following morning, to allay all suspicions, the War Department, had organized ten
he expressed regret for his conduct, and regiments of volunteers, making an effec-
asked for and obtained another interview, tive force of 5,500 men; and Governor
HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY
Meigs, of Ohio, promptly responded to the army. One detachment of mounted dra-
call for troops to accompany Hull to De goons, under Colonel Simrall, laid waste
tioit. General Harrison, then governor of (Sept. 19, 1812) the Little Turtle's town
Indiana Territory, had already caused on the Eel River, excepting the buildings
block-houses and stockades to be erected erected by the United States for the then
in various parts of his territory as de- deceased chief on account of his friend-
fences against the Indians, and the mili- ship since the treaty of Greenville in
tiamen were placed in a state of prepara- 1704. Another detachment, under Col. S.
tion for immediate action when called Wells, was sent, Sept. 16, to destroy a
upon. Having been authorized by the na- Pottawattomie town on the Elkhart River,
tional government to call upon Kentucky 60 miles distant; while Colonel Payne,
fcr any portion of its contingent of troops, with another detachment, laid in ashes a
he repaired to Frankfort, where he was Miami village in the forks of the Wabash,
honored with a public reception. He ex- and several other towns lower down that
pressed his views freely concerning the stream, with their corn-fields and gardens,
imminent peril in whicn General Hull was General Winchester arrived at Har-
placed, and suggested a series of military rison's camp on Sept. 18, when the latter
operations in the Northwest. The fall of resigned his command to that superior in
Detroit and the massacre at Chicago rank. The troops almost mutinied, for
caused the greatest excitement in Ken- they revered Harrison. The latter re-
tucky, and volunteers were offered by turned to St. Mary to collect the mounted
thousands. It was the general desire of men from Kentucky, to march on towards
the volunteers and militia of the West Detroit. At Piqua he received a letter
that Harrison should be their leader from the War Department assigning him
against the British and Indians. Govern- to the command of the Northwestern army,
or Scott was requested by some of the which, it was stated, would consist, " in
leading men in Kentucky to appoint him addition to the regular troops and rangers
commander-in-chief of the forces of that in that quarter, of the volunteers and mili-
State, and he was commissioned Aug. 25, tia of Kentucky and Ohio, and 3,000 from
1812. A corps of mounted volunteers was Virginia and Pennsylvania," making his
raised, and Maj. Richard M. Johnson be- whole force 10,000 men. He was instruct-
came their leader. While Harrison was ed to provide for the defence of the fron-
on his way northward from Cincinnati tiers, and " then to retake Detroit, with
with his troops he received the commission a view to the conquest of Canada." He
of brigadier-general from the President, was invested with very ample powers,
with instructions to take command of all " You will command such means as may
the forces in the territories of Indiana be practicable," said the despatch from the
and Illinois, and to co-operate with Gen- War Department. " Exercise your own
eral Hull and with Governor Howard, of discretion, and act in all cases according
Missouri. These instructions were issued to your own judgment." His soldiers re-
before the disaster to Hull was known, joiced, and were ready and eager to fol-
He hesitated to accept the commission be- low wherever he might lead. He arranged
cause of the delicate relations in which with care an autumn campaign, which
it might place him with General Win- contemplated the seizure of the important
Chester, commander of the Army of the position at the foot of the rapids of the
Northwest. He pressed forward to Piqua, Maumee, or Miami, and, possibly, the
and sent a detachment to relieve Fort capture of Maiden and Detroit, making his
Wayne (q. v.). At Piqua Harrison was base of military operations the foot of
joined by mounted volunteers under John- the rapids (see Meigs, Fort). There were
son, when the army in the wilderness of nearly 3,000 troops at St. Mary on Oct. 1.
Ohio numbered 2,200 men. The Indian Fort Defiance, at the junction of the
spies reported: " Kaintuckee is crossing Maumee and Auglaize, was made a post
as numerous as the trees." It was deter- of deposit for provisions, and a corps of
mined by a council of officers to strike the observation was placed at Sandusky. The
neighboring Indians with terror by a dis- mounted Kentuckians were formed into a
play of power. Harrison divided the regiment, and Major Johnson was ap-
266
HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY
pointed its colonel ;
and these, with Ohio
mounted men under
Colonel Findlay,
formed a brigade com-
manded by Gen. E.
