The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-20

ter, nor has he been distinguished by these more
than by sobriety and benevolence.
Kindness and un assuming simplicity of man
ners have marked his intercourse with men in
al grades of society. No honest man, whether
high or low, rich or poor, has been sighted by
hun. The traveller has always found resting
place In his humble, but hospitable and well sup
Piled mansion, and never did the owner Of that
mansion utter greater truth, than when he told
The brave men who had returned with him from
the victorious field Of Tippecanoe, that " they
never should find his door shut, and the string Of
the latch pulled in" With him the accumula-
ton Of wealth has not been leading object He
never was ambitious OF aping the folly of those
who indulge in extravagant, splendid equipage.
lie never believed that such displays increase
the dignity, or add to the happiness Of life. The
cultivation of the soil has been his favorte pur-
SUIT, and American farmers have been the COM
panions Of a large PARTON Of his time. Pleased
with their simple mode of living, as well as with
their occupation, he adopted il In early life, and
has found II to be entirely congenial with his
feelings while il has enabled him 10 indulge
his natural taste for reading and study, and 10
crafty his thirst for the acquisition of knowledge.
He has always estimated character above price;
his integrity never yielded to the temptation Of
avarice, and though the nature of the duties he
has performed, gave an opportunity to abstract
thousands from public money intrusted to his
care, yet he faithfully accounts for every cent,
and retired from office without an increase of
property. Now, as then, he is doomed to
course Of incessant industry and frugalty, be-
cause his daily expenditures are to be met by
the avails of his daily labor. His plain republi-
can habits, are the results Of principles born with
him, or mbibed in early life-they are not forced,
or unnatural-were he possessed Of the most
splendid fortune, his taste would lead him to
plain, unostentatious style of living.
AS to the political lessons he received in early
life, 1t Is enough TO say that he was brought up
from infancy, in the school of such men as
Washington, Jefferson, Patrick Heny-and his
own venerated father, to whose name and me-
mory the declaration of Independence will give
immortality. Such are the principles and habits
and such were the associates of Harrison.
Modern demagogues have questioned the po-
iitics OF his youthful days. Some who have
been deceived by falsehood, but more who are
influenced BY malice, have placed the black
cockade in his hat. Every man familiar with
the history Of his country, knows that since
l776, the cockade has been part of the esta-
blished uniform of the American army, and that
all military officers are required to wear it.
While Harrison was in service, il was his duty
to wear is part of his uniform, as Washing
ton mad done before; and il was, no doubt, on
his hat when he was Aid-de-C Camp TO General
Wayne in the decisive battle of the Maumue,
which, in fact, terminated the revolutionary
war. The same cockade adorned his hat when
il was pierced by rifle ball in the battle of Tip
pecanoe, and when he conquered the enemies of
his country at Mississinnawa, Fort Meigs, and
the Thames. It was then the badge of has
military profession, not Of politics let me as
sure you, sir, that the man who ascribes to him
the black cockade as a political badge, ISLANDERS
him most viely. When that signal distinguish
ed the parties of the day, | was in habits of in
timacy with him-I saw him almost every day,
and affirm before high Heaven, that he was an
open, decided supporter of Mr.. Jefferson, against
the elder Adams. Had II been otherwise, he
would not have been supported in the Terrific
rial Legislature Of 1899 as the democratic can
didate for Congress against Arthur ST. Clair, IT.,
who was the federal candidate, and received
every federal vote in both Houses. Having
been myself member of that Legislature,
cannot be deceived; and Heaven knows that
have no desire to deceive others. But this fact
does not rest on my declaration alone Judge
Sibley, of Detroit and General Darling, of West
Union, who, with myself, are the only survivors
Of that body, have made the same declaration.
They affirm that Harrison was recognised, by
both parties, as a Jeffersonian republican, and
that his election, as such, was hailed as de-
mocratic triumph throughout the territory.
The character and life of the venerable pa
triot whom you support for the Presidency, has
mails, and periodical publications; and it is a re-
markabe fact that his enemies have not been
able to find proof to sustain one of the thousand
calumnies they have propagated against him
on the contrary, these researches have establish
ed the purity Of his principles and practice in
public life, and the talent and fidelity which have
marked his course What a contrast do these
Investigations exhibit between him, and the idol
Of the o1ice-holders They show that when
Harrison was defending the pioneers of the west
at the rapids of Maumee, and exposing his
health and life in the swamps of that savage re-
gion, Van Buren, had not been heard of beyond
the precincts of Kinderhook-that when he was
defeating the Indians and British at Tippeca-
noe, Missssinnawa, Fort Meigs, and the
Thames, in the last war, Van Buren, was OPP
posing Mr.. Madison, and devisng means to
supersede him by the election of De Witt Gin
ton, the acknowledged federal candidate
Mr. Madison who knew General Harrison
thoroughly, declared in one of his communica-
tons to Congress- that he had rendered his
country more service and received less compen-
sation for it, than any other individual then liv-
ing. But sir, il is unnecessary to proceed fur
ther, and it is certainly time to relieve your
patience, which has been already TOO much
trespassed upon.
am, dear sir,
Very respectfully, your friend,
] BIJRNET