Newspapers / The North Carolinian (Wilson, … / April 11, 1840, edition 1 / Page 2
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J TELE NORTEL - CAROILBNIAN. Mr. Cole said no friend of Gen. Harrison feared the discussion. Several members expressing a wish for the debate to proceed, Mr. Lincoln withdrew his motion. Mr. Crary resumed, and said he did not expect to be allowed to proceed. It was to him a matter of no consequence. He thought, however, he was indulging in no greater latitude of debate than was yesterday permitted to the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Proffit. When Mr. P. was speaking, Mr. Briggs temporarily occupied the Speaker's chair. That gentleman had canvassed not rmW th merits of Gen. Harrison for the Presidency, but called up tne past pouucai histnrv of a member of the House, Mr. Wick, and yet no one rose aud called to order, or pronounced the remarks irrelevant to the ques tion. He was free to admit that such discus sion was unprofitable; but if it was in order to make the attack, it ought also to be in or der to make a reply. Were gentlemeu pre pared to allow of such a course of attack, and then prevent a reply? If so, evil would come out of it of no ordinary magnitude. Mr. Proffit rose to explain. He appealed to the House, whether he said any thing dis rructfiil of his colleague. He did not in tend to injure his feelings. Mr. Crary said he was aware that the feel ings of his colleague Mr. Wick were not ' Rl" AU. ioiiyrtta atraCK. llid the seutlamau know that he would not hurt his feelings? But, Mr. Speaker, to return to General Harrison, whom we left with his army drawn up in the order of battle. No enemy, how ever, appears: but from certain indications of a hostile feeling, it is determined to encamp for the nhrht. "Whilst I was engaged m tracing the lines for the encampment," infor mation was received that the Indians "had answered every attempt to bring them to a par ley with contempt and insolence." 1 his was not to be borne. A refusal to answer by the Indians, caused the lines of the camp to be traced; but when they answered "with con tempt and insolence," the lines are obliterat ed, the army moves forward, with "every man eager to decide the contest immediately." It moves about the width of an eighty acre lot, and then halts again, not to encamp, but to enable "I" to hold a parley with three Indians, one of them the particular friend of the Pro phet Well, what does this friend of the pro phet say? Why, that an answer had been sent to Gen. Harrisou's demands, but that the bearers "have unfortunately taken the road on the south side of the Wabash." What was this answer? The official report sheweth it not. It only says, "J answered that had no intention of attacking them until discov ered that they would not comply with the de mands which J had made." Oc a promise from this friend of the Prophet that no hostili ties should be committed till the will of the President of the United States was" explain ed, our hero resumes his march, and advan ces within one hundred and fifty yards of the town. Fifty Indians sally forth, aud demand a halt. " immediately advanced to the frout, and caused the army to halt." ,"In a few moments the man (the friend of the Prophet) who. had been with me before, made his ap pearance. I informed him that my object, for the present, was to procure a good piece of ground to encamp on, where we could get wood and water. He informed me that there was a creek to the northwest, which he thought would suit our purpose." "J found the ground for the encampment not altogether such as could wish it." It was suited for regular troops, opposed ro re gulars, "but if afforded great facility to the ap proach ot savages." Here follows a description of the ground from the official report: It was a piece of dry oak land, rising about ten feet above the level of a marshy prairie in front (towards the Indian town,) aud nearly twice that height above a similar prairie in the rear, through which, and near to this bauk, was a small stream, clothed with willow and other brushwood. Toward the left flank this beach of high land widened considerably, but became gradually narrower in the opposite direction, and at the distance of one hundred and fitly yards from the right flank, termina ted in an abrupt point. On this ground pointed out by an enemy, and "affording great facility to the approach of savages," were traced the lines of a night encampment with the front and rear lines separated from each other about twenty-seven rods on the left, and fourteen rods on the right flank. Mr. Underwood here inquired what au thority Mr. C. had for saying the ground was rtntntpn out hy the enemy. port, where he would find tC uWQilkr1!u. Harrison' own sign manual. But to return to the order of encampment. The front line was occupied by one battalion of United States infantry, flanked on the right by two companies of militia, and on the left by one company. The rear line was composed of the other battalion of United States infantry on the left, and four militia companies on tne rignt. j.ne leu Hank was filled up by two companies of mounted rifle men, and the jright flank by one company. Two troops of dragoons were encamped in the rear of the left flauk, and one troop in the rear of the front line. These troops were all in single rank, and were