W. Tupper, of Ohio,
who had raised about
1,000 men for the ser-
vice. Harrison order-
ed the construction of
a new fort near old
Fort Defiance ; but his
operations were soon
afterwards disturbed
by antagonisms be-
tween Tupper and
Winchester. The lat-
ter dismissed Tupper
from his command
and gave it to Allen,
of the regulars, when
the Ohio troops abso-
lutely refused to serve
under any but their old commander, ter pressed on, and there occurred a dread-
It was really a conflict between regu- ful massacre of troops and citizens on
lars and volunteers, and the intended Jan. 22, 1813 (see Frenchtown). This
expedition against Detroit was post- event ended the campaign. With 1,700
poned. Harrison was much annoyed, but men General Harrison took post on the
prosecuted his plans with extraordi- high right bank of the Maumee, at the
nary vigor for a winter campaign. Gen- foot of the rapids, and there established
FORT DEFIANCE, IX lM'.O.
eral Tupper had entered upon an inde-
pendent expedition with 650 mounted vol-
fortified camp. Nothing of importance
occurred during the winter. Troops were
unteers, and endeavored to seize the post concentrated there, and in March (1813)
at the foot of the Maumee Rapids; but, Harrison sent a small force, under Cap-
after a bold attempt, he was repulsed by tain Langham, to destroy the British ves-
the British and Indians there. Some fur-
ther attacks upon the Indians succeeded,
and smoothed the way for the final recov-
sels frozen in the Detroit River near Am-
herstburg (Fort Maiden). The ice in the
vicinity had broken up, and the expedi-
ery of Michigan ; but as winter came on tion was fruitless. The attack on Fort
the suffering of the troops was severe, Meigs by the British and Indians fol-
especially of those under Winchester, lowed in May. The attack on Fort
The whole effective force then (December, Stephenson (see Stephenson, Fort) fol-
1812) in the Northwest did not exceed lowed, and the summer of 1813 was passed
6,300, and a small artillery and cavalry in completing arrangements for the inva-
force. Yet Harrison determined to press sion of Canada.
on to the rapids and beyond if possible. The veteran Isaac Shelby, then gov-
On Dec. 30 Winchester moved towards the ernor of Kentucky, joined Harrison at
rapids. Harrison, having heard of the Camp Seneca, with about 4,000 mounted
presence of Tecumseh on the Wabash with volunteers from his State. He had called
a large force of Indians, recommended for a certain number, and twice as many
Winchester to abandon the movement; but came as he asked for. They were gathered
the latter did not heed the advice. He at Newport and Cincinnati. With Maj.
reached the rapids, and was summoned to John Adair and John J. Crittenden as
the River Raisin to defend the inhabitants his aides, Governor Shelby pressed for-
at Frenchtown and its vicinity. Winches- ward towards Lake Erie. Col. Richard M.
267
HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY
Johnson's troop was among Shelby's men.
Harrison was rejoiced to see them come.
Perry had secured the coveted control of
Lake Erie, and thus reinforced and en-
couraged, Harrison moved immediately,
and on Sept. 15-16, 1813, the whole army
of the Northwest — excepting some troops
holding Fort Meigs and minor posts — were
on the borders of the lake, at a point now
called Port Clinton. General MeArthur,
who had succeeded Clay in command of
Fort Meigs, was ordered to embark artil-
lery, provisions, and stores from that
place, and on the 20th the embarkation
of the army upon Perry's vessels began.
