The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-07-14
Amount paid under the above resolution
to Anah Haight, widow Of 5. Ilaighl;

For funeral expenses csVo
Balance of salary i.J'9
Total sl,s75
Now, fellow-ciiizens, you perceive the
two cases just stated both occurred under
the Administration of President Van Bu-
rem, and are exactly the same IN principle
as that of the late President HARRISON
They all died before their term of service
expired, and before their respective sala-
ries became due, and YET they were buried
at the public expense, and the widow OF
each of those officers was paid that balance
of the salary which her husband would
have received if Providence had spared his
/ life 10 the end of his official year. II APP
pears to me that the long services and high
public station of President Harrison should,
at least, entitle him and his widow TO the
same rule of Justice that has bcenawarded
by his enemies TO doorkeeper under the
administration of President Van Buren,
I Ii is a bad rule that won't woiA both ways.
This is no new principle. Preceden.s are
numerous in the history of the Republic.
During the last war, Oliver Hazard Per-
ry,a captain in the navy, won most splen-
did victory for his country, and captured
the entire British feet on Lake Erie
Very soon after that naval victory he join
ed The army under Gen. Harrison, and act
ed as one of his aids at the glorious battle
Of the Thames. Perry died in 1919, and
/ Congress granted to his widow an annuity
during her natural life, and also TO each of
his four children until they Seyerally came
of age making about one thousand dollars
year to the family. Mrs. Perry is still
living, and hope may long continue 10 en-.
JOY the bounty which a grateful country
conferred for the noble services rendered
by her gallant husband. Perry and ilar-
rison were fellow.soldiers and brother-he-
roes. One conquered upon the water, and
the other upon the land. Now, | think,
If it was right to grant relief TO Mrs. Per-
nv for life, it could not have been wrong
TO give Mrs. Harrison one years allowance.
In the year 1888, Jacob Brown, the
commanding general Of the army Of the
United States, whose salary was about six
thousand dollars per anuum, died soon az
ter his yearly service began, and long be
fore the end Of the year when his whole
salary would have been due. Congress
appropriated 10 the widow of Gen. Brown
the balance Of the salary which would have
been due her husband at the end Of that
year. The acts for the relief of Mrs.
Brown aud Mrs. Harrison are precisely
the same in principle. Ny distinguished
and lamented predecessor, the Hon. Sam.
p. Carson, Gov. McDuilic, Gov. IIamil-
ton, and many Of the most prominent poll.
ticians, Of that day voted for the appropri-
alton to relieve Mrs. Brown. The s1me
jusi principle and patriotic policy has been
practised, not only among tho high officers
OF the republic, but among The faithful sol
; dlers. When n soldier dies IN the public
service, or is killed battling for his coun-
: try, he too is buried at the public expense.
: But a grateful country does not stop there.
The Government annually makes an up.
preparation to pay pensions 10 our old Of
icers and faithful soldiers as long as they
live and, after they are dead and gone,
then many of their widows receive pen.
slons 10 consideration of the public seryi.
ces rendered 10 the country by their gal.
liant husbands.
Now, with such lights aud such exam
pies before the nation, LEI me ask what
manner Of man was President Harrison,
that we may Understandings determine
what public respect should be paid to bis
memory and extended to his family iar.
rIson had served his country 10 almost
every capacity, from an ensign 10 a major
general, and from delegate to a Pr 81.
dent. His long and useful life had been
chiefly devoted to his country, and not to
the acquisition of wealth. lie owned
good tract OF land, and rery iihie other pro.
perfy. He once had large family, though
death had reduced the number of his chill.
dren, and greatly increased and multiplied
his cares and troubles By throwing On his
hands and protection the widowed wives
and infant orphans Of his own children
There were hree Tidoirs and nine or Ten
grandchildren, all dependant on him for
support and education. One OF those wi.
dows was the daughter of the gallant Gen.
Pike, who was killed in battle on the north.
ern frontier during the last war with the
British. Harrison had adopted into his
family poor youth, --- Neville, the
grandson Of General Daniel Morgan. the
hero Of the battle Of the Cowpens. When
William Henry Harrison, a private eiti.
zen, and farmer Of Ohio, with very limited
means, was laboring to support and edu.
cate this very interesting little flock of
iatherless and iortuneless children, he was
called and elected, by an overwhelming
majority Of the people Of the L. States, TO
preside over this great republic. lie was
welcomed and installed into his high office.
The confident hopes and saugune an,ici.
patons of the future were directed towards
the patriot President fresh from the reonle.
But the uncertainty of life, like an April
day, at one hour shows forth all the beau.
~ Of the sun, and by and by a cloud takes
all away, teaching us mortas "what sha.
dows we are, and what shadows We nur.