Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-04-06


force less than half that of the enemy, gained
complete and splendid victory. In his despac
TO the President giving an account Of the victory
Gen Wayne says:
"The bravery and conduct of every officer be-
longing to the army, from the generals down to
the ersigns, merit my highest APPRECIATION. There
were some, however, whose rank and situation
placed their conduct in very cOnspic uous point
Of view, and which | observed with pleasure
and the most lively gratitude among wlcm
beg leave to mention Brigadier General Wkin-
son and Colonel Hamtramack, the commandan
of the right and left wings of the legion, whose
brave example inspired the troops and 10 these
must add the names of my faitaiul and gallant
aid-de-camps Captains De Butts and T. Leicis,
and Lieutenant Harrison, who, ,oith the .45mdnt
General Major Mills, rendered the most essential
service 6y communicating my orders IN cUery dt
rection, and by their conduct and bravery erciting
the troops to press forward for Uictory"
Indeed, there are veterans Of that well fought
field, who remember and honor the gallantry of
young Harrison in ralIying our troops to the bat
tie.
This engagement not only broke the power Of
the Indians for the time being, but ended the war
by the treaty of GrenviIle but had other impor-
tant consequences in compelling Great Britain TO
surrender the frontier posts she ha1 Long 49,
trusively held, and 10 conclude The treaty OF 1884,
commonly called jays Trenty.
Previous to this, however, Harrison being
vanced to The rank of Captain, was placed in
command of Fort Washington, with extensive
discretionary power to be used according TO the
requlsiton of circumstances, and with various
specific delicate duties devolvcd on him by the
yet unquiet condition Of the Ohio and Mississippi
country. (2)
Wrile stationed in this command Captain Har
risen married the daughter of John Cloves
Symmcs, the founder of the Miami settlement;
a lady who has been his estiinable companion
through life, the consort of his tolls and vicssi-
tudes, and the witness of his fame and his honor.
SECRETARY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
On the death of General Wayne, in 1897, IIar-
rson, perceving that the eXlgencies of war were
passed, and that there was no longer an opportu-
nifty TO serve his country in the field, resigned his
commission in the army, and Immediately
appointed Secretary of the Northwest Territory.
Here, in the discharge Of the civil duties inculn-
bent on his Office, he became intimately associated
with the brave and hardy people around him.
and learned 10 understand and duly estimate the
character wants and wishes of his rountryInen,--
studying the practical lessons Of lie in the great
volume of nature, as unioded 10 him by daily in
rercouse, in The cabin OF the settler, the hunters
lodge, the council chamber, aud in social meet
ings with the tree-splrlted pioneers ofthe West.
DELEGATE IN CONGRESS.
When, according to the then existing SYSTEM
the Northwestern Territory was admitted to
representation III congress- the signal abilities,
not less than the personal popularity OF Harrison,
pointed him out to the people as the ittes. person
TO represent them; and on the opening Of the
sixth Congress, December Cd, 1893, he took his
seat as the delegate OF the territory in the House
of Representatives, being then but twenty -six
years Of age.
He distinguished himself in that Congress, by
proposing and carrying through series of meas
urcs, all important Immediately 10 his constiIu-
ents, and in their effects, eminently beneficial TO
the whole west, for radical change in the meth
cd of making sales Of the public lards.
This OF course,-the interest in the soi,-was
the qu s;:on Of questions in new A,antry, A.
that time, the public lands, except in peculiar
situations. were offered only in large tracts, of at
least four thousand acres. The purchase Of so
large tract of land required considerable means,
and gave all advantage 10 the capitalist, who
bought for resale, and imposed every disadvan-
tdge on The actual settlers. These last were gen.
orally poor men, whose bold hearts and strong
arms were to win the country from the savages,
clear the soil, and constitute the very bone and
slnew OF the population but who VEL by the sys-
tenn of sales in use, were almost debarrcd from
the rights of freeholders, except by purchase at
second hand, from the great land owners. In
some instances very extensive grants had been
made to companies or individuals; the operation
OF all which, If continued without change, would
have been to build up class of rich propretors,
with the mass OF the people in the condition of
mere tenants on their princelv estates. Nsihing
could have been more inequitable- nothing more
favorable to the Few-nothing less so to the
Many.
With this subject, in all its bearings Harrison
was practically familiar; and young as he was,
and a new member, too, the House de ierred to
his knowledge and experience and the saGacity of
his views on this great subject At his motion, a
select committee was raised to investigate the
matter, of which he was appon ed chairman, and
the committee adopted his ideas /; he WAS efficient
ly supported in the committee by Mr. GaIlatln,
and their report recommended that the puDiic
lands be, in The fl st place, offered at public sale
in hal sections Of $50 acres; that lands not bid
off at public sale should renal Tor private entry
at the minimum government price and that for
the convenience { the settlers, land offices should
be opened in the region of the sales. Relying
upon the justice ol his cause, and his intimate
Knowledge Of the subject, and with an ardent
z'al and ready and manly eloquence at his
command, he succeeded in convincing Congress
o: these IDEAS and procuring the passage OF a
law III conformity Herewith. Subsequently, the
same ideas were still further lied out by au-
thOrzing the sale of the public lands in still small
Ter Subdivisions, and at a reduced price.
Encouraged by his success in this measure, he
introduced and carried another Tor change in
the mode of locating Of military warrants. By
these measures, he al once secured the gratitude
of his constituents and acquired standing and
character as an able statesman; for the reforms
thus effected were Of the utmost possible conse-
quence 10 the welfare Of the West. Now, when
settlers poured with augmented rapidly, into ,he
valley Of The Ohio, the land was no longer en-
crossed by monopOliss, but every man could be
the master OF freehold suited to his views
Who can say how much the prosperity and pop
ulation Of the West might not have been retarded
if the former defective system had been persever
ed in by Congress- Thanks 10 the efforts and
judgment of Harrison, other counsels prevailed.
-(3)
2 As CommaIde of this Fort Harrison received from the
British the surrender of their the
tier, under jays Treaty.
81 The following extract from circular addressed by ar
Iison to his constituents, relates TO this subject:
Amongst the objects which engaged my attention, as