The weather was delightful, and the whole
army were in high spirits. They rendez-
voused first at Put-in-Bay Island, on the
24th, and the next day were upon the
Middle Sister Island. The Kentuckians
had left their horses on the peninsula
between Sandusky Bay and Portage River,
and were organized as infantry. In six-
teen armed vessels and about 100 boats
the armament started from the Detroit
River. On the way a stirring address by
General Harrison was read to the troops,
which concluded as follows : " The gen-
eral entreats his brave troops to remember
that they are sons of sires whose fame
is immortal; that they are to fight for
the rights of their insulted country, while
their opponents combat for the unjust
pretensions of a master. Kentuckians,
remember the River Raisin! but remember
it only while victory is suspended. The
revenge of a soldier cannot be gratified
upon a fallen enemy." Expecting to be
attacked at their landing-place, the troops
were debarked, Sept. 28, in perfect
battle order, on Hartley's Point, nearly 4
miles below Amherstburg. No enemy was
there. Proctor, who was in command at
Fort Maiden, taking counsel of prudence
and fear, and in opposition to the earnest
entreaties and indignant protests of his
officers and Tecumseh, had fled northward
with his army and all he could take with
him, leaving Fort Maiden, the navy build-
ings, and the storehouses smoking ruins.
As the Americans approached the town,
they met, instead of brave Britons and
painted savages, a troop of modest women
who came to implore mercy and protec-
tion. Their fears were removed by the
kind-hearted leaders, and the Americans
entered Amherstburg with the bands
playing Yankee Doodle. The loyal inhabi-
tants had fled with the army. The flotilla
arrived at Detroit on the 29th, and the
same day Colonel Johnson arrived with
his troop of cavalry. Harrison had en-
camped at Sandwich, and all started in
pursuit. The enemy was overtaken at
the Moravian Towns, on the Thames, and
defeated in battle (see Thames, Battle
of the). Detroit and all Michigan were
recovered. All that Hull had lost was
regained. Col. Lewis Cass was left
at Detroit, with a strong garrison, as
military governor of the territory. Soon
after his victory General Harrison re-
signed his commission.
Inaugural Address. — On March 4, 1841,
the President for a single month only
delivered the following address:
Called from a retirement which I had
supposed was to continue for the residue
of my life to fill the chief executive office
of this great and free nation, I appear
before you, fellow-citizens, to take the
oath which the Constitution prescribes
as a necessary qualification for the per-
formance of its duties; and in obedience
to a custom coeval with our government
and what I believe to be your expectations,
I proceed to present to you a summary
cf the principles which will govern me
in the discharge of the duties which I
shall be called upon to perform.
It was the remark of a Roman consul
in an early period of that celebrated
republic that a most striking contrast
was observable in the conduct of candi-
dates for offices of power and trust before
and after obtaining them, they seldom
carrying out in the latter case the
pledges and promises made in the for-
mer. However much the world may have
improved in many respects in the lapse
of upward of 2,000 years since the re-
mark was made by the virtuous and in-
dignant Roman, I fear that a strict ex-
amination of the annals of some of the
modern elective governments would develop
similar instances of violated confidence.
Although the fiat of the people ha9
gone forth proclaiming me the chief
magistrate of this glorious Union, noth-
ing upon their part remaining to be
done, it may be thought that a motive
HABRISON, WILLIAM HENBY
may exist to keep up the delusion under
which they may be supposed to have act-
ed in relation to my principles and opin-
ions; and perhaps there may be some in
this assembly who have come here either
prepared to condemn those I shall now
deliver, or, approving them, to doubt the
sincerity with which they are now uttered.
But the lapse of a few months will con-
firm or dispel their fears. The outline
of principles to govern measures to be
adopted by an administration not yet be-
gun will soon be exchanged for immuta-
ble history, and I shall stand either exon-
erated by my countrymen, or classed with
the mass of those who promised that they
might deceive and flattered with the in-
tention to betray. However strong may
be my present purpose to realize the ex-
pectations of a magnanimous and con-
fiding people, I too well understand the
dangerous temptations to which I shall
be exposed from the magnitude of the
power which it has been the pleasure
of the people to commit to my hands not
to place my chief confidence upon the aid
of that Almighty Power which has hither-
to protected me and enabled me to bring
to favorable issues other important but
still greatly inferior trusts heretofore
confided to me by my country.
The broad foundation upon which our
Constitution rests being the people — a
breath of theirs having made, as a breath
can unmake, change, or modify it — it can
be assigned to none of the great divisions
of government but to that of democracy.
If such is its theory, those who are call-
ed upon to administer it must recognize
as its leading principle the duty of shap-
ing their measures so as to produce the
greatest good to the greatest number.
