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during that whole period and for the benefit O.
those who have serious doubts upon the subject
and to do justice to gallant old soldier, the fol
lowing is published.


Neto Harmony, Indiana, !


10th Sept, 1912.


Col. SETH SALISBURY:


Sir FOUR kind invitation on behalf the State
! Central Committee of Pennsylvania to unite with
our fellow-citizcns throughout the Union in the
approaching celebration, at Danville, of the ami
versary of the memorable battle of the Thames
has been duly received | deeply regret that INV
duty as Trustee of the State University of Indiana
which :mperatively requires my attendance al
Bloomington during commencement week (fve
days only previous to your celebration) compels
me to forego the qualification | should have expe
rienced in meeting, on such an OCCASION the dis
tinguished men who will assemble, to welcome in
their midst our venerable friend, Col. RICHARD
NJ JOHNSON


My regret is the deeper, in proportion as feel
the importance just at this crisis of your projected
meeting The spirit of Jeffersonian principles, al
ways triumphant in this republic, when she rouses
herself and puts forth her strength yet needs, from
time to time, such awakenings. She needs to be
reminded of the struggles, and the dangers and
the suferings of the olden time-the sacred pur-
chase money of those priceless rights that make
America what she is-the bright beacon of pro-
gress, after which the rest of the world is slowly
and painfully toiling. She needs to be reminded
that the opponents OF freedom are sleepless and
untirng, so also should her def nders be- She
needs to be reminded that no political rights are
secure if we supinely go to sleep over their pos
session. And she needs to be told that at this
moment, the spirit of Mammon-powerful in the
present age, beyond what she has ever been-is
marshaling her legions, with diligence worthy of
a better cause, against the spirit of freedom.
| And the excrtions of her votarics are bold as
well as unremitting. Checked by the restraining
provisions which the forcthought of revolutionary
statesmen incorporated in the Constitution of our
Republic, they scruple not to assail that sa-
cred bulwark, hitherto impregnable, of American
liberty. Like the fabled giants of old, piling Pc
lion upon Ossa, their presumption rises with their
efforts, and will terminate only with their over
throw. The Briarcus Of speculation has conspir-
ed to dcthrone Democracy, and he who despises
such an opponent little knows his resources and
his strength.


| To drop all metaphor and adopt the plain Ian
guage Of matter-of-fact age we approach con-
test with numerous and powerful opponents, well
skilled in political manGuvring, and we'll prepar-
ed, with money and talent to defend, to the utter
most, the positions they have assumed. They
have millions on millions at stake; and they can
well afford to expend millions, if thus they might
win the game. ....


Let us not deceive ourselves. Money is great
power. There is, indeed-who but the faint
hearted doubts TIA redeeming spirit in our
land, that gold itself cannot corrupt or neutraze
But it must be appealed to- it must be excited; its
recollections must be awakened; its efforts must
be guided. 1t requires the sight Of the old soldier
of freedom, and the remembrance of his deeds, to
call forth its latent energies And where shall
we seek for one, patriot as we'll as politician
soldier at once and statesnan-more calculated to
arouse the slumbering spirit of liberty, than the
venerable man the chief actor in that hardearned
victory, the anniversary of which you meet to
celebrate.


Far be from me the thought, even by implica-
ton, to disturb the laurels Of the dead Yet jus
tce forbids me to recall the words, the "chef act
or" in the battle Of the Thames. Such was he
who led the attack where alone the resistance was
bloody and protracted Such was he who, amid


shower of rife balls, penetrated to the spot where
the gallant Tecumseh was doing what one man
might, to turn the fortune of luckless ielde-
Encountered, hand to hand, the brave and unfor-
tunate chief of a race now fast fading from the
earth and, by his death, quenched the last hope,
and broke the wavering ranks, of the Indian aux
iliaries.


Since have alluded to the death of Tecumseh
by Col Johnson's hand, l may be pardoned, on
this occasion, for adding in proof Of fact which
nothing but party jealousy ever disputed, evidence
of the most direct character, which chance enabled
me to procure, and which has never BEFORE that
L know of, been laid before the public. -
Levi Gritton an humble farmer, living
about three miles east of Evansville in this State,
was present, then quite youth, at Winchester S
defeat; was taken prisoner and carried to Maiden;
and had there frequent opportunities of seeing Fe-
cumseh and of receiving, at his hands, degree
of kindness, not initiated by those who called them
selves the civilized allies of the Indian chief
Tecumseh's appearance, then, was stamped on MIR.
Gritton recollection, by that which is never for
gotten, kind deeds to captive in strange land.
After time, an oath rendered to the prisoners
at Maiden, not to serve again. Gritton and two
others, who refused to take it, were hurried to
Montreal and sold for goods to a French trader
there but after five OF. six weeks captivity, Grit
ton seized skif, descended the St.zLawrence, and
returned by way of Buffalo, after enduring many
hardships, to his home, in Mercer county; Ken
tuchys


There he enlisted as one of McAfee' company
and was afterwards present at the battle of the
Thames These particulars, and those am about
to relate, had from his own lips noting them