Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-08-23
TIE MORAL CHARACTER or col.
PAIN Il

Some weeks since our ncinIIbor Of The pntriui
gave out mysterious hint hs To tho moral chai q.
actor of Col. Paine. We met it at once Ivy de
niaud Zoe that paper to speak ont plainly and
make its charges specifically and broadly, with
the assurance TINT the friends OF Col. T. feared no
scrutiny, however severe. To that the Patriot
rlied, that it WINS all Iokc--that it had no charg
rs to make; hut that higs had made most nu-
rious accusations against the Col. More recently
we notice that an editor-we will not say lie is
not the very pink of morality, and dccency, and
temperance, who is located in Windsor comfy,
processes that he has no inclination to discuss Col
P's moral character, but yet, as lie has n cOunmu
nicaton from one who is not political riend he
pub i,hes it with the remark that it WhigS have
mind to handle Col Paine without mtlens, they
are welcome to do it," 1t certainly is very much
to the credit, either Of Col. Paine or the ocoioco
editors, that they cannot, or dare not, or will not
on their responsibility, assail his private cha
racer When we remember that those presses
held up the pure and patriotic HARRISON, ns a
blasphemer, and constantly Toured out upon him.
week alter week, the vilest ephets and The ioulest
charges which wickedness coulh conceive; when
we remember loo that they persisted in hsruth'ess
warfare upon his moral character through the
whole campaign, against the clearest evidence
yea, and that many of them followed the old pat
riot to his very grave aud endeavored to cheat the
widow aud the fatlieress OF the only legacy that
the beloved and venerated Harrison hud to be-
stow-,he character Of christian and patriot,
pure and above reproach it seems exceedingly
strange that these presses have no abuse for
Col. Pho inputations upon his character-noth-
ing which they know, or they will father ard more
strange still, that they will conceal facts il they
! should happen TO possess any. 1t argues, we re .
peat, a very great improvement in these editors
or and that we take to be the fact-that they
cannot point TO n single thing discrcditablc or
dishonorable to Col. Paine. Bur, says the Patriot
and the Age echoes 1.-THE Wigs have abused
Col. Paine, and impugned his moral character ;
and these editors very willing TO adopt the off
spring of the malice, or the jealousy, or the
suspicious Of jphigs, wherever they can find a
chance! How nuch more ready would they be
to make charges, and substautiae them by proof
il they couid4 We leave that for those to Judge
who know the previous course of these editors.
| Having gone thus far, it is our duty 10 20 still
farther and notice these reputed Wh'g stores-
During the warm, long aud exciting contest at
the Wing State Convention, when the " higs
were hard pressed on this side and that for objcc-
tons and arguments, against one candidate and
another, on two occasions were astonisied to
hear that Col Paines moral character was object
ed to. We sny Reconsideration with many years
| acquaintance with Col. Paine, and with those who
have been intimate with him, never, until lac was
pressed as candidate for governor, did we hear
| of the least thing discreditabe or dishonora-
bile to him. Since these objections were made
we have, as il was our dGty to do, taken occasion
to satisfy ourselves on the point, and we feel
bound to say distinctly, that we know Of nothing
j in Col. Pane's moral character, OF in his conduct
as II citizen, to merit in the slightest degree, the
condemnation Of the people, or TO justify Wing
in withholding from him his support. Far, very
far from This: we know him as a very liberal sup
porter of the gospel and of its handmade, educa
lion; one who is for strictly maintaining law
and order, aud the public peace who is himself Q
good citizen, Of habits Of sohriey morality, pune
tiIious in the prophecies OF private life, and with
ready and liberal hand for every measure to adj
vance the good OF community. That he is better
than any aud every body else, he would be the
last man to thank us for saying: but we can say
that in poiu Of character, moral aud intellectual
we certainy should not place him a whi, l'ehin'
his opponent for the gubernatoral chair. One o
) the Wings who objected to his character, at tn,
State Convention, is now an ardent supporter o
Col Paine. As to the Other we know not how
he stands. From these objections being mad,
here, it certainly would not he surprising il the,
had gone to different parts of the state and tina
, they have operated to the prejudice Of the Viii.
cause Hence il is that we have tI,ws noticed thi
matter, aud now add, that these objections we cul
regard only as extremely unjust to Coz. Paine, ant
as calculated to work mischief, and nothing bu
mischief to the Wing cause.