But with these broad admissions, if we
would compare the sovereignty acknowl-
edged to exist in the mass of our people
with the power claimed by other sover-
eignties, even by those which have been
considered most purely democratic, we
shall find a most essential difference. All
others lay claim to power limited only
by their own will. The majority of our
citizens, on the contrary, possess a sover-
eignty with an amount of power pre-
cisely equal to that which has been grant-
ed to them by the parties to the national
compact, and nothing beyond. We admit
of no government by divine right, be-
lieving that so far as power is concerned
the beneficent Creator has made no dis-
tinction among men ; that all are upon
an equality; and that the only legitimate
right to govern is an express grant of
power from the governed. The Constitu-
tion of the United States is the instru-
ment containing this grant of power to
the several departments composing the
government. On an examination of that
instrument it will be found to contain
declarations of power granted and of pow-
er withheld. The latter is also suscepti-
ble of division into power which the ma-
jority had the right to grant, but which
they did not think proper to intrust to
their agents, and that which they could
not have granted, not being possessed
by themselves. In other words, there are
certain rights possessed by each individ-
ual American citizen which in his compact
with the others he has never surrendered.
Some of them, indeed, he is unable to
surrender, being, in the language of our
system, unalienable. The boasted privilege
of a Roman citizen was to him a shield
only against a petty provincial ruler, while
the proud democrat of Athens would con-
sole himself under a sentence of death
for a supposed violation of the national
faith — which no one understood and
which at times was the subject of the
mockery of all — or the banishment from
his home, his family, and his country,
with or without an alleged cause, that it
was the act not of a single tyrant or hated
aristocracy, but of his assembled country-
men. Far different is the power of our
sovereignty. It can interfere with no one's
faith, prescribe forms of worship for no
one's observance, inflict no punishment but
after well-ascertained guilt, the result of
investigation under rules prescribed by
the Constitution itself. These precious
privileges, and those scarcely less impor-
tant of giving expression to his thoughts
and opinions, either by writing or speak-
ing, unrestrained but by the liability for
injury to others, and that of a full par-
ticipation in all the advantages which
flow from the government, the acknowl-
edged property of all, the American citi-
zen derives from no charter granted by
his fellow-man. He claims them because
he is himself a man, fashioned by the
HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY
same Almighty hand as the rest of his of encroachments of one department upon
species, and entitled to a full share of the another than upon their own reserved
blessings with which He has endowed rights. When the Constitution of the
them. Notwithstanding the limited sov- United States first came from the hands
ereignty possessed by the people of the of the convention which formed it, many
United States and the restricted grant of of the sternest republicans of the day were
power to the government which they have alarmed at the extent of the power which
adopted, enough has been given to ac- had been granted to the federal govern-
complish all the objects for which it was ment, and more particularly of that por-
created. It has been found powerful in tion which had been assigned to the ex-
war, and hitherto justice has been admin- ecutive branch. There were in it features
istered, an intimate union effected, domes- which appeared not to be in harmony
tic tranquillity preserved, and personal lib- with their ideas of a simple representa-
erty secured to the citizen. As was to be tive democracy or republic, and knowing
expected, however, from the defect of Ian- the tendency of power to increase itself,
guage and the necessarily sententious particularly when exercised by a single
manner in which the Constitution is individual, predictions were made that at
written, disputes have arisen as to the no very remote period the government
amount of power which it has actually would terminate in virtual monarchy. It
granted or was intended to grant. vould not become me to say that the fears
This is more particularly the case in re- of tliese patriots have been already real-
lation to that part of the instrument ized; but as I sincerely believe that the
which treats of the legislative branch, and tendency of measures and of men's opinions
not only as regards the exercise of pow- for some years past has been in that di-
ers claimed under a general clause giving rection, it is, I conceive, strictly proper
that body the authority to pass all laws that I should take this occasion to repeat
necessary to carry into effect the speci- the assurances I have heretofore given of
fied powers, but in relation to the latter my determination to arrest the progress
also. It is, however, consolatory to re- of that tendency if it really exists, and
fleet that most of the instances of alleged restore the government to its pristine
