Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-11

stream, lies there so still that it almost in
spires the beholder.
The CoLYER RAMPAGR-Tho position in
which Vincent Colyer the "philauthropist,"
has placed himself by his recent confession is
rather ludicrous lie came home from New
bern, few weeks ago. OVERLOOKING with in
dignaton against provisional governor Stan
ly, whom he charged with closing his negro
schools, and in fact driving him away from
North Carolina, and also going extensively
and herccly into the business Of negro catch
ing. Mr.. Colyer's statements were of course
believed, and there was great surprise and in
dignation. Secretary stanton was reported
to have said that he would quit the war OF
flee IT Stanlys goings on were tolerated, a tre-
mendous indignation meeting was held in
New York. at which Gov. Stanly was de-
nounced as " a scorpion, and any quantity
of hard names were hurled at him. In tact
the supposed course Of Gov. Stanly was pref
ty generally condemned. 1t was felt that he
was making gratuitous efforts to placatc the
North Carolina Shareholders, and that be was
putting the government, which had sent him
there for another purpose, into an awkward
and disgraceiul position.
Very soon, however, statements came back
from Newbern, essentially modifying MIR Col
yor's accounts, and now Mr.. Colyer has re-
turned and re-opened his schools for the con-
trabands, and publishes a note taking back all
he had said at the North, aud admitting that
he misunderstood and misrepresented Gov.
Stanly. II is frank and manly in Mr. Colyer
to own up that he has acted like fool, and
he ought to have credit for so much, but ev-
erybody feels that he has established his re-
putatiun, and fixed his name on the list Of
uneasy patriots with more sail than ballast
very useful in a small way if they can be kept
in their proper place, but very unsafe as pop
ular guides and counsellors. Mr.. Colyers
rampage, ridiculous enough now it is over, is
only one of a series which the people have
been agltatcd with ever since the war com
menced. A certain class Of men, some of
them unhappily connected with the people
through the press, have made it their husi-
ness to watch for the mistakes Of our Gener-
ais in the field, and to cxaggurate every little
matter into monstrous proportions, and Gre
ate a ierment about IT, Thoro have been to-
wards a hundred distinct rampages about the
alleged return Of runaway slaves by army Of
fcers, most of which have turned out to be
wholly false, and the rest grossly misrepre-
sented, and we do not suppose there have
been ten cases of the return Of slaves by our
military commanders, or would have been if
Congress had not been pushed into passing a
special act on thesubject The truth is that
there arc very few of our officers or soldiers,
whatever may be their opinions about slavery,
who do not understand that il is a matter
with which the army has nothing to do in any
way. Yet the morbid sensitiveness on this
subject has been astonishing, and has led to
the most unjust attacks upon the loyalty as
well as the humanity of our commaudors.-
MI. Colyer's humiliating experience should be
warning to all these cautious and uneasy
gentlemen, and should admonsh them. for
their own sake as well at for the cause they
think they are serving, that when they feel
Themselves started of on a fresh rampage they
had better hold up till they ascertain the facts.
I-SprmGfeid Republican,