The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-07
AN OLD HARRISON LETTER
He Would Not Lenve the Army to Accept
Lucrative Civil appointment


Lucrative Civil appointment
New York Advertiser.
An admiIer of President Harrison sends
the Morning Advertiser an old letter writ
ten by him while colonel of the SEVENTEEN
Regiment Indiana Volunteers. The Repub-
lican colonel was living under canvass in
Lookout valley, Tennessee, W hen he penned
this letrer, while Grover Cleveland was
hunting all over Buffalo to find substi-
tute In order to avoid the perils of camp
and field.
1t is 30 characteristic of the President.
and so at variance with the record and
conduct of Grover Cleveland. that it's pub
LEGATION at this time 10 interesting. The
position referred to was that of Reporter
to the Supreme Court of Indiana, to which
he was elected In 1850. on the first Repub.
lican ticket successful In Indiana. but be
was removed from Office by the Democratic
Legislature after he entered the army. He
was reelected in 1864. The letter is as fol-
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEEN INDIANA)
VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
WAUHATcHIE lookout Valley, Tenn,
April ~, 1854.
Jacob T. Wright. Esq. Chairman Union State Gen.
trail Committed. Indianapolis:
Slr-Your request of the eth inst. was the
first official information have received of
my name having been placed in nomination
by the State convention of Feb. % for the
office of Reporter of the Supreme Court.
beg leave through you, their official organ,
TO tender to the member of the convention
and the Union voters of Indiana my grate-
full acknow Judgments for the honor their
choice has done me. You ask me 10 signify
my acceptance of the nomination. 1t was
known TO you. and was doubtless known TO
all the mem bers of the convention, that
vacated the Office for which am now placed
in nomination in the summer of 1862 to ac-
cept the position / now hold In the military
service of the country.
did not abandon the Office then withou t
many regrets; 1t was In the exact line of my
profession, agreeable to my tastes and
habits and was reasonably lucrative-much
more so than my present position. Itwould
meet my highest ambition If l might be
permitted TO resume the Office when this
war for our Nations life has been closed In
the complete triumph of our arms. But
candor compeis me to say to you, that
while the allurements of home and peaceful
pursuits are not TO be turned aside without
an effort. yet / could not reconcile it with
my sense of duty to quit the army for any
civil office or pursuit. unless inca paci ta ted
by disease or wounds for efficient service
in the field. Should the war be ended, or
virtually so. during the campaign now
opening. rs many hopeful ones believe. or
should my usefulness In the army be, from
any cause, brought to an end, then should
be much gratitied TO resume the duties OF
reporter.
You will see that my acceptance is
coupled with many conditions. If they
should seem to the committee to require
that another name should be substituted
for mine on the ticket, then let it be done
at once. Upon the other hand, il yon
should conclude to retain my name on the
ticket, / shall. if elected. be glad to serve
the people in the office of reporter. provided
IL should not then appear that / can serve
them better in the army.
Let me assure you, SIR in conclusion that
we are. in the army. keenly alive to the
Importance of the pending political cam
paign in the North. We hope to bring you
help In the canvass. not by our sufirages.
but By victories over armed treason In the
field. Very truly yours,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.