The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-06-06
From the Rutland Herald.
THE MEN OF VERMONT.
20. JOHN $. ROBINSON.

JOiIH CtduliOTu lSoUlilSol, Tie tWeHtlctu
governor of Vermont, was the soE of Nathan
Robinson, was born at Bennington, March
4th, 1112, and died September 9th, 1872;
he was an attorney, and once represented
the town of Bennington in the general as
sembly Of Vermont. He was the son of
Moses Robinson, the second governor of
Vermont, and grandson of Samuel Robin
son of Hardwick, Mass, who was Captain of
the Massachusetts troops, and served as
such near Lake George, and at other places,
during the old French war, and who died of
the small pox at London as mentioned in an
other article.
John Stamford Robinson, was born at
Bennington in the county of Bennington
and state of Vermont on the tenth day of
November 1904. He graduated at Williams
College, Massachusetts,, in 1924, in the class
with Rev Mark Hopkins, NJ. D., d. D., Ii.
D., the learned and philosophic president of
Williams College; William Hervey, one of
the pioneer missionaries to India, and Rev
John VIM. Yeomans, d. d., president of La
fayettte College, Pennsylvania.
At the conclusion of his academical stud
les, he commenced the study of law, and hav
ing completed the usual course, he was ad
mitted to the Bar, in Bennington county, in
1927. He then opened an Office, and re-
mained in the active practice Of his profess
sion, at Bennington till his death.
He represented the town of Bennington
in the House of Representatives OF Vermont
in 1882 and 1888. He was the eighth of the
immediate descendants of Captain Samuel
Robinson, who have served the people of
Bennington, in that capacity. He was also
member of the Vermont Senate from Ben
nington county in 1888 and 1889
"Nr Robinson belonged to the Democrat
ic party, and was frequently supported by
his political friends for member of Congress,
governor and other important offices, but
his party being generally in the minority, he
was unsuccessful except as before stated,
and in the election as governor as hereinafter
mentioned.
He was again the candidate of the demo-
cratic party for the office Of governor in 1858,
and at the annual election in September Of
that year, received 1912 votes. Erastus
Fairbanks, the then incumbent. was the
whig candidate, and received 20,S49 votes
Lawrence Brainerd, afterwards United States
senator from Vermont, was the candidate OF
the abolitionists and received S,291 votes
and there were l33 scattering votes. There
was no choice by the people. On the as
sembling of Legislature, neither party was in
a majority. The greater number being divi
ded between The whig and d.mocratic par
ties the abolitionists having only few
representatives and therefore holding the
balance ofpower. The Legislature convened
a joint assembly was formed and thel. COM
menced the attempt to elect a governor
Ballot after ballot was taken, day after da,
passed and night after night was spent with
out result. But on the eleventh dav of tn,
session was formed, as described by Re-
William II. Lord, that celebrated coalition
between the pure national democrats and tn
pure sectional abolitionists,-an election
which demonstrated how much stronger i
the cohesive power of office seeking than i
the attraction of professed political principle
On that year the scepter fell from the nerve
less grasp of the old whig party, and the sta
which never sets suffered a disastrous an,
final eclipse" On that day, on the 26t
ballot, in joint assembly. John S. Robinson
was elected governor of Vermont. The re
naming state officers were divided anon;
the adherents of the parties forming the &C
alition. They had control of the state gov
ernment but for a single year.
In 1860, he was elected one of the dele
gates from Vermont to the democratic n;
tional convention, which assembled a
Charleston, in April of that year, to nominal
candidates, to be supported by that part,
for the offices Of president and vice presider
of the United States, and was chairman
e the Vermont delegation. While at Charlie
ton, in attendance upon the convention, ;
I. about six o'clock in the morning of Wedne
- day the Goth day of April 1860, while in al
parent sound slumber, he was attacked
s apoplexy, and died SO suddenly that he VI;
unable to utter any word to be commune
ted to his friends at home. His death vi
announced to the convention by Mr. Stoug
ton Of Vermont, and after the passage of re
.. olutions of coincidence, as further mark
respect, the convention adjourned till the fc
lowing day.
-, Governor Hall, in short sketch, prepare
:. for the Vermont Historical society, tn
speaks of him :-"The legal attainments ar
- :, high order of talent of Mr. Robinson plac
:. him at an early day in the front rank of
profession, which position he always mai
tanned. Generous of heart, amiable in d
position, and with integrity undoubted,
ia by his uniform courtesy and kindness, e
C. deared himself to all with whom he had bu
w ness or intercourse. His remains we
he brought for interment to his native TOW
where his funeral was attended by the me
At bers of the bar in body, as mourners, a