defended by two captain's guards, consisting of eighty-eight men, and two subaltern's guards, consisting of twenty men. But as the report makes no mention euner ot a picKet guard, or a common camp guard, it seems that this indispensable requisite of an army, encamped in an ene my's country, was entirely overlooked and omitted. This is evident from the fact, that in the opening of the battle, some of the men were stricken down in the very doors of their tents. We have here,' Sir, the camp of General Harrison when in an Indian country, and so apprehensive of an attack that 'the "order of encampment was the order ot battle, aud each man slept opposite to his post in the line." General Harrison says his order of march was "similar to that used by General Wayne." But was the order of encampment that of General Wayne, or that of any other General winning glory in Indian warfare? Did Gen- eral Wayne ever encamp in an Indian coun try without first throwing up a breastwork either of wood or of earth? Was not this course pursued by all the early Indian fight ers of New England? Such breastworks are often spoke of by her early writers, and Hub bard tells us of one case where a stone Breast work was thrown up in the midst of a fight. Did Colonel Johnson ever encamp, wnen iu the midst of hostile Indians, without defend ing his camp by a breastwork? If he had, Sir. his traUant little band of mounted men would never have covered themselves with glory at the battle of the Thames. In the Black Hawk war, did lieneral Atkinson ever omit the barricade for a single night? Nev er. When it could not be made ot wood one of earth was thrown up. To General Harri son belonas the honor of encamping an army without breastworks, in siaht ot an inaian town, the inhabitants of which "had mani fested nothing but hostility." Let the honor be his, and let his political friends write it on ..... . . , , - i i i all their banners; but the nanu writing snouiu be one of blood the blood of one fourth of a most gallant and chivalrous army. But Mr. Speaker, I have not yet done with this camp upon "dry oak land," and surroun ded by a "marshy prairie." It appears, from the official report, that the fires were built within the camp, and were burning at a quar- ter after tour tyd"1- " p,- Tires afforded a partial light, which if it gave us some opportunity of taking our positions, was still more advantageous to the enemy. affording them the means ot taking a surer Uuder such circumstances, need we aim. wondei at the slaughter that ensued? The fires were indeed, extinguished after the bat tle commenced, but this proved that they should not have been built, if it proved any thing. Camp fires were necessary, but in Indian warfare they should be without the camp, if allowed to burn all night. They theu gave no advantage to the enemy. On the contrary, on coming within their range the enemy became the object ot "surer aim." Sir, I pass over the movements of the Gen eral during the battle. I say nothing of his horseback ride in a camp with a right flank of fourteeu rods, nothing of his order to Ma jor Davis to dislodge, with a party of dis mounted dragoons, the enemy from some trees in front of four companies of United States Infantry. Let others decide whether Indians could be driven from such a position by swords and pistols, better than with mus kets and bayonets. It is, perhaps, decided from this fact that the dragoons were driven back with the loss of the gallant Major Davis, and that the enemy were immediately dislodg ed by a company of Infantry. I need not al lude to the number of meu engaged in bat tle, nearly one-fourth of whom were killed or wounded. The army, snys an official letter of the 18th December, deducting 1 lie dragoons), was but liitle over 700 njen. Of these 62 were killed, and 126 wounded. The Prophet's lorre amounted to 450. Of these, from 36 lo 40 were left on the field. What official precision! From 56 to 40 were left on the field; tint ihese did not comprise all the dead. The Indians were seen to take off not only the wounded but ihe dead. Indians lake their dead from the field in ihe midst of battle Such stories are olien told, hut they generally corne from warriors who fiuht at a respectable distance, and make out their reports of the dead on supposition. In the present instance, the dead may have been taken away; for report sn j s "several were found in houses, and one, of many craves fresh dnr, was opened and found to contain three dead bodies." Could all ( Ills have been done in the presence of a victorious army? JNot in civilized vvarlare. In such a war the conquerors Sury the dead. With these facts belore them the trusty follow ers of the Prophet might have claimed, at leat a drawn battle, and in support of their position, have pointed to the dead taken from the field, and to the fresh graves in which I hey were bu ried. But the Indian acci.nnt of this battle has not been given to history. II", however, you and I had been present, Mr. Speaker, at their next great war dance, we should have heard the songs of the braves of their nation, and listened to the recital n)' their deeds of renown. I have done, Mr. Speaker, with ihe official account iif ihe battle of Tippecanoe. It has been converted into a victory. Let it be so recorded on the page of history. But lor the honor of the country, let