Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-23
FAMILY OF GEN. HARRISON.

The Nation has duty TO perform, for the re.
lief Of the family Of the late President, which it
would be dstrust of the Justice and lberaity
Of Congress, to doubt its discharging a, the ear
lest practicable moment. AT Charleston Is. Co.
the. citizens, in town meeting assembled, have
resolved that an appropriation by Congress for
this purpose, would be not only liberal but just,
and would meet with the hearty appreciation of
generous People. The Southern Patriot (po-
ltically opposed to General HARR1soN's cleo
tom expresses the hope "that Congress will
make some provisio II for the family OF the Gen.
cra, whose pecuniary circumstances cannot bear
the heavy exl enscs which must have been in
cured by removal to Washington" The
Amerc all Sentinel phadelph also politically
friendly to the last administration, giyes utter
ance to the following generous sentiments on
the cccas on: ''rhe death Of the President. SO
unexpected and sudden, besides being most
affective to his amiable and aitctonatc family,
must be attended with serious pecunary loss to
Them The old-fashoncd, generous hospitality
Of the illustrious deceased, and the heavy ex-
pcLscs necessarily incidental to his induction in
TO the Presidency, cannot but have created bur-
densome and embarrassing claims upon his es
tate. We hobe and believe that pteat and
generous nation will early and unanimously
make suitable provision for his bercavcd family.
The extra session of Congress is at hand, and
we trust one OF It's first acts may be the appro-
prlalon to tire widow ofone years full salary, or
what Houl be still better and more becoming.
half salary for the whole Presidential term ior
which Gen. Harrison was eectcd.-Wc have
no doubt such an appropriation would crafty the
feelings and wishes Of the whole People"
We trust that the Nation will act in this case
As Gen, Harrison himself would have acted, had
a similar occasion presented itself to him. H,c
he would have acted in such case, we arc not
lett 10 conjecture. Ills Conceptions Of the part
which It becomes our National Legislature to
act in such case, expressed on the floor of the
Senate many years ago, are happily preserved on
record. 1t was in debate upon the bill for the
relief Of Mrs. Brown, widow Of Maj. Cen Ja-
cob Brown, who died in the public service at
Washington, that the laneied Harrison teliv.
cred a speech, from which we extract the follow.
have iew readers capable of Resisting:
The grounds (said Mr. IL. )upon which sun.
port the Oil now under consideration are those
OF moral obligation and correct policy. am
persuaded, Mr. President, that there is not Sem
ator Wiihn this Hall who, placed in the same
situation with regard to other individuals as this
Government stands III re lation to the family of
General Brown, would not acknowledge that he
/ hflt tttfi 81 Il,
them decent and comfortable support. An Old
and faithful scayent, whose best DAYS have been
spent III your service, who las received ON HI.
ow II manly bosom the missiles aimed at vour
lie, and III your absence protected YOUR propertv
from beng piundsred and your family from dis.
honor, dies disease incident TO lis employment.
Is there person within reach OF my voice who
would abaiAon the FAM OF one by vhotn we
had bccn THUS faithfully served TO the cold char.
ties ol Tie wof.d, If he possessed the means If
relieving them, No; am persuaded there is
none. Bot may he told that il is the money of tho
People which &c are now called upon to disburse
and tina, 1t was placed under our control for no
such purpose ; that we should be generous with
our own, but not with the funds OF our cons,itu.
cnls. But, sir, if am correct in supposipr that
there Is moral obligation upon the part of tho
nation to make this appropriation who but our-
'~''SS 1c ~ we dIf Tue RGDrCScn.
lati'es OF the People, andpossesscd Of the sole
authority to perform their obligations. | will
not believe tina, it vii he asserted that the prin-
clp.es which should govern honorable meu do
not Apply TO nation that crime which would
attach lnlamy upOn al individual would be con.
slddred as no crime at all when pcrpetratcd by
the Government OF a People, who, Individually.
profess to be honorable and vrtuous. But il is
asserted that We have been furnished with writ.
ten instructions by our constituents which do not
author.se us TO appropriate their money in the
manner proposed. | will cndcavor to show. sir.
(saI! Mr.. Ii. that there is no constitutional i'm.
pedIlnent to oar making the proposed gran, :;
but 1t the question is doubtful, (Which / most
positively dcny,) there is one mode Of se,tlinn il
to hch always delight to refer, and which,
ii'der any circumstances. woald put an end
20 ny d1Iots. Apply, sir, to the pain, honest,
unsophlslcdted opinions OF the american people.
Follow the family OF General Brown to their
hoine--no, Sir, they have no holne--lU. spot Of
earth upon the globe which they can call their
OWE. Follow them TO the place of retirement
provided ior them by a'ricnd, and, as Won march
along, inquire OF every farmer or me chanc Won
ni7y meet whether l!ic proposed appropriation
sliaIl DC made or not, and Il nneIv-nine ont Of
hundred should not tell YOU 10 make IT, then I
wui knowledge that ! anl ignorant OF the char.
attcr o. the American people,