundation, which has
been extensively propagated is, that he was "a
black cecklde tederalist and an advocate of the
Alien and Sedition Laws" during the adninistra-
ton Of the elder Mr. Adams. This charge has been
most decisivelv met and refutcd by Judge Burnett a
distinguished citizen, and lately one Of the Seniors
in Congress, of the State of Ohio, who, from an
intimate personal acquaintance with Gen. Harrison
at the period alluded to, declares that she was a
firm. consistent, unyieding Republican of the JEFF
fersonian school, and warmly advocated the election
OF Mr.. Jefferson against Mr.. Adams" Gen Hpr-
risOn himself. in debate in the Senate of the Uni
ted States, in March, 1895, in replying to some oh.
seryations of Mr.. Randolph, importing u similar
charge. explicitly declared that, while in common
with his constituents the Legislature Of the North.
western Territory, whose delligate in Congress he
then was, he approved the course If Mr.. Adams
administration in the controversy with the French
government and had great personal respect for
Mr.. Adams as an honest man aud patriot, "his op-
position to the A lien and Sedition Laws was so well
known in the Territory, that promise was extor-
ted from him by his friends in the Legislature that
AS he had no vote in the proceedings Of Congress-