Whig Republican. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1840-18??, 1840-10-21
CENTERvILLE, AMfTE MISS.
September 10, 1910.
LEVI C.. HARRIS, ESQ:


sure YOU, forbid my compliance with the
redtiest you did me the honor to make, in
your obliging letter of the 22d ultlmo. IN
which you desire me to state whether
am the person bearing the name OF WI
mans, who was present at the celebrated
conference, held between Gen'l. William
IT. Harrison and Tecumseh, at Vim
centieS, 1910; and what was then, and
what is at this time, MY opinion Of Gen.
eral H. TO rifle the destinies of this great
nation" And, as [ have no scruples OF
conscience to forbid me, SO feel bound
By principles of patriotism and justice, OH
all proper occasions, to repel the asper-
sions, which party malice and party man
agement have cast upon the fair and
well-earned fame of that venerable sage,
brave warrior and trite-hearted patriot.
am the Winans, spoken of in the BIZ
ography of Gen. w. H. Harrison, as
present on the occasion above referred to.
was, during the year 1910, travelling, as
Methodist Itineraiit Preacher, on the
Circuit which embraced the town of Vim
cenneS-the place of General, then Gov
eInor Harrison's residence. At the time
of the conference or council mentioned
in your enquiry; was enjoying, as | of
ten did, the hospitality of the Governor.
The council was held in his yard, not
more than fifty yards from his door The
number of Indians belonging to the par.
ty of Tecumseh was sixty or seventy ;;
and there were from fifty to sixty, whose
party had not been openly taken; tho
little doubt was entertained that most of
them would Join that Chief in case of
collision between him and the whites.
In the course of the discussion, Te-
CumSeh, who, as we'll as the rest of the
Indians, was seated upon the ground,
Sprang to his feet, and dhgrily pronounc-
ed General Harrison liar, of what he
had just said a lie. The Indians, of his
party, followed this movement of their
Chief; and; by tone and gesture; indica-
ted hostile purpose. Nearly all these
Indians were we'll armed for elise con-
fiict; whereas, not more than about twen-
ty of the whites had any sort of arms.
was standing at the back of General
Gibson; Secretary Of the Territ6rv, who
had been some twenty years prisoner
among the Shawnee Indians, and who
consequently, knew their mantiers we'll:
and ] heard him say to Lieutenant Jen-
nings, "Have your men" (alluding to a
Sergeant's command who were then on
guard, Have your men ready-there is
danger" About the same instant, the
Governor rose, and babe the Interpreter
tell Tecumseh that "the Council was dis
solved: for he would sit no longer with
such Il Scoundrel." All believed that
there was probability of an attack from
the indians and have now no doubt
there woild have been, had not the posi-
ton of Tecumseh and the other Chiefs
been such with the Sergeant's guard, as
TO render it almost Ger tain that they would
fall III the onset. No man could have
acted with more cool, deliberate bravery
than did Governor Harrison ON this try
ing occasion. spent the evening and
mig ut OF this dreadful day in his family
and, though the Indians were encamped
within half mile of the house, there
was not in him, during the whole time
the slightest indication of want of cour-
age, though there was provfdent and tit
dlclous care taken to be ready for a nigh!
attack, should one have been made bV
the Indians, as was apprehended would
be the case.
Ofthe talents Of General Harrison, il
becomes me to speak with mbdesty-m1
own not being of an order that would war
rant great degree of confdence-but,i
may be allowed to hazard an opinion, i
is that his talents would qualify him am
ply for an Office in the United States
which does not require specific prepare
tlons-aS in the case OF high Judicial sit
uations. Thirty years ago, considere,
him equal to any public man of his years
and his public cosiduct since, both in til
camp and in the senate, has satisfied m
that my opinion. was well founded.
will be difficult, Think, to fix upon an
Individual, who, during the last fort
years, has, counselled more wisely, acte
more prudently or efficiently, or commi
ted fewer errors than Gen. Uilliam Her
ry Harrison. And, my observation, du
ring recent intercourse with him, afforc
ed me the gratifying assurance that hi
mind has lost little if any of It's activity 4
energy, by the wear and tear of sixty.sev
en- years. Indeed, he might we'll pass ft
a man of not more than fifty years OF ag
ifjudged Of by either his corporeal {
mental vigor or elasticity.
General Harrison, like much the grea
er aumber of men engaged in public a
fairs, has neglected that personal Religio