Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-05-06
From he National latsiHgsneer.
N0TIiIA OF GEN. HARRISON
WHILE IN WARRINGTON.
HIS INAUGURATION.

Il
mostly spent at the Mansion Of the Mayor oil
the city, where he received at all hours of the
day the visits Of his friends and fellow-citi.
Gems. The urbanity Of his manners, the open.
hearted frankness with which he received the
congratulations Of his friends, deeply i'm
pressed all impartial and disintefested per
sons at the Capitol with the confident assu-
rance that he was about to enter upon the high
Office to which he had been called with a
single heart and purpose TO discharge and
Faithfully execute the important trust.
Numerous strangers, from almost every
section Of this widespread Republic, for days
and weeks preceding the Attn of March, had
been rushing into this Metropolis till the
crowd had become immense almost beyond
calculation. Every hotel and boarding house
was filled to OVERLOOKING, and almost every
private residence crowded beyond convent
ent accommodation.
The procession for the, Inauguration was
formed in beautiful order, and as it passed a.
long the streets and avenues TO the Capitol,
each other, seemed to move on like the ocean
wave, and with the 'snoise Of many waters"
The spontaneous expression of Joy and
gladness which ever and anon burst forth
from young and old, even from the aged ma
tron and the blooming maiden, together with
the waving of handkerchiefs from the crowd
ed windows, proclaimed to the war-worn vet
eran welcome to the highest honors Of his
country. After taking the oath of office, and
having delivered his Inaugural Address, he
returned from the Capitol to the Presidents
Mansion amid the increased reclamation Of
nearly forty thousand Of his admiring coun-
tymen, who there rendered him their cordial
congratulations. Thus passed away this
joyous day of his political triumph, none
suspecting that in ONE SHORT MONTH the
whole scene would be changed; that Con was
preparing to summon him away from the
height of his earthly glory, we trust to more
exalted station at his right hand.
HIS RELIGIOUS CHARACTER.
The next morning (the 9Th of March) Gen.
HARRISON walked down on the avenue and
purchased Quarto Bible and Book of Com
mon Prayer, which he carried home with him,
and directed the servant to place in his bed
room, where saw them on the night of his
death-thereby indicating that he had chosen
that Holy Book for the rule of his faith and
guide OF his life in the execution of the inn
portant trust committed to his charge. This
Bible he was seen reading early every morn
ing and late every evening.
In his first letter to Mrs. Harrison after his
Inauguration, he states that, after he had re-
turned from the Capitol to the Presidents
Mansion, as soon as he could command any
time, he retired to his room and fell down up
on his knees before his Maker, thanking him
for all his mercies, and duplicating his gra-
cious guidance in the faithful discharge of the
duties of his high station to his country and
his God.
On Sunday morning, the TIN, Benjamin
Harrison, Esq. of Virginia, at the request OF
the President, called at my house, desiring to
know whether he could be accommodated
with pew for himself and family for that
day, and expressing wish to obtain the one
recently occupied BY Mrs. MADIsoN-which
the owner accorded to him. In the public
worship OF the church he conformed to all her
rituals in the audible responses of the service,
and, with that humility so expressive Of de-
vout feelings and humble devotion, bowed
himself on his knees before the Majesty OF
Heaven, and duplicated that mercy of which
as sinner, however highly exalted his sta
ton, he stood so much in need. Thus fol.
rael and the illustrious men in every age who
have adorned the doctrine of God their Sa
yiour.%
The following day he purchased the pew,
and regularly attended the service of the
church every Sunday morning until prevent
ed by his last fatal sickness.
His high regard for the Sabbath was such
that, oflate years, he always avoided travel
ling on that holy day, unless from absolut'
Necessity; and during the short period he oc
lcupied the Presidents Mansion, carefully a
voided all company on that day, and dined a
an early hour, that he might attend publ,
worship in the afternoon with his family
some Of whom belonged to the communion o
the Presbyterian Church.
His high estimation for the sspeople of God
was most nobly shown in kindness IN hi
Ministers. On recent occasion, he said (
brother clergyman OF mine. with whom h
had been for some time acquainted, whom il
health prevented from the performance Of hi
clerical duties, and on whom he had within
few weeks conferred vacant clerkship unit
, his health would enable him TO resume tn
duties Of his ministerial Office: 81 see n
g company on Sunday, and dine in plain way
e but shall be always happy to see you at m
table, for love to have the Clergy with n
u On Sunday"
: In this connection it may be proper to sta
. that, at his own hospitable mansion at Nor
Bend, when the infirm health of Mrs. Hair
= son would not allow her to attend public VIC
!, ship elsewhere, Gen. H. would often obta
: the services Of clergyman for the day, al
- remunerate him literally. 1t has also be
&c stated to me by member Of the family tn;
some years since, he accidentally became q
d. quainted with young Minister Of the Mel
re III am authorized from unquestionable 9
xt thority to say, that the. closing part of his
augural Address, especially that part in viii
he so reverently expresses his regard for
Christian Religion, was penned by him
the room in which he was born, and where
" had often kneeled beside his pious Moth
who earnestly implored the rich blessing
Heaven on his future life. w. H