there also he recorded on t he same page, deeds of more enduring fame; not indeed on the part ol the officers and soldi ers, for they fought like men; but. on the part of the General, who, without entrenching his niht encampment, without the ordinary precaution against surprise, exposed these gallant spirits to sacrifice and slaughter. The gentleman from Indiana has given to General Harrison the credit of first. sui -resting the armament on the lakes, in the war of 1812. If I am correctly informed, that honor belongs to another. It was tirst suggested by General Armstrong to Governor Eulis, I he Secretary of War. 1 tie letter bore date the 2nd ol Janu arv, 1812, and says: in 'its wholexrtnr;'hMfJi?jfc ers, no lime should he lo-jt in gel ting a naval nseendency on both; (or, cateris paribus, the helligerent, who is ttie first to obtain these ad vantages, will (miracles excepted) win ihe game. Again, the same letter says: For western defence, employ western men, accustomed lo Hie rifle and stratagems of Indi an warfare. To their customary arni3 add a pistol and a sabre, and to ensure celeritv of movement mount them on horseback. Give mem i a competent leader and a good position, within a strking distance of Indian villages or Kritish settlements. Why not at Detroit, where you have a strong fortress a ml a detachment of artillerists? Recollect, however, lhat this posi tion, i.ir irom oeinggood, would be positively had unless your naval means have ascendency on lake Erie. . In "Armstrong's notice of the War of 1812," at page 177, is a note upon the subject of the armament of the lakes, in the following words.- No efficient means were taken by the Govern ment to obtain a command ol" the lakes until October, 1812. A letter written about this time by General Armstrong to Mr. Gallatin. W9a probably the means of recalling the attention of me cuoniei in in is important subject. In this letter the General stated the following facts: "That he tvns informed by Captain Thmncev that as early as the month of July, Captain Woulsey had reo nested twpniv.siT nnnrlra of which there were more than one hundred in me navy vard unen.nloved- that id ; nfprilun of Woolsey was to arm such vessels of com merce as could be found on the Lake and at Sackell'fr Harb&r, with the aid of which be would be able to get a complete command of the water." On these facts General Armstrong remarked that "ihe object was one of the highest import ance; that hesidea o-ivintr us the advantage of an exclusive and uninterrupted use of the lakes for the public purposes, it would enectuaity sepa rate Upper Irom Lower unnaua, cut issunuc. the enemy's line of communication, and prevent Brock and Provost from succoring each omer. Now, sir, no letter is found Irom General Harrison on this subject until the month ol De cember following. On the 12th ot the month, he wrote to the War Department, advising the employment of naval means; or rather saying, "It the Government would employ uarai means, all these nhiprla r.onld be accomplished in the short snam of two months in the spring." But ilua alvie. if&iieh it roll I1 Be Called, was 8UD' cliint'n'.lu rouoliorl "in his letter of the 1 7 til of March. At this time be says: s "If there is positive certainty of oar getting the command of Lake Eric, and having a regu lar force of three thousand five hundred, or even three thousand, well disciplined men, the pro- nosed Plan f setting out lor Cleveland, and II landing on the northern snore, oeiovv lyjaiuen, would, perhaps, Itc the one by which that place and its dependencies could be mist easily re- duccd. After statino-his 'nrnorance of "the prepara ions that were making lo obtain tie naval su periority upon Lake Erie," and the utter im possibility of transporting a large and undiscip lined army, the general proceeds: j "Although the exDense and difficult of trans rw.nincr f lit nrnviaiiins. nrtillerv and tturp fur an armv round the fiead of the tnWervWnild be -.ii.-KJeraoie, the lake being no-sessed by our ships, and ihe heavy baggage taken in boats ahmg us margin, the troops would und no uilh cully "in the land route." llere, sir, are ihe views of a man who has been praised for being the first to suggest the armament of the lakes. Forunately for the country, these views did not prevail. Time had lessened ihe influence t 1 1 1 Ocner-il ol ihe lainoti nn ill wa inward!! the commander 01 tne Northwestern army.- He probably considered him an inefficient general, and was giaa to bup ply bis place with the name of him whose achievements as a warrior and civilian have filled the measure of his country's glory. I am aware, sir, that my remarks militate against hundreds of certificates that have been produced to prove General Harrison an aoie commander. These certificates are entitled to consideration. But it is to be recollected that the great majority or them were given by om cers over whom the General had authority. They are the evidence of witnesses under du ress, and are to be received, at least, wuu cau tion belore the high tribunal ol tne pupiic. is not common for generals of distinction the heroes of buttle fields to go about the camp to obtain certificates of good conduct. At Aus terlitz, and Jenan and Marengo, Napoleon needed no such endorsement of his fame; nor did Nelson, at Copenhagen, at Aboukir and at Trafalgar. It was reserved