Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-05-27
NUMBER l3.
accept tho resignation. We make the
following extract from this letter;

believe Gen. Harrison TO be ono Of the frsi.aiiit~.
| ~ characters eeef kaec; and, in addition TO
this, he is capable Of making greater pcrsonai
ertions than an, officer with whom have ever
served. | doabt not but i, win heresfter be
found. that the command Of the Northwestern
N.Y. aud the various duties attached il, has been
one Of the most srduou. and difficult tasks a.
signed to any officer in the United Staics.'
The following joint resolution, passed
by Congress and approved by the Presi.
dent or the 4ih day Of April, 1910. but
echoed the voice Of the nation:
"Resoired By the Senate AVID House Of Repre-
seatatives Of the United States cf Ameyiea. IN
Congress assembled, That the thanks Of Congress
be- and they are hereby presented to msior-gcneral
William Henry Harrison, and Isaac Shelby, late
governor OF Kentucky, and through them to the
officers and men under their command. for their
| eaaptry and good conduct in defeating tho COM
bined British and Indian forces, under majof.geu-
eral Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada.
the fifth day OF October, thousand eight hun.
bred aud thirteen, capturing the British army.
with their baggage, camp cquipags, and artillery,
and that the President OF the United States be
quested to cause two gold medals to be struck.
emblemstcol Of this triumph, and presented to
general Harrison, and Isaac Shelby, late governor
of Kentucky"
A companion of his in arms, Richard
NJ. Johnson, late Vice President Of the
United States, speaks Of him thus in tho
House Of Representatives of the United
States, March Cd, 1881:
"Universally beloved in the walks Of peace, and
distinguished by his ability in the councils OF his
country he has yet been more iIlustriously dlstn-
guished In the field. During the late war, ks was
longer in active service than any other general eth
Ger; he was, perhaps, oftener in action than any
one Of them, and never sustained defeat
fthere be those who think that to be a
good soldier or great general it is neces.
sary TO be reckless desperate, with such
General Harrison might not be highly es-
timated, as they would not be capable of
approaching his military qualifications.
He was soldier after the pattern OF
Washington. In him firmness and truo
courage were united with philosophic
caution and self-possession. Alike cool,
deliberate, judlcious in forming his plans;
decisive, energetic and brave in execut-
ing them. And there never breathed the
man, through whose heart the ''milk Of
human kindness" coursed more freely and
fully than through his! No blood rests
upon his history, but that shed in defence
of his country No net of oppression,
cruelty, or tyranny, stains his escutcheon!
The voice that was heard above the bat.
ties din, calmly but firmly directing to
deeds Of chivalry and blood; inspiring
valor in his troops and striking terror to
the enemy, in other circumstances, was
listened TO with delight in its sIlvery tones
of eloquence, as it plead the cause of right
in the national Legislature, or melted in
melody as it fell in soft accents upon the
ear in the language Of kindness and offec-
ton. The coronet OF glory that encrcled
the hero's brow, richly studded as il was
with gems from the field OF Mars, was en-.
twined with wreath Of civic and social
virtues that constituted its paramount
lustre and attraction
The civil services Of Gen. Harrison
commenced with his appointment TO the
secre.aryship Of the North western Terri.
tory, by which he was also made ex.ofiicio
Lieutenant Governor. Heconducted him
self so much to the satisfaction OF the peo-
pie of the Territory that he was chosen by
them their first Delegate to Congress when
only twenty-lour years Of age. In this
capacity he was the author Of a measure
of itself sufficient TO have immortalzed
him. The public lands were then sold
in large tracts of 1000 acres only. The
result was that they were purchased by
spectators, OF whom the actual settlers
had TO buy at an advanced price. THIS
system gave an undue advantage TO tho
rich. II was oppressive TO the poor man
wishing to settle in the West, from the
increased amount he hao TO pay specula.
tors for his land. BY this means, too, the
settlement Of the country was retarded.
Always the friend of the poor, and anxious
to promote the interests Of his constituents,
Capt. Harrison employed his talents and
energies TO procure change in the man.
ner of disposng of the public domain
And, though he met a vigorous opposition,
he was finally successful in having adopt
ed the system that divides the public
lands into sections, half sections, and
quarter, and half quarter sections, and solo
in quantities to suit purchasers. This
change in the land system, for which tho
country is indebted to the efforts OF Will
liam Henry Harrison, has been consid-
cradle instsumentality in building up the
empire OF the west, and the means Of Sc
curing homes to thousands that otherwise
never would have possessed any.
The great North western Territory was
divided in l6o0-that part including the
present States of Ohio and Michigan re-
tanning the old name the other portion,
embracing the extensive country north
ives, of il, was called Indiana Territory.
Captain Harrison was appointed by Mr..
Jefferson the first Governor of the new
Territory. This appointment, from the
peculiar circumstances Of the Territory,
surrounded by numerous treacherous and
warlike tribes OF Indians, and the unlim.
tied powers conferred, manifested the
high estimation in which the Governor
was held by the President and Senate.
both as military man and civilian
Some idea will be formed of the mngni.
tude Of the trust, if we glance at the pow.
ers embraced in it. The Governor was
the commander-in-chief Of the militia,
with the right Of selecting all officers be-
low the grade Of General. Prior to the
organization of the General Assembly, he
L r a