Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1840-10-01
GEN. HARRISON'S SPEECH.

l rise, ellow-ctizens-(The multitude was
here agitated the sea, when the wild wind
blows upon it, and it was full five minutes be-
fore the tumult of joy, at seeing and hearing the
next President of the U. States, could be cained)
i rise, fellow-citizens, to express to you from
the bottom of grateful heart my warmest
thanks for the kind and flattering manner in
which have been received by the representa-
tives of the valley of the Miami. rise to say TO
you, that, however magnificent my reception has
been on this occasion, am not so vain as to pre-
sumo that it intended for me, that this glori-
GUS triumpha entry designed for one indi-
vidual. No. know too well that PERSONS i'm
projections to believe, that this vast assemblage
has come up here to do him honor. 1t is the
glorious canse of Democratic rights that brought
them here Immense cheering) 1t is the
proud anniversary of one of the brightest victo-
ries that glows on the pages of our county s
history, which hath summoned this multitude
together -[Tremendous cheering
Fellow-citizens, it was about this time of the
day, 81 years ago, this very hour, this very
minute, that your speaker, Commander-in-
chief of the North Western Army, was plunged
into agony of feeling, when the cannonading
from our gallant fleet announced action with
the enemy His hopes, his fears were destined to be
soon quoted, for the tidings of victory were
brought to him on the wings of the wind With
| the eagle of triumph perching upon banners
| on the lake, moved on to complete the overthrow
can never be forgotten, for every American has
cause to rejoice at the triumph of our arms on
that nome ntous occasion but the brave and
gallant hero of that victory is gone, gone to that
home whittier all hurrying, and to his
memory let us do that reverence due to the deeds
of so illustrious a patriot. From Heaven, does
his soul look down upon us, and gladden. at the
virtues which still animate his generous country
men in recurring to his noble and glorious
career while on earth CGreat sensation for
several seconds.
am fully aware, my fellow citizens, that you
expect from me some opinion upon the various
questions which now agitate country, from
centre to circumference, with such fierce con-
tention. Caumny, ever seeking to destroy all
that is good in this world, hath proclaimed that
am averse from declaring my opinions, On mat
tiers interesting to you, but nothing be
more fase. [Cheers.]
Have not declared over and often, that the
President of this Union does not constitute any
part or portion of the Legislative body? GCries
from every quarter-you have, you have Have
not said, over and often, that the Executive
should not by any act of his, forestall the action
of the National Legislature3 [You have, you
have
Have not, time out of mind, proclaimed my
opposition to a citizens going forward among the
people and soliciting votes for the Presidency
Have not many time and often said that, in
dency of these United States, unless he is desig-
mated as candidate for that high office by the
unbought wishes of the people Cheering ] If
the candidate for so high office be designated
by the will of portion majority of the peo
pie, they will have come TO the determination Of
sustaining such man, from a review of his past
actions and life, and they will not exact pledges
from him of what he will do and what he will
not do, for their selection of him is proof enough
that he will carry out the doctrines of his party.
This plan of choosing a candidate for the Presi-
dency is much surer bar against corruption
than the system of requiring promises. If the
pledging plan is pursued, the effect will be, to
offer the Presidential chair to the man who will
make the most promises [Laughter.] He who
would pledge most, he who would promise most,
would be the man to be voted for, and have no
hesitation in declaring my belief, that he who
wonld subject his course to be thus tied up by
pledges and promises, would not stop to break
them when once in Office [Cheerng.] Are my
views on this topic correct, or they not
with one voice, the multitude indicated they
were
If fellow citizens, we examine the history of all
republics, we shall find as they receded from the
purity of Representative Government, the
diton of obtaining office was the making of
promises. He who bid the highest in promises.
was the favored candidate, and the higher the