for General Harri son to establish the nrecedent of obtaining cer tificatea from sn baltern officers to prove himself a warrior and a hero. Mr. Sneaker. I have done with General Har rison. He is now the Whig candidate for the Presidency, and his friends expect to succeed hvinsnirincr in his behalf a military enthusiasm throughout the country. They are doomed to i;nnnciintmeiit. Thev may raise the paean shout in glorification of their hero, but it will mppi with no response from the hearts of the millions. From the Charleston Mercury. The Bank Hero. Mr. Crary's exposition of Gen. Harri son's Military claims is admirable the whigs have tried in vain to cover the sting of its truth by pompous indignation, but it will not do they are fairly convicted ot having set Norihwest army, and his suggestions were dis- up one of the most signal humbugs of the mocratic principles, and claps a stopper on the rant of the whiff leaders for the balance of the cam- paign. tiuzza tor tne Aw-c-a oi ia"Bi"v carded. A new older was issutd bv the War Department for prosecuting the campaign on the plan given in Match, which was, "lo get command ofthe lakes." But, sir, the plan of operationscamc near be ing defeated by a caiitiousuessamonnting to timidity, I had almost said to covardire. On the 21st of April the General afterapproving of the plan of operation presented 'y the War Department, says that he shall watdi the move ments of ihe enemy narrowly, '"but n the even: of their landing at Lower Sandusky,' that post canrot he saved." The enemy did land, hut not to fulfil this prophecy. 'The post ,vas saved, hut. not by General Harrison. He iad with drawn the body of his army lo Seneca, nine miles distant. Under command of tin." gallant Col. Croghau, a detachment of one hundred and sixty men resolved to defend the post, or die in the attempt. Sir, need I lell ilie result? It is written on the brightest pae of our his tory. Air. Speaker, I will not allude to the deter mination of General Harrison to destroy his stores at Seneca, and retreat lo ipper Sandusky leaving the whole lake coast defnce!es"s. Nor will I allude to Ins order to Mnjot Croghan to abandon the fort and repair to heid quarters. These I pass over; and I pass over, -aiso, the Generals official report, wherein it appears lhat tie left this intrepid body of men to meet ail Ihe assaults of near two thousand of the enemy, and lelt them, too, with but ''one six pounder, seven rounds of" cannon cartridges, and forty rounds (or small arms." In April, the post conlj not he saved; on the last "lay of Julv, he ordered ii in be atiamlot'cil and burnt; hut, on hearing the cannonading, fie made the discovery that any attempt to storm it could tie resisted with effect. He therelore remained in his camp at Seneca, without mak ing n solitary movement, until he was iulornud that the enemy were retreating. He then went Inward the post as last as the dragoons could earry him, but "not an enemy was to be seen." Tlie general then returned to Seneca, and wr:te the Secretary of War that he had belore in formed him "lhat Ihe post of Lower Sandusky could not be defended against heavy cannon. " tie had iiuormed linn that the post could not be saved at any rale; and while the battle was raging, speaking of Croghan, he said, "ihe blood be on his own head I wash mv hands of it. In August, the exertions of ihe War Depart ment were crowneil with success. Our squad rons gained command of Ihe lakes, and soon afier, General Harrison crossed over to make an attack on iwalilen. When he arrived, fnictor had fled, and was not overtaken until lie reached the Thames of Lake St. Clair. This happened on the 5th of October, when a battle rca fought lhat closed the war in Upper Canada. Ol ble the friends ol General Harrison have claimed great honor for him on this occasion. But he does not deserve it. The gloi y of the victory was awarded at the lime to Colonel liichard M. Johnson, and it belongs lo him. His regiment of mounted men made the charge upon the Bri- nsii lines, ami nroue them to pieces. 1 Lev also crossed the swamp, ami fought against the In dians without any aid from 'he rest of ihe army. The charge was suggested by Colonel Johnson, and all that General Harrison did was to give Hie tinier, i am aware that. I lie oincial report gives us to understand lhat the plan ol attack came from "a moment's reflection." "While ," says the General, was engaged in forming the infantry, had directed Colonel J. unison s regiment, w hich was tslill in Iront, t.i be formed in i wo lines opposite in the enemy and upon the advance of ihe infantry lo lake to endea vorVteuoT.,,,k3' A moments reflection, however, convinced me that irom the thickness of the woods, and swampiness of the ground, they would he una ble to do any thing on horseback, and there was no lime lo dismount them and place their horses in security. , therelore, determined to refuse my left to Ihe Indians, andtoTireak the British lines a: once by a charge ofthe mounted infantry. The measure was not sanctioned by any thing that had seen or heard of, but was fully convinced lhat it would succeed." '1',1iis w Ihe statement of General Harrison. ouM any one imagine from it that ihe change in Ihe order of bailie was suggested by another? Yet such is the fact. Colonel Johnson savs: "I requested General Harrison lo permit riie to charge." He did charge, and at such speed that the British had not time lo discharge their third fire before they were totally routed. Mr. Cooper, here inquired of Mr. Crary, his authority Cr asserting lhat the order of bat tle was changed at the request of Colonel John son. Mr. Crary referred to Armstrong's notices of the war of 1812, wherein was a letter asserting the fact, under Colonel Johnson's own signa ture. " This baltle put an end to the war in Upper Canada. In the fallowing spring Geneial Har rison tendered his resiornmi.U, nU ,V1 , --. t wiilipi ol the armv. Ilwa immi.i;9iiiif9ni.,i .i , - ' ....... mhivij ii w , Hmi me vacancy filled with iho eral Andrew Jackson. 