The Caledonian

VILLANY CONFESSED!

VAN BUREN EFFIGY OF GEN. HARRISON,

It was announced, some weeks since, that the Loco Focos of the town of Kinderhook, in Columbia County, exhibited Gen. Harrison in EFFIGY on the 4th of July, and that a relative of the president of the United States participated in the outrage. The truth of this statement was denied in the Argus and its collar echoes. But the Columbia Republican having established the truth of the assertion by the affidavits of men of high character, BRONK VAN BUREN, a nephew of the President of the United States, now unblushingly and publicly confesses the disgraceful fact in the Kinderhook Sentinel, in terms as insulting as the act was atrocious:-

VALATIE, July 30, 1840.

To the Editor of the Kinderhook Sentinel:

I perceive that the Valatie Tip't over Canoe Club, together with the Hudson Microscope (alias Columbia Republican) are trying to make a great ado about the General I made and exhibited on the 4th instant. To save them any further trouble, and to gratify their curiosity, I will barely state, that I made and formed said General, without the aid, advice or solicitation of any person. On seeing the Chatham Log Cabin General, pass by in the morning, it occurred to me, that in addition to their 'Coon (Skins?' Skunk Skins' and other fine things which adorned it, they ought to have a full and true representation of 'Old Granny Harrison' to complete it. I accordingly resolved to set myself to work, make one and present it to them on their return home, the same evening. I did so, and they very uncourteously declined accepting my offer. This left me in a dilemna; what to do I did not know. Something had to be done to amuse the old fellow or he would have broken loose from me, got in a passion, and avowed his abolition or anti-abolition principles before I could stop him. Not being versed in singing Log Cabin songs or drinking hard cider, I was for some time at a loss, how to keep him in check, and control him. At length it occurred to me that I had attended a Whig meeting a few evenings previous, and heard them sing a Log Cabin song, which while walking down street, I hummed over and by this means prevented the old fellow from breaking loose, and exposing his political sentiments. Strange as it may appear, the exhibition had a peculiar effect upon the vision of the Whigs of our village; for while some swear they saw us in places where we actually were not, others who possess a peculiar mechanical eye, swear they saw us through opaque substances, a discovery heretofore unknown.

BRONK VAN BUREN.

Here, fellow citizens is the confession of a miscreant, to the perpetration of an outrage that will forever impress the brand seal of infamy upon the name of VAN BUREN.—Every Freeman—every Patriot will execrate the vagabond who deliberately exhibits a venerable Statesman and soldier in EFFIGY and then audaciously proclaims the fact in a public Newspaper!

Who is the man—what is the history and character of the veteran whom this Van Buren spawn exhibited in EFFIGY on the anniversary of American Independence? He is a son of one of the signers of the Declaration which gave us Liberty. He received at the age of 19 a commission from Washington. He fought thro' the Indian Wars under Gen Wayne, whose confidence and friendship he enjoyed. He was appointed Governor of the North Western Territory by Jefferson. He was appointed Commander in Chief of the North Western Army by Madison. He delivered the inhabitants of the Western Frontier from Indian tomahawks and British bayonets. He has been honored and trusted by the People, by Congress and by Washington, Jefferson and Madison. He has served the country in high and responsible stations for forty years. He disbursed millions of dollars honestly and faithfully. There is not a blemish upon his character nor a stain upon his escutcheon.

Such fellow citizens. is briefly the character and history, of WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. Is such a man to be exhibited in EFFIGY on the 4th of July? Will the people allow a renegade Van Buren thus to dishonor a Patriot and Statesman—thus to desecrate the Anniversary of our Nation's Birth day?

Let those who choose to oppose General Harrison for President do so. They have the same right to oppose that we have to support him. But they may not thus shock and outrage common decency. Martin Van Buren is not yet enthroned. Nor will any who bear his name or belong to his family be permitted to commit such offences with impunity. The people will avenge this infamous outrage.—Albany Evening Journal.