Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-05-03
THE DEATH BED OF GENERAL HAIR
RlSON

A personal friend of the late President, shock |
ed as every body must BE- at an utrocious pubca- !
ton in the Globe newspaper, respecting the death
bed OF the amented HARRISON has condescended
to notice and reprobate it in the annexed article. !
We should have thought, until we saw the Globe
ct Thursday evening, that purity lerociiy would
have felented on approaching scene hnlowed by
the regrets Of q whole nation, and would not have
dared so revolving an outrage on truth and decen-
cy.
Communicated for the National Intelligencer.
SHOCKING DEPRAVITY OF A PRESS.
In the leading editorial article of the Globe of
the 18th inst, among many other gross and wick
ed uutruths, is the following shocking Justification
of the "deaih bed scene" of General Harrison:
"The scene of his death bed, however, showed,
in the most affecting manner, the state of his feel
ings in regard to the matter that had engrossed
them from the moment he had entered office
From persons who nursed and watched by him.
il is known that whenever his mind began to wan
der, he give utlerance to the secret thoughts that
oppressed him; and he continually REQUIRED to
the distressing scenes he had recently passed
through. Sometimes he would say-'My donr
madam, didS1ut direct that your husband should
be turned out. ] did not know it. | tried to pre-
vent it. On other occasions. he would say, in
broken sentences: Ii is wrong Il won't consent
tits UNJUST Again These applications, will
they never cease !? From different and unques-
tionable sources, we IRE informed that the malady
of his heart, which broke out into expression in
his partial delirium, or when his mind was alb
sraced in sort Of sumber half awakened by
his anguish, constantly manifested itself by utter
ing some snntches of sentences like those we
have quoted
Now, however much party spirit may he indul-
ged in the official abuse of Gen. Harrison that
was published against him living, there can be no
nyp nT lliufn far ,puo
tons as these after lie is dead. What is here said
is not only not true, but not even approxmalng
truth and all these sayings imputed to Gen.
Harrison the malicious inventions of the wri-
ter for the Globe.
The Globe is ngain guilty of gross unlru,h in
saying That as to removals from Office, Gen. Har-
risons Cabinet differed in opinion from the Presi-
dent by vote Of -four for removals, and two a.
gainst, and that this majority voted down the Pres
deDt. This is al sheer invention, for it was not
only impossible to remove officers without the
Presidents consent, but Gen. Harrison presided
over and directed every Cabinet meeting The
first removal made which settled the principle of
action was that OF the Collector Of New York, in
which President Harrison comcurred with euery
member OF his Cabinet.
The utmost union and harmony existed between
General Harrison and his Cabinet, nOtwiihstanh-
ing oil The Globe insnuntes o the contrary. The
General expressed to his friends repeatedly his
gratincalon tnat he ian been able 10 rally around
him so able and united body of constitutional
| advisers.
| The attempt Of the Globe to extol Gen. Harri
son dead, after its innumerable personal attacks
made upon him as citizen, as u soldier, us
statesman, will pass for whit it is WORTH but the
assertion there that he intended to keep Lis friends
prescribed by keeping in Office the men who for
twelve years had monopolized all the honors and
emoluments Of the country, who were TO have
nothing, while his enemies had every thing or that
he intended TO sanction, by u continuance in Of
fee, the conduct of the men who had prostitu,ed
the power and rurs- ef their places to keep their
monopoly up, is all pure fiction, which he himself
pronounced so in the many removals he himself
made and was making up to the hour Of his ill
ness.
| took my pen, however, not TO discuss prin-
ciple, but to express my adherence Of The con-
duct of an Editor who was not satisfied with rep
rcsenting great and good man, willie alive, as in
a cage" "under Keepers" gambling to the geese
and turkeys" of the North Bend, but who now
makes and invenls "scenes" for his death bed
shockingIy false. To prey upon the living may
be in an eagles sphere, but 10 prey upon the dead
is for the vampire or the worm.
.4personal friend Of General Harrison.