1 have seen it staled. Mr. Speaker, in a late fill hi 1 i.n .F I tin fpiunilu of General Harrison, lhat this resignation was orougni about by the War n. spirit of malice and envy. This is a libel upon the reputation of an able, hut imieh .nhe,l r.K. lie servant. The then Secretary of War enter- age, as the rallying point for national enthu siasm. It never has been pretended that "Old Tip" had any merits as a civilian his military glory is proved to be ofthe real "Cor poral Fussy" order what on earth he has now to depend on but the "crackers and hard cider" we cannot see. If they will carry him into the presidency, very well. Is it not a strange state of things when the party that claims "all the talents"' are driven to select for their standard the poorest piece of fustian in twenty six states when the party that claims "all the decency" gather themselves together w ith the watch word of "log i-abius and hard cider" when the party that have for fifteen years been denouncing and de ploring the elevation of a great general to the Presidency Lecausehe was a military man pass by contemptuously their Clays and Websteks to worship the cockade hat and feather of a straw captain? It admits but of one explanation. The whigs have no politi cal sincerity. Believing iu the infallibility of trick and hypocrisy, they think the lower the trick and the grosser the pretence, the better will be the chance of entrapping the people. They believe the people are steeped in ignorance and stupidity, covered with a palpable midnight datkness of soul, that ren ders all disguise unnecessary in their game for office. Mr. Clay feels no shame to have brought home to him all the theatrical denun ciations which he once, spouted so eloquently against Military Chieftains. He once united with Adams to prevent the horrible calamity of a Military President, "and for other pur poses." He now unites with a Military Chieftain to prevent the horrible calamity of the re-election of a lawyer, "and for other purposes." The amount is that it is a horrible calamity to the country, "more to be dreaded than plague, pestilence and famine" for any body to enjoy the fat of office but Mr. Clay and his friends! and the country is very earnestly called on to believe it! From the State Cap ti.l Gazette. Harrison and tbe Abolitionists. Ths subjoined cx'racr, from a speech delivfred in co.i"r- ss, a shoit ti;ne tince, by Mr. Slide of Massachusetts, who is denominated the '"prince of abolitionists," is another t vi 'ence of the clos? cniii ction a' present exisiing belwten that dark and ahandcined fit tion and Federalism. Of lato, this unholy alliance is no secret matter: they have flung out their b'avk a-'.d practical banner, and in m uiy parts of th ; Union, are a'readv beginning to rally beneath i:s polluted and Lollu'in folds. "Harrison and lbolitionism,'" is the watca-word of the enemy, and it behooves the p oph? of the Union, as they regard llv preservation ot I heir dearest rights and privileges, to t'oiiify theins lv. s against the ap- pro:ithinsr conflict with a io i nal taction which socks the destruction of t!u ir react, liberty ai d happiness. At tor reading the f. Ih.wing paragraph from inn sjvei h ol Air. Sladf., w-t do nt th nk thfre is a single individual w II 8 iy that we have prejudiced the position laki n by our opponents: And now, s.r, where is the man around whom we, mi-aniiig the a'lo'i'io-iists, may rally? thu man whose n mu; hall be to us a sirong tower the man who is to l.id us to victory. There is, thank Heaven, such a man! His name is wafted to us on t!ie win Is ttit sweep the Alleshanies; a'id cum -s back in thundering echoes Irm ihe Ailantic sho-es. The V sK th-; North, the East, the Scuth unite to proclaim William Henry Harrison is THE MAN." "We now put the question to every candid mind, is liineral Harrison trie candidate Ol the abolition they mlly. ' they claim him as beins their STRONG MAN! ! and the only man who is to LEAD THUJYI TU VICTOR i ! ! In ad Jition this evi denc , has not Gen. Harrison, in defining his po sition, declared that "abolition is eminently a moral and religions enterprise," ar.d that "ihe work of abo lition is but begun this country." We know that in many places the doctrines ot abolitionism will not b ! hwallowrd, by men of any part v. Where this is the case, it is the policy of the federal papers to try to palm upon their readers, the b: lief; that Harrison U not the Abo it ion caudi late, and hence the'r asseit on, in the very face of truth, tn the contrary. Hut the odds is against them the secret is out an f thi-y now find it a u atter of com pulsion to act in concert with their brethren in other