departure from the letter or spirit of the health and vigor, as far as this can be
Constitution have ultimately received the effected by any legitimate exercise of
sanction of a majority of the people. And the power placed in my hands,
the fact that many of our statesmen most I proceed to state in as summary a
distinguished for talent and patriotism manner as I can my opinion of the sources
have been at one time or other of their of the evils which have been so extensive-
political career on both sides of each of ly complained of and the correctives which
the most warmly disputed questions ferees may be applied. Some of the former are
upon us the inference that the errors, if unquestionably to be found in the defects
errors there were, are attributable to the of the Constitution; others, in my judg-
intrinsic difficulty in many instances of ment, are attributable to a misconstruc-
ascertaining the intentions of the framers tion of some of its provisions. Of the
of the Constitution rather than the in- former is the eligibility of the same indi-
fluence of any sinister or unpatriotic mo- vidual to a second term of the Presidency,
tive. But the great danger to our insti- The sagacious mind of Mr. Jefferson early
tutions does not appear to me to be in a saw and lamented this error, and attempts
usurpation by the government of power have been made, hitherto without success,
not granted by the people, but by the ac- to apply the amendatory power of the
cumulation in one of the departments of States to its correction. As, however, one
that which was assigned to others. Lim- mode of correction is in the power of ev-
ited as are the powers which have been ery President, and consequently in mine,
granted, still enough have been srranted it would be useless, and perhaps invid-
to constitute a despotism if concentrated ious, to enumerate the evils of which, in
in one of the departments. This danger the opinion of many of our fellow-citi-
is greatly heightened, as it has been al- zens, this error of the sages who framed
ways observable that men are less jealous the Constitution may have been the
270
HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY
source and the bitter fruits which we are case than in the other, in the obligations
still to gather from it if it continues to of ultimate decision there can be no dif-
disfigure our system. It may be observed,
however, as a general remark, that repub-
lics can commit no greater error than to it grants
ference. In the language of the Consti-
tution, " all the legislative powers " which
are vested in the Congress of
idopt or continue any feature in their the United States." It would be a sole
systems of government which may be cal-
culated to create or increase the love of
power in the bosoms of those to whom
necessity obliges them to commit the man-
agement of their affairs, and surely noth-
ing is more likely to produce such a state
of mind than the long continuance of an
cism in language to say that any por-
tion of these is not included in the whole.
It may be said, indeed, that the Consti-
tution has given to the executive the pow-
er to annul the acts of the legislative
body by refusing to them his assent. So
a similar power has necessarily result-
office of high trust. Nothing can be more ed from that instrument to the judiciary,
corrupting, nothing more destructive of and yet the judiciary forms no part of
all those noble feelings which belong to the legislature. There is, it is true, this
the character of a devoted republican pa- difference between these grants of power:
triot. When this corrupting passion once the executive can put his negative upon
takes possession of the human mind, like the acts of the legislature for other cause
the love of gold, it becomes insatiable. It than that of want of conformity to the
is the never-dying worm in his bosom, Constitution, while the judiciary can only
grows with his growth, and strengthens declare void those which violate that in-
with the declining years of its victim, strument. But the decision of the judi-
If this is true, it is the part of wisdom ciary is final in such a case, whereas in
for a republic to limit the service of that every instance where the veto of the ex-
officer at least to whom she has intrust- ecutive is applied it may be overcome by a
ed the management of her foreign rela- vote of two-thirds of both Houses of Con-
tions, the execution of her laws, and the gress. The negative upon the acts of the
command of her armies and navies, to
period so short as to prevent his forget-
ting that he is the accountable agent, not
the principal ; the servant, not the master.
Until an amendment of the Constitution
legislative by the executive author-
ity, and that in the hands of one indi-
vidual, would seem to be an incongruity
in our system. Like some others of a
similar character, however, it appears to
can be effected public opinion may secure be highly expedient, and if used only with
the desired object. I give my aid to it the forbearance and in the spirit which
by renewing the pledge heretofore given was intended by its authors it may be
that under no circumstances will I con- productive of great good, and be found
sent to serve a second term. one of the best safeguards to the Union.