Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-11-03
RECEPTION OF COL. JOHNSON AT
THE STATE HOUSE.

THE STATE HOUSE.
! At the hour designated by the resolution of
the General Assembly, both Houses adjourned
their sessions, and the Governor and Executive
officers, the members of both Houses, the Sem
ators of this State in Congress, and the COM
mittee of arrangements on behalf of The citi-
zens OF Montpelier, assembled at the Repre-
sentatives' Hall, Gov. Mattocks in the chair.
The galleries and lobbes were crowded with
ladies' and gentlemen. Col. johnson, attended
by the committee of invitation, entered, and
was introduced by Mr.. Cuts to the Governor,
who thus addressed him
Col johnson Sir, in behalf of the Leg
islaturc of Vermont, and in the name of the
entire population of this honest little State,
bid you welcome TO this their capitol.
Sir, you are statesman and a soldier. Al
the Thames you led charge with dashing
gallantry, that has never, never been surpassed.
You have fought and bled, aye bled, in Free
dou's cause. You are brave and generous to
a proverb can there be any higher praise
There can you vndcated the honor Of your
fellow soldier, and your General, when some
who knew him not, essayed to tarnish the mil
tary fame of that hero, now alas ! no more.
Magnanimous man! again | say, welcome,
thrice welcome here amid the descendants Of
the Green Mountain Boys.
Please to pardon, sir, the conciseness Of this
address, for ! am an old man OF few words, but
sincere.
With these words, the Governor grasped
the hand of Col. J. amid loud cheers, when
Col. johnson replied.
He said he found himself surrounded by the
representatives oi a gallant and patriotic State,
and welcomed in the name of that State by its
highest officer, in whom he was happy TO re-
cognise an old acquaintance and personal friend.
Ii was, he said, one of the happiest moments
/ oil his life, thus 10 find native of Kentucky
warmly welcomed by all parties TO Vermont
! He witnessed the magnanimity of Vermonters
on this occasion, and trusted he knew how TO
appreciate it. He came not for political or
sinister purposes, but as on pilgrimage to the
! father land, to see the memorials of their go-
ry, to visit the fields on which our foreiathers
offered up their lives, and TO hear from their
graves the eXhortation to their children to
stand shoulder to shoulder in the defence Of the
principles of liberty, and in support of the Con-
stitution. He was more gratiiied in his visit to
the land of Allen and Stark he found its peo-
pie more than he expected Vermont was full
~ equal to old Kentuck The aIusion of the
Governor, TO the Green Mountain Boys, sug-
gested the points of resemblance between Yer
mont and Kentucky in their early struggles,
their gallant and patriotic conduct, and their f.
nal admission TO the Union in the same year.
For himself, he wondered what he had done to
merit such respect and felt humbled that he
had done so little in forty years of public ser
vice.. In what he had done. he trusted he had
acted with fidelity TO all the great principles of
the constitution, il not with ability and he
cheerfuly appealed TO the testimony of repre-
sentatves of Vermont, now present, with
whom he had been happy to act, and TO whose
fidelity he testified, (alluding to Judge Prentiss
and Senator Phelps.) The appreciation showa
him, he said, would inspire him TO continue in
the same path and finish his course as he had
begun it. This appreciation, he was aware,
was for services unconnected with party, and
was freely rendered by all parties and this
was happy proof, that while the people might
disagree in matters Of policy, and thus parties
would exist, they were yet at heart one people,
a brotherhood, bound together by a common
love of liberty, and reverence for the constitu-
ton and prosperity of the country. In conclu-
/. sion, he thanked the Governor, the legislature
and the committees, and thanked all who had
rendered such respect. His reception would
be the last event he should remember, and
would relieve the pangs Of his dying day.
This is substantially Col Us reply-not a
report Of it !; which was received with hearty
cheers.
At the request of Mr. Harrington, Col.
johnson gave an account of the battle of the
Thames, in which he did full justice TO Gen.
Harrison, which was well received, and at its
conclusion the assembly broke up, apparently
in excellent humor with the Colonel, the Gov
ernor, and all parties. Montpelier WdtchmGn.