paits. As we have said b fo e, we may soon ex pect to see them hoist their true motto of "Harri son and Abolitionism." t The Prospect. The cheering tone of confidence that pervades all the demccratic journals of Pennsylvania, is "rati fying to the fiends of the constitution throughout ihe Union. The harmony lhat prevailed in the re cent Democratic Convention, ia the best evidence that the people are alive to the importance of Ihe contest. Democracy is rousin? itself, and as the struggle approaches its tremendous power will dis may the hearts of the federalists, and their counter feit enthusiasm wi 1 vanish into thin air. The signs of the times indicate a glorious triumph to the republicans at the next election. As ths first n this part of Ihe State, we would point to the elec tion on the 20th insL for .Timti.. r th P, What a rommentary-on the puffing and blowing of the federal organs for the last iwo months! They uvliiced one po .r creature a Cml r ln, t publish a renunciation ofthe principles he formerly professed, and for this they raised a tremendous shout that acres of Van Buren men were changing lor Harrison, ihe election of FVi.tnv l.-wt test of party strength shows the progress of de- From the Richmond Enquirer. William C. Rives, Esq. Sib: I wish to leave bo room for you or your friends to cavil. I find in my letter of the I7tli inst-, in the Enquirer, a trifling error as to dales. possibly committed by tne primer, rw me in Monday in June 1835. A written memorandum now before me, and made about that time, shews that it was to that day I wished to calf the attention of yourself and the public. But I will be more ex- n'ieit to vim. It was a lew davs alter your reiurn from the Episcopal Convention at Lynchburg, and at which, in the presence of a roost intelligent, respectable, and pious assembly, you by your acts declared, that vou inteded to lead a new life, and "sin no more." It is not for me, nor do I design to enauire. whether or not vou have laiihlully dis charged the obligations whieh you assumed on that interesting occasion, or whether vou have kept the ten commandments, and especially the one whxh says, " 1 hou shalt not bear lalse witness against my neishbour." No. sir, before a higher and better tribunal than the one belore which we are now ar raigned, we shall both have to appear. But in tem poral matters, it has been said that Your course has not been very much unlike that of one "Judas Isca- riot, ' about whom you may have read; tnere is, however, this difference between Judas and yourself it is that he did receive the reward ot histreache ry, while you have only the promise of yours Whether lliat premise can ever De luuiucu, time will soon tell; that it never can, I sincerely believe; never, until the people become as corrupt as certain politicians have proven themselves to be May that day never dawn! Rest assured, sir, if that promise is not soon redeemed, it never can be; for, although parties may and do go to extremes in accomplish ing party ends, there are honorable men of all par ties, who for the moment may tolerate the treason yea, like it but in all aftertims will despise the traitor. When Mr. Wise paid, in a public meeting in Norfolk, that you had "sunk beneath contempt,'' I prrsurne he intended to apply the reinaik to you polif cally only. I go beyond that point; and in this I do not stand "solitary and alone." It may become necessary I shall tell you and the public why I think so At present I will only remind you j of some circumf tances which took place in 1838, (the months of June and July) and a puhlication which made its appearance in r'laron thereto, in your Washington orran, the Madisonian. For the honor of Virginia, I could wish that portion of your history could lie "Expunged;" or, thai it might not be true; hut I have good reasons to fear, thai it is too true. Should this not be so should you have acted the part of a Virginia gentlemen, and you or any authorisedf iend will address me a letter on the sub j"ct, ample justice shall he done you (my name is with the Editor, and at your service for any pur pose of the kind indicated,) before I say more; and I will only repeat, that "truth sha'I be my motto, and justice to all my suide." 1 will pause, to give you an opportunity of beins heard. I know you must understand the aliu-ion I have made. In truth, I have never designed eivinsryou mochmedi cine at one time; my tkilful and venerable physi : ian tells me that broken dases frequently eiven, have tin best effect, let the disease be ever so in veterate." I do not, however, believe any medicine will prove efltic.tt ious in your case. A Republican of the Old School. Essex County, 3 1st .March, I84P- FOR THE NOllTH CAROLINIAN. Republican Meeting in Bladen County At a Democratic Republican Meeting lv Id at the Court House in ESizahethtown, o:i the 3d instant. On motion, Dr. H. H. Bi.binson, was appointed Chairman, and Duncan Shaw, and Durram Lewis, Secretaries, the olject of thfc meeting b ing explain ed by the Char, the following preamble and resolu tions was submitted to tho meeting, which were unanimously adopted. Whereas, the political content which is now po ing on throughout the Union, involves principles ofthe most sacred character; princ 'pies upon the success of wh ch depends the preservation of pub lic liberty; and that sheet anchor-of