Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-20


,n,rorrow when we may attend to him fully
~ J. +. Post.
E,osi re (;iobe.
SACRIFICING HIS REPUTATION.
While those who have proftted most by Gen. Harri-
sons popularity ue making the greatest ostentaton OF
grief Tor effect at this moment, they are nevertheless
seeknp to throw on him the odum Of their own acls,
which would blast his future fame We learn from uh-
doubted sources, although not from the individuals con-
cerncd that after the accession OF MI Tyler to inc
Presidency persons been sent for by the Secreta-
~ and told that their removal had been ordered by the
late PRESIDENT and, without pretending any offence OF
failure IN duty, other ground OF prescription they
were forthwith dismissed. This course OF carrying
back prescriptions is doubtless INTENDED to make the
IMPRESSION that the victims of the present hour suer
under the direction of the deceased President In ms
way every man who is struck down, and every ruined
family are made 10 feel that their wretchedness IS a
legacy from one towards whom all political unkind.
ness reented when the cold vault closed upon HIM ana
his earthly honors.
formation. that General Harrison was utterly opposed
to the whole system of prescription. we Puonsneu'
Yesterday Mr. Prestons announcements III the De,
nate which we're unquestonably made WIN uehefai
Harrison's privity and CONSENT ailer ms aFrHu ~,
Washington for the purpose oil preparing his poitica
friends for an acauiescence in his carrying out the So
emn pledges he had made on the subject pending me
canvass Blu, the moment his Cabinet were installed,
they contrived to defeat his determination we learn
that his Cabinet assumed right TO decide upon suo
iect in regard to which they had only right to ad,
wise and that by majority of four to tco, they voted
down the will of the President in regard to sub
ect which involves Ike livelihood of so many thou-
sands who have skill or means to support their
families except by the employments which they have
de voted the prime of life to learn. The fate OF all
these neone If we are to credit this statement, which
we have had from source likely to be mistaken,
and which is confirmed by multitude OF circumstances
which puts the fact beyond question has been put at
the mercy of a Cabinet, by its own decision and the
erl known intentions of the President who is alone
responsible to the people, and all his pledges to them,
nre set at nouuht Against this course, have rea-
son TO believe both Mr. Bell and Mr. Badger set their
faces is Just them that the fact should be known
to the country.
We nroceed TO capuate the facts which prove that
same mode was adopted Ivy General Harrson's prnci-
pal functionares to supersede his authority IN regard
10 removals and appointments 1t 1t we're not done upon
The British plan to which we have alluded, and which
makes the Council Board of Ministers supreme over
the Chief Magistrate, it will be incumbent on the
Webster Cabinet explain the cases 10 which refer
otherwise and consistently with the honor of the late
President.
It's known, and can be proved beyond doubt, that
President Harrison gave positive assurance to several
that they should not be removed, and yet they were
removed almost simultaneously with the President $
promise to the contrary. This the case of Mr..
Livingston Of New York. The same nal, we believe,
which carried him the assurance, obaincd from the
Chief that he would not be removed, carried letter OF
dsmission from the Minister. So, understand, Cen
Harrison assured Col. Johnson that his nephew, Mr..
Ward. should not be removed as Solicitor of the Land
Office He had been appointed subsequently TO the Pre-
sidential election, the elevation oil Mr. McRoberts,
his predecessor the Senate and therefore could not
be suspected of having used any Official influence
against the late President lie was moreover, OF
great moderation in politics, and had never offended the
preiudlces of his opponents by any yshemence We
are told that the President took occasion when Colonel
Johnson dincd with him, 10 advert to this estinabe
YOUNG officer as the son Of his rlent and con,rade,
Colonel Ward-one of the bravest and lest Of the Ken
uckians-to put his guest who fought he battle of the
Thames at ease about the fate OF hi, nephew. lie
told him he should not be removed; ane yet ne was re-
moved Immediately; and what makes t the more re-
narkable the fact that Mr. Crittcnden was consult
ed about MIR. Wards accepting the appointment,
when rendered by MIR. Van Buren,. As it was known
that Mr. Crittenden was be of General Harri-
sons Cabinet, it was thought well to let HIM know
that the appointment would not be accepted If he sup
posed the appontee would not be agreeable to the new
Administration. Mr.. Crittcnden, We are informed,
advised the acceptance of the places and yet neither The
countenance of a member OF the Cabinet, nor The
word of the President, could the officer who came
within of their preexts for the prescription as
declared in the Cabinet circular. Thee is multitude
of similar cases. which show that the President was
ovcrruled in his determination in regard to particular
instances; but the testimony is still more direct that ne
was overruled against his own decided convictions oil
proprety in regard TO the general principle and against
all his feelings and wishes
To almost every person he talked with, he expressed
his repugnance 10 the prescription as i progressed =
To two highly respectable gentlemen of this city--who
happened 10 20 TO him at the moment when the wife o.
an expelled clerk was making representations OF the
distress in which herself and children were involved
BY the deprva,ion-he expressed his unqualified abhor
renee of the system which carried in his name
4, al al aou nv
had opportunity to ascertain many facts IN relation tc
the ai citing circumstances that harrassed the close
Gen. Harrisons life, and fastened his death.
The scene of his death.bed, however, Showed IN the
most affecting manner, the state OF his feelings IN re
gard the matter, that had engrossed them from tile
moment he had entered office From persons who nurse
and watched by him, it is known that whenever Ills mIhe
began to wander, he gave utterance to the secre
thoughts that oppressed him. and ne continually recur
red to the distressing scenes he had recently passee
through. Sometimes he would say, ".hy dear madam
did not direct that your husband should De turned out
did not kno,c it, tried 10 prcrent IT, On other occa
sions he would say, in broken sentences: vi acrong-
,eon't eonsent-'ts unj ust. Again: "Ihese apPhed
oDs mill then n,rer rensfe From different and unques
tionabe Sources informed that the malady OF M
heart, which broke out into expression IN ms partai de'
rum, or when his mind distracted IN sort o
slumber, half awakened by his anguish constantly
manifested itself by uttcrlng some snatches oil semen
ces like those we have quoted And, we have little
and have been given to the public, were like those
which preceded them, the transcript OF the Thoughts
which oppressed him when the fever sezed him. :"
acish you 10 understand the true Pr,netPies o. ~
Government. ! ,cish them carried ont. ash no
thing more How naturally would this have
been addressed to Mr.. Webster, when pressing
for prescriptions without cause-to one VINO, Jus
before the election, had declared that ne under
stood the Constitution differently from Mr.. Madison
to one who said the President had no constitutional
4 To nj
the part of the officer. How aptly the fancy sup
posing alteration this all-engross'ng topic w'if
the suferer) would this appeal have been to Nir. WEB
ster, and his constitutional Understandings upon th'
subject of removas:-"Sir, ,could hare you under
stand the Constitution and carry it out" The bodily
pangs brought back and forced into expression, th'
thoughts that tortured the mind. The knd-heartet
victim of cruel cabinet policy rebuked, in the nncon
scons accents of his failing organs, physical and men
ta0 the vindctive spirits who stood around him. The,
now load his memory with the odum OF their own acts
and would convert the almost miraculous condemna
ton, wrung from his lips by the torture they inflicted