Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-13
E.p. WALTON AND SON, PUBLISHERS.

| ms gallanly acquitted themselves. W. WOulu
not have one laurel he acquired there, 10
wither.-Ele requires them ali-for he has he
yer gained any elsewhere. We respect the
courage which could lead charge, but VIC
despiso the coward which fears to tell "the
truh--the whole truth"
What great national improvement, what
statcsmanlike speculation has ever originated
with Col. Johnson All the fingers of his
thousand pensioners could not point TO one.
We do not believe he can comprehend the vast
field, over VIII ch the mind OF a statesman must
range. Content with a spurious reputation
encirced with no domestic endearnents which
attach others 10 their homes-his mental ener-
gies undlscipned-his fancy uncultivatcd-
his tastes grovelling, he is not tho man we
would select for office or power.
He is not n man with out reproaoh upon his
private reputation. BY some who cannot be-
Ii We such thing possible the charge OF his
living in open concubnage with a uegress, has
been deemed a calumny. II is true his
friends here do not--dare not deny it. 1t has
been charged, that the records will prove that
TO all intents and purposes Of the law, he was
married to her. She bore him children. She
sat at the head Of his board. Black, untutorcd,
unskllled IN the accomplishments in vi ich
great mind might take pride, and which
throws u charm over even the distressngly
ugly, il has been a matter of surprise how She
could have so fastened herself upon his affec-
tons. We have heard a distinguished citizen
remark. who has filled many high stations, 6
always with ability, that the anxiety this gay
Lotharo evinced near the termination of each
session Of Congress, to return to the dalliance
of his charming Cleopatra, had become mat.
ter of merrment 10 the members, who were
not too Disguised to enjoy so coarse Joke.
! 1t was theme OF conversation among the
members travelling westward, that none APP
| peared more anxious 10 return TO their fire.
sides, where cunnubial love awaited to greet
them with welcome, than did Col Johnson
to seek the embrace Of his sausa se-Gped Julia.
| The consistency and icrvor of the Cooncl's at
iachment, would certainly have been worthy
Of admiration, had they been bestowed upon
proper object. AS il was, The law of the COM
mon wealth affixed TO his offence a heavy pc
nalty, had the people of his neig hbourhood The
virtue and frmness to subject him to trial
! We observed that the Col. and his para
mour had children. These grew up, and we've
educatcd-very well considering they were me-
groes. But the gallant Colonel did not stop
! here. He was not content with rearing them
above their proper sphere in life, but he at
tempted 10 force them upon society-in other
words, 10 compel honest free white men 10
allow social intercourse TO splng up between
his negro daughters and their wives and chill
,it "s1 IepuNcu at o"rnaque ground
s 1m 'ne itl =" cnly-a uay Sacfeo 10 HDerty;
nc c','zehs oi heh'ucky were not prepared
s spqh s II b as lAat Thay gdH
with their free-b)rn children. This is q mat
ter OF history. 1t occurred but few years
since, and is fresh IN the memory OF hundreds
who were present, we know II to be true
Since that time, Col. Johnson married his
nnuro dnughters n white men who 6puradnd
themselves for gold. In our laws the slave
child goes with the mother-lhe Colonel's
daughters were slaves because he was white
and Tree, 1t did mol enlarge thom-and the
men who married them should be punished by
the law VI what use Is the law II II be not
administered Does the power and patron
age, which wealth gives to Col. Johnson, plo-
tect his sons-in-law from the penalties they
have incurred by marrying slaves Shame
the more powerful the offender, the more per.
qicious the example, and he should more GER
family meet the mented punishment.
Some OF Col. Johnson's friends have en-
deaVored TO CLOSE over ihIs - grlevous fault"
as youthful lndiscreuon.-Bnt 1t will not do.
The negro wench to whom years of dalIance
had so endenred 10 HIM, Gled, we believe, In
1882 or 1888. Here was an opportunity Tor
the Colonel to REFORM Did he mend his
ways! NO Long custom, Or The natural
deSiedatlon OF MS tastes--hls unnatural appe-
l'tes mad rcncered negro foee necessary TO him.
lie has, since that time, wahtoned IN the ca
5 resscs and smiles oil mula'to-lt we are moi
mistaken, The one That ran away with an In
, dian protector, year ago.
= We have seen that Col johnson is not a
: moral man, nor an intellectual man-that he
is not endowed wan the natural abilities whicf
-: would qualify INN Tor statesman, nor The
i private virtues which would render nm you
able as CITIZEN lie does not Furnish an ex
= ample TO which fathers would like to dlrec
t their sons. Is he such man as should b.
, entrusted with The des'inies OF Inc republic
Il Ills whole lie has oeen CHEAT Hls reputa