popular rights, a writ'a constitution. ThecfFjrts now making by the Federal party under the assumed rame of the Whig party, are such as should arouse tha sleeping energii s of Democrats; and call them forth, as man lo defend the cause of Republican- principles, from the insidious attack of a paity who have no sympaih'es with the declared sovereignty of the popular will in our country, but whose uniform ad vocacy of measures which had their orig'n wiih Alexander Hamilton, the ;reat champion if Feder a'ijm, proves that all thfir inclination are in favor of a splendid Otntral Government, which shall strin the States of every vestage of sovreignty: and entail upon the American people a policy which will even tual'y make the rich richer, and the poor poorer, a poli.y which will he replete with taxes and burthen onie exac'ions on the labor of the people, for the benefit of thoss whose aim is to live rather by their wit than their labor, a policy which shall fasten up on the country the odious measures of a National Bank, High Tariff and extended schemes of Inter nil Improvements, by the General Government, the power and patronage ot which, will be wie lded to the breaking down of the free and independent ac tion of the peoj le. It is in view of thee things that we assemble to di clare our opinions; and to cill upon our fel!ow-citizsns, who advocate equal piiviL-gts to rally in the support of those men and tn asures which will prose ve untarnished those sou id principles which resulted from the revolution; and for the establishment of which a seven years war, with all its horrors, was endured by our coun trymrn, involving a vast expenditure of blood and treasure. We as Democratic Republic ins be'irve lhat the measures of tht; present National Admin istration so manfully avowed, and nobly maintained are calculated to perpe'uate those principles, and to secure to u iborn mil'ion, the blessines of liberty. Resolved, That we have undiminished confidence in the administration of Martin Van Buren, and we believe the bi'st interests of our country are involved in h s re-election, and we will warmly and cheerfully support it. Resolved, That tbe thanks of the people of North Carolina are due to the Hon. Bedford Brown, and Robert Strange; for the faithful and manlv defence ot the rights of the people, and the principles of the constitution. nesoivea, Ti,t nt i..;ir rp ,. rf,ile course of our representative, the Hon. James J. McKay. Rssolved, That we cordially approve the nomina tion of Thomas I Faison, Esq. of Sampon, as a Delegate to represent this Con2re-sional District, in the National Convention ofthe Democratic par ty. Resolved, That we heartily approve of the nomi nation of Owen Holmes. Fsn a Fl,.rtnr r. .l,; District, and chee! filly recommend him to the peo- pie of Noith Carolina, as a firm, nn wnvoi in ni.. lican who will f.ithf.illy represent their wishes. Resolved, Thi.t we approve the nomination of R. M. Sa-nders, Esq. as Governor, and that we will suppo t him warmly. Jtesowea, i hat we are opnosed to the election of T "arrison, to the Presidency, because we believe from the evidence before us, "lhat he is an Abolitionist, lhat he is in favor of a h eh tariff: that he is in favor of a National Bank, thafhe is an Old Federalist, because he is the candidate of the Bank party, the Abolition party, the Anti Masonic partv, and the deserters from the republican party; arid because he is in favor of selling poor while men into slavery, because they may be unable to pay Costs and fines of petty prosecutions. On motion of G. T. Barksdale, Robert Melvin, Esq. was nominated as a candi date to represent the Senatorial District, composed ol Bladen, Columbut, and Brunswick, for a seat in the Senate of the next Legislature. r On motion of Duncan Shaw, G. W. Bennaman, Esq. was nominated as a can didate to represent the county of Bladen, in the Commons. ' Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to,the Chairman, for the able and diemlfied manner in which he presided, and that the proceed ings ot tins meeting' hp i.ki;ci.i .- .iA t .. Carolinian. r xnorm HEMAN H. ROBINSON, Ch'n. Duncan Shaw, : Durraii Lewis, j Secretaries, NORTH-CAROLINIAN. F.2 VETTEVIL.r.E: Saturday Morning, April lO, 1840. REPUBLICAN NOMINATION. FOR PRESIDENT. IMZartin Van Buren- FOR GOVERNOR OP NORTH CAROLINA. Iiomulus M Saunders. Toe tbe Mark I The Democrats ofthe Rockingham Conven tion have urged ''The Test" with effect. See below President Van Buren's answer to Mr. Leak's letter. Here is no evasion. No equivo- ' cation. No Subterfuge. But plain Republican dealing, answering a plain question go that no voter can have a shadow of doubt when he reads. Harrison puts himself in the keeping of a . committee, to answer the enquiries sent to him by the hundred, from the people; asking him to publish his views on politics. He is too busy to write for himself, and the committee informs the public that he will not answer such enqui rics. The public, therefore, must find out htsr opinions as they can. How different the course ofthe two candidate for the Presidency. Mr. Van Buren Cumes out openly and explicitly, on all subjects. General Harrison will not express any opinion, to be printed, "for the public eve." He dare not of. feud the Abolitioniits of Ohio, New York and Vermont. Mark! we say, as we have often said before, he