Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-01
From the Baltimore American.


dress made by Gen. CAss, at the meeting
Of the Americans in Paris, on the occasion
Of tho death OF the late President.
The style Of this Address is marked by
the frankness Of soldier and the warm
affection OF friend. We are inclined tc
think that Gen. Cass takes too much no.
tce of the calumnies uttered by the poliii.
cal opponents of Gen. HARRISON in this
country during the heat of an excited can.
vass. Few persons of intelligence believ-
ed them even then. But it may be tina,
Ger. Cass, among foreign people and
knowing that such charges had reached
the ears OF the French nation, who might
ascrbe TO them undue importance, felt
himself bound to refute them by more
elaborate vindication than he would have
deemed necessary at home. 1t is not to
be forgotten, moreover, that the official
organ Of Mr.. VAN BUREN's administration
dealt out those ISLANDERS with unceasing
viruence and pertinacity. Of the Ad-
dress we can only give some extracts,
which may serve as specimens of the
whole:
Most of you have come here to mani
fest your regret at the death Of Chief
Magistrate. But have come, not only
to perform that duty, but to mourn the
loss of a private friend. 1t is more than
forty years since first knew him, and al
most thirty since was admitted to his
friendship and confidence. have served
under him in war, and ioith him in peace,
and never, during the long interval Of
our acquaintance, did n single incident
arise to disturb for a moment the harmony
of our intercourse. can speak of him
from an intimate knowledge Of his con.
duct, his character, and his principles; a
knowledge acquired in the perlous scenes
of an active life, where the heart of man
is laid open, and where, with the heavens
above us, and the forests around us, con.
cealment would have been as impractical
bic, as il would have been useless.
He was dlsinterested, generous, honest,
sacrificing his comfort to that of others,
ceaseless in his attentions to duty, passion
ately DESTROYS of promoting the interests
of his country, and formed by nature to
acquire an ascendancy over those around
him. How wonderful are the vicissltudes
of life. Little did he think, little could |
have thought, when together we were ex.
posed to the perils and sufferings of a
frontier war, and when night and day |
witnessed his trials and exertions, that
should ever be called upon in this metrop-
oils of European influence and opinion, to
defend his posthumous fame from the at
taeks of his own countrymen. But SO it
is, and shall discharge the duty. While
he lived, he was himself fully competen:
to the task. 1t did not become any one
to push himself forward as a volunteer,
and to claim the privilege of appropriating
to himself his cause. But he is beyond
the reach of calumny, as he is beyond the
power of correcting it. His friends may
now act, each upon his own responsibility.
His memory is dear 10 me, and eagerly
embrace this opportunity OF resculng 1t
from various charges, which either oFi-
ginated or were revived during the late
Presidential canvass. And am the more
free to do this, because know the anxiety
he felt upon the subject. He would have
been unworthy of his high position had he
been Indifferent to it. And through conf
mon friend he communicated TO me the
wish, that would prepare narrative OF
the battle OF the Thames. But the re-
quest and the compliance were after his
elevation to the Chief Magistracy, and
every generous mind will understand why
could not then give as free scope to my
feelings as now. My narrative was con-
fined to the facts, which indeed when re-
lated as they occurred, are sufficient to
Justify the General from all asperslons
cast upon him, respecting the occurrences
of the day. But my feelings and opinions
could not freely disclose. Such course
in our relative situations would have been
unacceptable to him, and unworthy of
me. But death has snatched him from
his high place, and do not fear to be mis-
taken, now when propose to give full
course to the dictates of my heart, and TO
say of him in the tomb, what | would not
say OF him in life.
Gen. Cass in tho course Of his Address
gives clear and full narrative Of the cir.
cumstances preceding the battle of the
Thames, including the pursuit OF Proctor.
Having remarked that Major Wood and
himself had gone to reconnoitre the enc
my's position, when the two armies were
in close neighborhood just before the com
mencement of the action, he proceeds:
do not recollect that ever conversed
with Gen. Harrison upon this branch OF
the subject, but have always supposed
that the precise information communicate
ed to him by Major Wood, induced the
change which he made in the disposition
of the attack, Until he knew the loose
order of the British formation, and the
strange neglect of their general, to make
use of the efficient means within his rench
of impeding our approach, land partlcu.
Iarly the advance Of our mounted iorce)
he had intended to attack the British
troops by his line of infantry, and to throw
his horsemen farther into the woods, with
orders to turn the right flank of the In
dians. What1 know, will briefly state.
Shortly before the commencement of the
action, Gen. Harrison rode up to me, and
remarked that he thought of changing his
dispositions Tor the attack, and of ordering
the mounted regiment OF Col. Johnson to
advance upon the British line, and to EN-.
deayor 10 pass through il. | observed
that tho manmuvre, If successful, would