Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-05-26

difference of opinion upon question altooa,t
or disconnected with his own appoipssosr.
made him the victim of an arbitrary and cam; 81
cious will, and violent and unrestrained tenn n
per. God forbid that / should seek, for one !
moment, by this alluslon, to tarnish one leaf
of the green chaplet that binds the lovers Of
this grey haired chieftaiIs 81 attempt TO pluck
one laurel from the bright escutcheon Of his
fame. Ever gratefully remembered in the
hearts of his countrgmen, be the gallant hero
of New Orleans and Taladega, and blighted |
be the hand that would seek TO shear him Of
his merits. But still, in regard to Gen. Har-
rison and for the sake of his reputation attn |
constrained to say, that injustice Of the most /
fragrant kind was practlsed upon him on the |
occasion alluded to. Immediately subsequent |
to his transaction, he wrote his immortal let |
ter to Bolivar which contains the most clear |
and lucid exposition OF the true principles OF
Republican liberty, and which elected the most |
fattering encomums from the distinguished |
men of all countries. The ardent friend of lib |
erty. he determined to use his influence with
this great general, and endeavor to check in ITS
incipiency, the wild projects Of his unbrdled
ambition The main object he desired to eff
feet in this letter is obvious from the circum-
stances under which it was written-that, the
man, who in the hour Of danger and distress
had rescued bleeding country from the OPP
pressive yoke OF tyranny and usurpation, should
| not in an unguarded'moment, and in the excite
ment of his zeal, be tempted to rear the fabric
of his own power and grandeur; and thus spoil
| the fair work of his own creation. And when
in that growing republic, the fires of liberty
shall be kindled on every hill, and shall blaze
in every vale, then shall the revered name Of
Harrison, be pronounced by every life, and
written on every heart. Covered with honors,
and gratified with the expressions of his coun-
try's admiration, Gen. Harrison now retired to
his beautiful and valuable farm at North Bend,
to seek that quiet and tranquility In the midst
of his family, which had been denied HIM IN
the world. The pursuits of agriculture, was
a mode of life for which he was particularly
adapted, and ofwhich he was particularly iond
His interest was identified exclusively with
the cultivation of the soil, and he was connect
ed personally with none other. In this way,
remote from the hustle of public life, and from
the corruptons of the whole "body polite"
and engaged solely in domestic occupations
was he enabled to collect that immense and
surprising fund ofscientific and classical knowl-
edge which adorns and chastens every produc-
ton of his pen
After his return from Columbia, he never
again served in anv official capacity, except as
Prothonotary or Clerk of the Court of Hamll-
ton County, where he resided. This Office he
held up to the day, when the voice of the ma
ton called him to preside over her destnes,
, and TO purge her of the corruptions which were
sucking the life's blood of her welfare and pros
Iperity. In 1889, at Convention of delegates
from all portions of the United States, who as
! sembled in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he re-
! ceived the almost unanimous nomination to run
as a candidate for the Presidency. With the
exciting circumstances, the struggles, the he pes
and fears of the memorable contest which re-
suited at length in his triumphant election, you
, all are well acquainted; and It is unnecessary
. for me, at this time, to allude to them. The
excitement with the occasion, has now passed
: off, and none can be more unwilling than N.Y.
SELF again to stir up that rancour and violence
of partj policy, which convulsed this whole
country, and shook it to the centre. In all char.
lty Of feeling it is to be hoped that the emer
q gencies Of the times viii never again be such
i as to require similar exeFtions, for many such
contests would soon sound the death knelI tc
o the peace, the harmony, and the permanence
: of this great Union. But, in order to place the
character of Gen. Harrison in its proper light
l. and 10 show the extent of confidence, placed
n in him by nation, it will be necessary for me
n waving all party distinctions, to give a brie
;e relation of the state Of affairs Immediately pre-
! cedent to his election, and instalment into Of
% fee. For years past the finances of the coun.
IN try had been in sinking condition, commerce
!. enthralled, the people oppressed and dissatis-
~ fed, and cut up by factious and sectional zeal
/. ouses. Instead of government of laws, there
t., axisfal esnvarnnaant of rAea and tho pnhlr
"A good and public interest was forgotten in the
81 strife for Office, and in the contest for power
1 ba had 70 IN
- fluence in arresting the giant strides Of nnova
: ton and arbitrary power, the chartered right
n | of the States were trampled on and disregard
- ed-the nation involved by misguided policy
~ and the whole routine of public business, wa
:, as tree, scathed and sundered by the light
- nings of heaven. The simeon of political de
10 struction was lowering near with porteDtuou
If lowering; its burning clouds were already visi
of bic, and its scorchIng breath felt sensibly ii
every quarter; short time longer, and the ex
r posIon of its contents would have shattered int
! countless fragments, this fair specimen of Re
. publican government-the fairest tina. has eve
- iumned the world.
!. Such was the threatening aspect of things
when the late, lamented, Chief Magstrat
% came into Office, and Cincinnattus- left thu
is sickle and the ploughshare to sway the sceptr
OF State. Sometime in January last, Genera
- Harrison sat out on his journey for the Capito
,f and was greeted on his route with the mos
v enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and at
4 tachment from his fellow citizens. In Virginia
the state of his nativity, he was more than graf
4 flied at his reception. and it is a singular an,
n pleasing fact, that whilst there on a visit to hi
n relations, he composed bis inaugural address
a IN the house where he was born. On the 4th @
If March last, in the presence of the assemble,
;. thousands hailing him with delight as the Sa
n vlour of his country, he proclaimed the princi
! pies upon which he had intended to administe
the Federal Government. General Harrison
called about him most able and industriou
= cabinet. Conscious that the whole machinerv
= was out of repair, he lost not moment in en-
! deavorlng to renew its operations, and scarce
- ly had he assumed the robes of Office, befor,
:, he entered upon the most arduous and folsom,
= course of duty. The first act Of his admins
g tratIon was by proclamation, to convoke tn,
Congress of the United States, to the wisdom
and necessity of which measure the whole ma
ton acceded. Prompted by a strict impartial
: Ity, he sacrificed no one for opinions sake. bu
! retained all who had acted worthy of confidence
In the distribution OF offices, he favored neithe
the rich nor the great, and the last letter h,
, ever penred, was to place an old and povert,
stricken, but honest friend in situation to pro
= vide for his family. What would have beer
. his course in regard to many important cues
tons of national policy, We are now unable t,
IS form any definite onInino hut tLot L. -