Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-31
COL. JOSEPH JOHNSON.

Some "reminiscences OF HIS PUBLIC L1FE-HIs
VOTE FOR THE OREGON BILL WITH THE VIII.
MOT PRovIso ATTACHED.
In his letter of acceptance the nominee of the
Democratic party for the office of Governor ma Ie
the truthful admission that his public career has
been "more extended than brilliant" So slightly
indeed has he imprinted his mark upon the history
of the country, that his opponents have been at
some loss to find in his conduct anything of prom
-inence, that might become subject of commen-
tary. Still, it must not be forgotten that he has
served for considerable period both in Congress
and the State Legislature, and it is proper that
the journals should be scrutinized for the purpose
of ascertaining for what he has uotsd, albeit his
medocrity may have saved him from the preJudi-
cial consequences of making great speeches.
1t has been stated for example, that Col. John
son, during the two sessions covering the period
from 1923 to 1927, was an advocate of the high
tariff policy. In his Legislative service, we be.
feve, he had occasion to record his vote against
the appropriation to the Va and Tenn. railroad
and other important public enterprises; which
were sanctioned by the favor of the common
wealth, and are now justly cherished by the peo-
pie who are peculiarly interested in them. Into
all these things it will be necessary to make in
vestigation in order that the claims of Col. John
son upon the favor OF the people of Virginia may
be duly appreciated
For the present we shall confne ourselves to
his course in the House of Representatives du-
ring the second session of the 29th Congress, the
short session of l846-'47. We have before us
the =" Congressional Globe" containing the official
report of all the proceedings Of that session. Let
us first direct the readers attention to the amount
and value of the Colonel's services:
Looking to the Index for COL Johnsons name'
with the usual references to the pages on which il
figures, we find it entered as follows "JohnsOn,
Joseph, Of Virginia, 1918, 433"-meaning that
whatever he did or said during the session may be
found on pages ,2l6 and 433.
On the lst page. his name is merely recorded
amongst those of the Virginia delegation who re-
ported themselves on the first day of the session.
On page 2l8 it appears only that
son motion of Mr.. Joseph Johnson the Committee
on Revolutionary Claims discharged from the
consideration of the petition OF citizens of Livingston
county, New York, tor interest on commutation pay
to Major Moses Van Campen, and the petition laid
the table"
On page ABB, it is recorded that
''Mr. Joseph Johnson, from the Committee on Re-
evolutionary Claims, To which referred the bill
from The Senate for the relief Of the heirs OF Croker
Sampson deceased, reported the same without amend
ment. The bill was committed"
Such were the only services TO which the compi-
lers of the Congressional Globe thought it neces-
sary TO refer in their ample index OF the Hon.
Joseph. johnson of Virginia, during the, import
ant short session of l846-7. We suppose that
his name does not occur in any other part of the
proceedings exceptin the lists of the yeas and nays
Truly brilliant career for gentleman who is
now the nominee of ? great party for the hghest
ofice>n the gift of the people of Virginia
But although the proceedings ofl846-'47 exhib-
it nothing from Col. Johnson, that give warrant
Of his talent or influence they yet serve to show
something Of his political positions, By their
record OF BIS votes. It happens that Congress
and President Polk then determined one oil
the most important issues involved ia tn
whole slavery controversy, and we shall see
how Col Johnson stood with regard to it, We