The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-09-07
THE MORAL CHARACTER OF
COL. PAINE.

Some weeks since our nelghbor OF the
Patriot gave out a mysterious hint as TO
the moral character of Col Paine We
met it at once by demand for that paper
to speak out plainly and make its charges
specifically and broadly, with the assurance
that the friends of Col. Paine feared no
scrutiny, however severe. To that the
Patriot replied, that it was all juke-that
it had no charges TO make but that wings
had made most injurious accusations against
the Col. More recently we notice that an
editor-we will not say he is not the very
pink of morality, decency and temperance
who Is located in Windsor County, pro-
fesses that he has no inclination to discuss
Col P's m)ral character, but yet, as
he has a communication from one who is
not political friend, he publishes it with
the remark that .'if Wings have mind to
handle Col. p. without mittens, they are
welcome TO do it." 1t certainly is very
much to the credit, either to Col. p, or
the loco editors, that they cannot. dare not,
or will not, on their own responsibility, as
sail his private character-Whenw I've re-
member that these presses held up the pure
and patriotic HARRIsoN, as blasphemer,
and constantly poured out upon him, week
after week, the vilcst cpilhets and the foul
est charges, which wickcndess could con
ceive; when we remember too that they
presisl led in this ruthless warfare upon his
moral character through the whole cam
paign against the clearcSt evidence, yea,
and that some of them followed the old pat
riot TO his very grave, and endeavorcd TO
cheat the widow and fathcrless of the only
legacy that the beloved and vcnerated
Harrison had to bcstow-thc character of
a christian and patriot pure and above
rcproach; it seems exceedingly strange
that these presses have no more abuse for
Col. Pho impuiations upon his charac-
tcr--nolhing which hcy know, or they will
father; and more strange still, that they
VIII conceal facts, if they should happen to
possess any. 1t argues, we repeat, very
great improvement in these editors, Or
aud that we take TO be the fact-that they
cannot point to single thing discredltable
or dishonorabIe TO Col. Pane. But, says
the Patriot--and the Age echoes it--thc
Wigs have abused Col. p. and impugncd
his moral character; and Il csc editors arc
very willing 10 adopt the offspring Of the
malice, or the jealousy. or the suspicious Of
Wings, wherever they can find a chance
How much more ready would they be to
make charges, and substant late them by
proof-if they could We leave that for
those to Judge who know the previous
course oflhesc editors.
Having gone thus far, it is our duty TO 90
still farther and notice these rcputed Wig
stories. During the long and exciting con-
test at the Wing State Convention, when
the Wings were hard pressed on this side
and that for objections and arguments a.
gainst one candidate and another on two
occasions we were astonIShcd 10 hear that
Col Paine's moral character was objected
to. We say astonished--!or with many
years acquaintance with Col. Fame, and
with those who have been intimate with
him, never, until he was pressed as a CAM
didate for governor did we hear of the
least thing discreditable or dishonorabe 20
him. Since these objections were made
we have, as it was our duty TO do, taken
occasion TO satisfy ourselves on lhe point.
and we feel bound to say distinctly. that we
know of nothing in Col. P's moral charac-
ter, or in his conduct as citizen, to merit,
in the slightest degree, the condemnation
Of the people, or to Justify Wing in with
holding from him his support. Far, very
far from this: we know him as a very lib
eral supporter of the gospel, and lis hand
maid, education as one who is for strictly
maintaining law and order, and the public
peace. who is himself good citizen, Of
habits of sobrety, morality, punctous in
the properties of private life, and with
ready and liberal hand for every measure
to advance the good of the community
That he is better than any and every body
else, he would be the last man to thank US
for saying: bat we can say that in point of
character, moral and intellectual, we GER
tainly should not place him whit behind
his opponent for the gubernatorial chair
One of the Wings who objected to his
character, at the State Convention, is now
an ardent supporter of Col. Paine. As TO
the other, we know no; how he stands
From these objections being made here. it
certainly would not be surprising if they
had gone to different parts of the state, and
that they have Operated to the prejudice
OF The Wing cause. Hence it is that we
have thus noticed this matter and now add,
that these objections we can regard only as
extremely unjust TO Col Paine, and as
calculated TO work mischief and nothing
n 9 mischief, TO the Wing cause.-Nermont
Waterman d State Journal.
THE LOCO-FoCOS AND THE VETO
The locoS affect to be nleased ~ III . r