dare not do it. Here follows Mr. Leak's letter, and ihe prompt reply, which we accompany with an extract from the Inaugural Address, and the letter to Junius Amis and others referred to in the President's letter. Rockingham, Richmond Co. ) March 21, 1840. J To His Exce'lency, Martin Van Buren: Dear Sir, At a meeting of the Democratic Republican party, held in this .place, on Tues day the 1 7 1 1 1 instant, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the Chairman of tb Democratic Dicti ict Convention, be din c!eil to address a let'er to Mai tin Van Buren and General Wi:lia;n Henry Harrison, in which he shall prt pound to each, the following interiogate-ry: '-Are jou, or : re you not, opposed to the abolifon of s!ave:y :n the United States, in any and very shape torm, or fashion, x c pt as the owneis of ihe slaves may themselves de sire."' Resolved, That afthough we have no cause to sus pect, c ither an union of sentiment, or of action lie tw;enthe Abolitionists and Martin Van Buren, yet, we are firm'y persuaded that the h ghly excited and sensiiive condition of the public n.ind at the South, r quite a: his hands a renewal of the fame senti ments, as were contained in hit! letter ot'tbe 6th cf March, 1836, to Jurius Amis and others.' Resolved, As Southern Citizens, and as Southern Dt moc:ats, we cannot, nor will not, support any rran for the Presidency.who dots not give the South s.itis'aetory assurances, that he is ppcsrd to the w. Id and mischievous movements of ihe Al oliti. n ists. Resolved, That as scon cs the Chairman shaP re ceive an answer from either, cr both of the gentle men, to whom the above interrogatory is pu', that he publish the same in the "North Carolinian." In discharging, sir, theduty devolving on me, as Chairman, I respectfully submit the interro gatory, contained in the first resolution, for your consideration, and ask of you an early re ply. I should, however, be doing injustice, not only to my own feelings, hut to the republican breihercn I represent, were I to withhold fnira you, the expression, that ihe above interroga tory has not been propounded iVom any suspi cion as to your integrity, in carrying nut the assurances anil pledges fbimeily given; but from the increased and increasing importance of the subject to the South; anil Irom a desire on the pari of your friends, to remove every ves tige ol doubt, arising Irom a lapse of time, as lo your sentiments upon ihis question. I remain, sir, with sentiments of the highest consideration, Your most oh't. serv't. WALTER F. LEAK. Washington, March 27, 1840. I have received your letter of the 21st inst. and cau have no objection to say in reply, that ihe sentiments expressed in my letter to Junius Amis, and others, on ihe 6th March, 1836, and substantially repealed in mv Inaugural addresn, ARE NOT ONLY STILL ENTER TAINED BY ME, BUT HAVE BEEN GREATLY STRENGTHENED, BY SUBSEQUENT EXPERIENCE AKD REFLECTION. 1 am, sir, very respectfully, vonr oh't. strv'L M. VAN BUREN. To Waiter F. Leak, Esq. Chairman, fyc. Extract of Mr. Van Buren's Inaugural Addrrs. "Perceiving, before my t lection, the deep inte rest this subject was beginning to excite, 1 bi litre it a solemn duty fully to make known my senti ments in regard to it; and now, when every motive for misrepresentation has posted away, I trust that they will be candidly weighed and understood. At least, they wih'fbe my standard of conduct in the path b' f reme. I then declared, that, if the desire of those of my countrvmen who were favorable to mv eleet on w as gratifi d, ' I must go into the Pre sidential Chair the inflexible and uncompromising opponent of evrry attempt on the part of Co:isrr, to abol 8i slavery in the Dist iet of Columbia, aqrni ist the wishes of the slave-hi!din States.and also with a d te miration qually decided, to resist the slightest interference with it :n the .-'tatf where itexis s." I submitted also to my fel'ow-citiaens with fullness and frankness, the reasons which bW me to this determination. The result authoring me to be'ieve that th y have been approved, and are confided in, by a majority of the People of the Uni ted States, including those whom ihey most imme diately affect. It now only remains to add, that no bill conflicting with these views can ever receive my constitutional sanction. 'These opinions have been adopted in the firm belief, that they are in accor dance with the spirit lhat actuated the venerated fathers ofthe Republic, and that succeeding esp" rience has proved ihem to be humane, patriotic, epedernic, honorable and just. If the agitation of this subject was intended to reach Ihe stability of our institutions, enough has occurred to ebovr that it has signally failed; and that in Ibis, as in every other instance, the apprehensions of thelimid, and the hopes of the wicked, for the destruction of oar Government, are again destined to be disappoint Hero and there, indeed, scenes of dangerous excite ment have occurred; ternfying- instances of to violence have been witnessed; and a reckless disre gard of the consequences of their conduct has ef P sed individuals to popular indignatiou; but neither masses of the people, nor sections of the countrf
The North Carolinian (Wilson, N.C.)
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April 11, 1840, edition 1
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