Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-13
S. State s5onrnoc.
80 A YEAR...sl, so IN ADVANCE.
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.

There being no election by the people,
the Senate will have to elect Vice Presi-
dent, and the candidates are Francis Gran
yer, John Tyler, and Richard NJ. johnson.
For the information of our readers, we give
4 sketch Of the character Of the Van Buren,
candidate, copied from the Louisville City
Gazette, paper published where Colonel
Johnson is well known.
We have forborne to speak Of the Admins
ration candidate for the Vice Presidency, as
C has been spoken Of by the majority Of our
1oltical friends. We have not been in the
constant habit Of directing public attention to
his domestic relations. We have chosen, when
&c spoke of him at all, to speak rather of the
yubGc than the private man. Our silence on
he subject of his domestic affairs, was pro-
duccd by no conviction that The charges al
lodged against him were untrue. That they
were true, was beyond question But we
thought that the public mud would become
dulled by a constant repetition Of those chat
ges. We did not believe that such repetition
would startle the people into a conviction Of
the Generalization which was gradually gaining
performance over them, or induce them to
believe such 10 be the case.
The time has now como when we should
speak Of hiui--of his character, public aud prl-
vate: and we shall nothing extenuule, nor
set down ought in malice
We are on the eve Of an election, by far the
more important since the organization of the
government. Col. johnson aspires to the se-
cond office in the nations sit.-ls he a pro-
per person TO eudow with such RESPONSE
bilIty Is his capacity tried, and has his mind
been found OF sufficient strength 10 grapple
with the subjects, which in such government
as ours constantly occur To the statesman and
require his serious consideration Is his pri-
vate reputation stainless & without rcPioacn?
These are The questions which should be
asked by ever, voter. Every ireeman--every
father OF u family should thus question Aimscli.
We fear that our country has progressed in
n scrvc adulaton OF men in power, too far 10 be
arreated in lis downfall We fear it has bow
i ed too long 10 the dictalion of man 10 be
advised now. And yet on so important an
occasion, when an opportunity is at hand Of
preventing The wreck OF every hope Of freedom,
we cannot constrain ourselves into silence
| We are conscious that it is a duty we owe TO
our country and TO ourselves, and we perform
it under fond hope that it may induce some
of cur countrymen who have not reflected
who are not SO totally immersed in the waters
own dignity and honor, TO pause ere they cast
their vote Tor Col. Z. NJ. Johnson.
In this government, who are proper persons
to endue with power and officer The man Of
strict and stern intcgrity-whose private as
well as public life have proved him worthy of
such confidence. The man O. intellect, whose
mind has been made the sorohouse OF thought
who has been taught TO refect-who has
given proof Of his capacity, and whose reputn-
ton and intellectual enduwinents are unques-
tionable. The man OF moral worth, on whose
escu,cheon 20 foul stain doth hang-on whose
! name no faint doth rest-whose private history
needs no curtain TO conceal il from the public
efe--who in the capacity Of citizen upholds,
not infringes the laws, which as public Off
Ger he is sworn TO sustain. Have we drawn
the portrait Of Col. Johnson2 Docs lae cha
racler wehave drawn, qualified for office,
! snt him2 We saw distinctly, il does not.
He is not man Of strict and stern integrity.
He has been charged with being swlndler--
of delraudine banks of large sums, of still be-
ing indebted TO them, and avoiding payment,
although his revenue is known 10 be prlucey
This charge has no, been net-l has moi
been Iebuucd-, ven its truth has not been
questioned. Against uan of strc, & stem
integrity no such charge would have be- I
made: and if made, II would have been Ia
stanty siienced by an appeal TO facts, and il.
fOlschood exposed.
He is not man Of intellect. There is ne
trai, in his mind which could lift him aboy,
the level. / n intellect he is a perfect demo
crat--no distinction there. lie has move
distinguished him self debaler or q writer
The poverty Of his ideas is alone cons0uc'
with by his ignorance OF words TO c"nvt.
them. His mind Is no empire OF vasI resonr
ccs, on which he may draw at will, withou
fear uc protest Ii is u sterile Waste-lcatcss
i,eibiess, where ideas are engendeted hal
formed, distorted anatomies, monsters in en-
49, ,raatinns Iuhch IL th.v %
see light, sron perish Of Inaniton. And her
has he shown a want OF Integrity after
fashion which his Magnus Apollo Sc: him; i
conserving 10 live on other mems bTains. ii
has endeavored to swindIe himself into repu
tation as q writer. He is content 10 be con
sidered the author Of speeches and report
which he neither spoke nor wrote. He is con
cent TO be considered the successful hero VIII
met the savage Tccumsch in single comba
and slew him, when he knows full well tina
Julias Cnsar has as good u claim as he, {
the honor OF that mighty deed. His whol
fame rests on this achievement. the SuDdo
mail report, md all annual speech on impr'
onment for debt, manufactured by whom
heaven only knows. The infamy of which a
taches 10 him another origin.
He didn't kill Tecnmseh; hundreds Of livin
witnesses can attest il. He had behaved On
lan,iy, it is tue, in leading charge at III
battle of the Thames, and was badly woundct
10 cheer the dcspondDg soldier, and for Ii
sake of diverson some Of his companion
started the jest that Johnson had killed II
great Indian leader. Il was piece e ple
san,ry, and wal long so considered. on r
pcaied IT was taken up by the credulous as
matter OF fact, and the report has gain
strength by time and circulation. Its almo
deemed heresy 10 doubt the Proprieiy of crow
ing the Colonel with laurels for that gala
nct; and ho is nearly so persuaded himse
A man may repor, n story until he himself h
comes utmost convinced Tat he is retailil