The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-24
PROVISION FOR GENERAL HARRISoN'S
WIDOW

We were no less shocked than mortified at the
of debate in the House of Representatives,
the bill to provide for the widow Harrison and family
especially at the opposition filling up the blank with
$25 600 or one years salary 1t is obvious that the
extraordinary expenses of moving to Washington,
and setting up here added the arrangement of do
nestle affairs at North Bend must have amounted to
many thousands of pecuniary sacrifice. Would
great and generous nation measure the ndemnifica-
ton to the family by exact estimate of the disvan-
tage and loss 1t would be insult to every good
feeling to suppose it. The American People would
have been able to respect themselves they would
be forever infamous in the eyes Of the world if they
had been capable of providing less than years saa-
ry Itmay be doubtful whether that will fully ndem-
nifty the family for the losses which the estate will
have incurred by the generous sacrifices of General
Harrison on the altar of his country.
We were especially shocked by the argument built
on the follow clause of the Constitution THE Pre-
sdent shall at stated times receive for his services,
compensation which shall neither be increased nor
diminished during the period for which he shall have
been elected and he shall receive within that Pc
Rod any other emoumcnt ION the United States or
any ofthen"-by which ii attempted to be shown,
quarter salary would be very liberal allowance,
Gracious Heaven! we might say-what was this
rule intended for living man. or dead one In
reading 1t, one would suppose it intended for
living man. But when the decree of the Almighty
comes in and arrests the of the incumbent of
this high place at the end of short month,
founding half the world with the event and filling
the nation with tears, the feelings of that nation
to be lnsuted by its representatives as soon as they
take their seats in the National Councils, while the
mourning emblems are hanging over the Speakers
Chair, IN being told that the lamented patriot served
bat one month, and therefore his bereaved family are
entitled only to one months pay Would TO Heaven,
tina the record OF that argument, could be bottcd from
our annals
II was conceded, indeed, that the heart of the ma
ton goes for liberal allowance, while consideration
pauses For ourselves, want nothing but heart in
such matter There are times when it is better for
nation to be governed by Its heart than by the cold
ness of calculation, and il this is of those
casions, we know not where to find it.
Avaunt, yc that would count dollars and cents
the grave of nations CLief and protest that
too much To bury him! We desire no fellowship with
such sordid spirits. They have sous that we
would company with. They cannot be PATRIOTS
They can have no conception OF the moral submiiy
Of patriotism. They would sell the souls of a whole
nation for money.
We lament that the Halls of our National Legisla-
ture should have been dlsgraced by such scene If
Congress had passed that sub slentio without
single word-fth they had looked upon the Grape which
hang in mockery their arms, and upon the drapery
of mourning which they ordered to be suspended in
those they had recollected the feeling of
this whole nation when the of Gen Hduisons
death saluted their ears they should have been better
fitted to treat this subject becomes great and be-
reaved people. The people right and will be right
They will emily regret that their representatives could
have been guilty Of such levity on such theme and
that they could have done any thing other on this &C.
casion than the noble acts which might have been
expected and which alone could honor them
We say to Congress in the name OF the peoplc-for
we persuaded the people will respond the sen,
ment-gve to the Harrison family one months pay
and no more or else do something worthy Of the ma
ton. General Harrison inaugrrated the ih of
March and died the 18th Of April, 1871 To be more
exact, il wanted IL hours and 30 minutes of month
from the time he took the oath OF office till his spirit
assembled TO Heaven TO give account for his life Of de-
votion to his country, and for the brief hour Of his
high honors.
We desire these men TO be scrupulously exact in
the settlement Of this account if they 20 that prn
cipc. II they and the nation mus, be damned 10 in.
fanny, let there be good reason for it Let il he
proved, that General Harrison lived / hours and 30
minutes less than month after his Inauguration and
that on Constitutional and commercial principles his
widow, heirs, executors and ss,gnccs are entitled to