Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-05-05
IFrom lho NatlonaI Intelligencor.l

The FAMILY VI GtIlN. I1AIiSi' -
The remains of the late President had not
been committed to the tomb before we recelv-
cd two or three letters, from very respectaoie
sources, suggesting the facts OF Gen. Hari lsoil
having been in very. narrow circumstances
when nominated for the office OF Presideht' Oh
his having been subjected to heavy expenses
by his position before the People, by the con-
sequences of his election and by his prepara-
tions for his residence here; borrowing money
before he come to the scat of Government,
which it would now probably require the sac
rifice of his famiys properly to pay-and pro-
posing the opening of subscription by The
people, at the rate of one dollar Tor each voter
to provide for the comfort Of the family whom
his death has desltutcd OF their dearest Trend
and only natural protector.
This suggestion is conceived IN an honorable
spirit. and we would recommend the plan TO
the Public, if il did not appear to us that the
Nation has duty to perform IN this respect,
which it would be a distrust of the justice and
hberality Of Congress TO doubt It's dlscharglng
at the earliest practicable moment, the eXecu-
lion Of which would supersede the slow and
somewhat hazardous experiment of a subscrip-
ton by individuals. This view of the matter,
we are most happy 10 plecieve, has been spon-
taneously and simultaneously expressed in
different parts OF the country. At Charleston,
Is. C.) the citizens IN town meeting assem-
bled, have resolved that an Appropriation by
Congress for this would not only be liberal but
must, and would meet with hearty appropr-
alton Of generous People. The Southern
Patriot POLITICALLY opposed to General Harri-
sons election) expresses the hope "that Con-
gress will make some provision for the family
ofthe General, whose pecuniary circumstan-
ces cannot bear the heavy expenses, which
must have been incurred by a removal to
| Washington" The American Sentinel (Phil-
adelphia) also politically friendly to the last
| Administration, gives utterance TO the follow
| inc generous sentiments on the occasions:
"The death of the President so unexpected and
sudden, besides being most affective to his ami
able and affectionate family, must be attended
with serious pecuniary loss to them. The old
| fashioned, generous hospitality Of the illustri-
Gus deceased, and heavy expenses necessa-
rily incidental to his induction into the Presi-
dency, cannot but have created burdensome
and embarrassing claims upon his estate.
| We hope and believe that a great and gener-
Gus nation will early and unanimously make
suitable provisions for his bereaved family.
The extra session of Congress is at hand, and
we trust one gifts first acts may be the appro-
priaton to the widow of either one years full
salary or, what would be better and more be-
coming half salary for the whole Presidential
| term for which Gen. Harrison was elected.
! We have no doubt such an appropriation
would crafty the feelings and wishes of the
whole people"
We trust that the nation will ac. in this
case as Gen. Harrison himself would have act
ed had a similar occasion presented itself tc
| him. How he would have acted III such a
| case we are not left TO conjecture. His con-
! ceptons of the part OF which it becomes the
National Legislature to act in such a cases, ex.
pressed on the floor of the Senate many years
ago are happily preserved on record. 1t was
in the debate upon the bill for the relief of Mrs
Brown, widow of Gen. Jacob Brown, who
died in the public service at Washington, that
the lamented Harrison delivered a speech,
| from which we extract the following passage
! the force ofwhich we trust we have few read
| ers capable UfrCS sung.
"The grounds (saiG Nir. H. upon which
| support the bill now under Consideration are
those Of moral obligation and correct policy
! am pursuadcd, Mr.. President, that there is
not a Senator within this Hall who placed II
| the same situation with regard to other indi.
| viduas as this Government stands in relation
to the family of General Brown, would not ac
| knowledge that he was bound, by a sense o
! duty, to provide for them a decent and com
Portable support. An Old an faithful servant,
whose best days have been spent in your ser
vice, who has received on his own manly be-
som the missiles aimed at yonr life, in your alb
| sence protected your property from being plum.
dered and your family from dshonor, dies of
! disease indident to his employment. Is Their,
| a person within the reach of nv voice whit
would abandon the family of one, by whom h,
had been thus faithfully served TO the coli
charities of the world, if he possessed tht
the means of relieving them! No; am pur
suaded there is none. Bat | may be told tina
1t is the money Of the People which we ar
now called upon 10 disburse, and that it wa
placed under our control for no such purpose
that we should be generous with our own. bu
= not with the funds of our constituents. But
SIR, II l anT correct in supposing that there is
moral obligation upon the part of the nation +
make this appropriation, who but ourselve
> can discharge it! We are the Representa-
tIves OF the People land possessed of the sol
authority to perform their obligations. | wi
= not believe that it viii be asserted that tn
principles which should govern honorable me
I do not apply to a nation; that a crime who
! would attach lntamy upon anindIvidual, Woul
be considered as no crime at all when perpe
trated by the Government OF a People, who
individually, profess to be honorable and virtu
Gus. But it has been asserted that we hav
: been furnished with written instructions by OF
+, constituents which do not authorize US to az
propriate their money in a manner proposed,
will endeavor to show sir, (said Mr.. H) tba
2 there is no constitutional impeachment to on
making the proposed grant, but; even fifth
question is doubtful, (Which | most positivel
Z deny,) there is one mode of settling it to whic
: | always delight to refer, and which, undo
any circumstances, would put all end to m
doubts. Apply, sir, to the plain, honest, III
l sophisticated opinions of the American people
: Follow the family of Gen. Buown to their hon
-no.sir they have no home-not a spot
: earth upon the globe which they can call the
own. Follow them to the place of retiremel
e provided by friend, and, as you march alon
inquire of every farmer or mechanic you me-
meet whether the proposed appropriation sha
> be made or not, and if ninety nine out of
II hundred should not tell you to make it. then
e will acknowledge that am ignorant OF Il
q character OF the American people"
% EDEN is MY HOME.
J. BY JOHN NEwLAND MAFFITT
IS Oh! ! have roamed through many lands,
l. A stranger TO delight;
It Not frienship's hopes, nor loves sweet smll
,l-savr bro nf