The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-07-15
HarrisOn's Electioneering Tricks
Exposed.

We ask every honest man TO read the follow
ing article and TO consider, il man, who can be
guilty of such mean prevarcations for the pnr-
pose Of electoneerne. is worthy Of the highes,
Office in the gin Of free people. Can you. as
an honest, conscientious, and patriotic citizen,
vote. for man who has attempted so dishonest
and disingcnuous fraud on the people Of this
oountryl Ponder upon this.
From he Cincinnati PhilGnbroyist.
TO THE ABoIITIONISTs OF TIE WEST,
Our course thus far must have convinced our
friends in the West, that we have no prejudices
against Gen. Harrison. With the more hope.
therefore, OF being listened TO ralmy. and with
candor. we bcseech their patient attention 10
what is to follow.
The following letter we copy from the Cia-
cinna,i Gazette:
GEN. HARRISON'S OPINIONS.
The Wilmington NJ C.. Advertiser furnishes
the following explicit answer OF Gen. Harrison
to letter Of Governor Owen, asking: :" are
youpow. or have you ever been member Of
an Abolition socicty!'
CISciNNATi, Feb 16 1910.
Mr. DEAR SIR: Your letter Of the 3lst uti-
mo reached my residence at North Bend, by
the mail yesterday, from whence it was sent to
me al this place.
You ask me whether now am, or ever have
been. member of an Abolition society.
answer. decisivey. no. So far from being
a member .f such society, did not know but
rs you knew il, viz by common fame that
there was or ever had been n society Of that
description in any Of the Northwestern States.
until three weeks ago, when received letter
from citizen Of this city, an entire stranger 10
me, who styled himself president OF the Abolit-
ion society Of Hamilton county.
In relation 10 the Ohio Statesman, from which,
as You say. this charge "of belonging to an
Abolition society," was copied into some papers
of your State such is the reckless course which
il. and some others Of the same politics. pursue
towards me, that have determined to notice
nothing which they may publish.
LAM dear sir. truly yours.
w. r.. HARRISON.
We fear The conduct Of General Harrison on
the slave question has been marked by du-
piciy.
III did really term it an Abolition society.
fact which can still hardly believe, il must
have been from forgeifulness. which might cas-
lily happen after lapse of 81 years"
In two interviews we had with General Ilar-
rison op this subject, about four months since,
he was at pains TO assure us. that he had him
self belonged TO an " Abolition society" in
Richmond. Virginia. He did not hesitate a
bout the phrase he did not nsc any Other
Abolition society secmedrhe only name which
he knew or caredto know. Aud yet, in writing
TO MIR. Lyons. he says :. If | did really term
il an Abolition society. fact which eau still
hardly believe, il must have been from forget
fitness" Besides we know, that he has been
in the habi, of using the term Abolition" as
the distinctive title of the society at Richmond.
Look next at the letter 10 Governor Owen.
You ask me whether | am now, or ever
have been, a member Of an Abolition society.
Il auswer, decsiyely, MOI" ,
This declaration is made unqualifedly. -
There is no acknowledgement that there was
even a ground for such rumor. On The con
trsfy, IN The concluding paragraph Of his letter.
he tries to couiirm his contradiction by casting
odium on the Oho Statesman, which had pub
lished an extract from his own writings, declar-
ing himself to have been member of an
Abolition society. or course. it was his inien-
ton to prevcn, Govcracr Owen from knowing
even the truth on this subject. Now, what did
General Harrison say in 1922 in his address to
the pnblic Here is his own statement:
:" ! asn accused Of being friendly TO slavery.
From nay earliest youth to the present moment
have been the ardcn, friend Of human liberty,
AT the age of lS, | became y member Of an
Abolition society, established at Richmond
Virginia. the object Of which was TO amelicrafe
the conditian Of slaves, aud procure their free
dom by every legal means. My venerable friend
Judge Catch. Of Cirrment county. was also q
member OF this society, and has lately given
me certificate that ! was one. The obliga-
iiops which ! then came under have carefully
performed" l. T.. r..r Il. t.- ...-.'
-, What is now bi, lansuagel "Ikdrc nerey
been o,ember Of an .iboliiion society" We are
aware that he cannot be charged with positive
f,sthood in thus saying. for he will plead ilia,
the society iu kiehmond was so different from
our Abolition societies. that he was perfectly
justified in returning such an answer to Gov
ernor Owen. But we put it to any candid man.
ought not General Harrison to have informed
Governor Owen what il was that be had belong
ed TO. when he hi'asof had publicly o,oned. and
only four months since declared 10 us. that he had
been member Of an Ahoiition society? Is
there not duPLeiiy ia dis!
Again: We beg the friends of General Harri-
son to be patient. We do exceedingly dis.
like TO have any thing 10 do with personal char
acier. But 90 fearful are the inroads that
slavery is making on iudividual indepe endence
and integrity. that the exposure of the ruin h
has wrought becomes our unavailable duty
General Harrison sayss i" did not know, but
as you knew jt. viz: by eommon fame. that
there was or ever had been a society Of thai,
description in any Of the Northwestern States
nntii three weeks ago. when I received a ietter
from citizen Of this city, an enfIfe STsngtr TO
me. who styled himsel lfpresident Of the Aboliiios
Society OF Hamilton county"
Thers is no - Abolition society Of Hamilton
county" There Is s.Cincinnafi Aniislavery
society. shoss president. VAS James c. Lud-
lov w6eo tbe .lsttr wss pcnned. gentleman
100 vel snow by Genersl HARRISON 10 be rssk