The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-10-25
From the Montpelier Freeman.
Governor Fairbanks.

Governor Fairbanks.
The present Chief Magistrate of our State,
being about to retire from office, and proba-
bly from public life forever, We cannot for
bear expressing brief bat heartfelt tribute
Of praise, where it is so justly due, and every
body feels it to be so.
Vermont has been peculiarly fortunate, in
having at the head Of affairs in times like
these, such a man as Governor Farbanks-
In fact, New England as a whole, has been
fortunate in her Governors. But our wor-
thy Chief Magistrate has not been a whit
behind the foremost in efficiency and zeal
though he has not, like the gallant Sprague,
taken the field in person.
Aside from the "c'isiS," which was not
toreSeen when Governor Fairbanks was Sc
lected as a candidate, there was great propri-
ETY. in conterring upon him this second term
OF office, since he was defeated when clndi-
date for reelection at the close OF his first
term, not on account of his political views.
much less from any personal untitu~>S, bat
on a st'{e issue raised upon the "E1m ques-
ton" This ;me he was borne into the gu
bernatorlal char by q triumphant majority,
and probably no man who gave him his sut
frsse. has had occasion to regret it. His
fine business talents. his extensive acuua..-
tance with public and business men Of tie
country, and his ample means. combined To
tit him most admirably to be the efficient AID
economical Governor OF State composed
chiefly Of intelligent and prosperous, but
staId and prudent farmers.
But Governor Fairbanks has also shown
himself to be tine man tor the times" We
could not have found person better ti:teo.
for the great emergency, had he been srlec-
ted with special reference to II. With Cn-
firing fidelity and the most complete success,
he has devoted himself to the work before
him. In the prosecution of his patriotic Ia
borS. hr has been instant in season and out
of season. as lavish of his own time and
money, as he has been sparing of the peopls 5
as regardless Of his prirHe Interests, as de
voted to the l'tJllc good. =
/ The isolated condition of Vermont, It's dcs-
tuition Of the various munitions OF war. and
remoteness from the scene 0. conflict. have
greatly added to his labors. Inc people. who
have rendered such efficient aid in Ma>>a-
! chusett S, are with US, SO scattered and unac-
cus,omed to act together, as to have rendered
but little assistance The whole burden ha<
rested substantially upon the shoulders Of
one man, though much credit is doubtless
due 70 persons who have aided in carrying
out his plans, b1t whose names do not ap
pear conspicousy before the public.
To enroll, organize, equip and forward
seven Regiments, in State like ours, and
continue to look after them in the field, is a
task the labor and responsibility Of which,
few can have any adequate conception Of
Yet this is only one item, though a leading
one. Of what has devolved upon Governor
Fairbanks, in connection with the war, to say
nothing of the ordinary business of the State
One of the most difficult tasks which ht
has been called to discharge, has been to St
lect suitable commanders. We understand
the Governor has aimed to secure, so far a'
practicable, not only graduates of West Point
but men who have seen actual service. We
know how scarce such men are, since Sc
many educated at the public expense, have
gone over to the rebels, to aid in destroying
the very Government that breathed them IN
to life But he has, on the whole, succeeded
remarkably well, though some of the appoin
tees may prove wanting when called to pas
this new ordeal, and fail t. satisfy the mer
they are called to command as well as the
inst expectations Of tEeir Country.
A few carper+ there have been, wao have
complained Of the loings or omissions Of oul
worthy Chief Magistrate, or tried hard to do
SO, more especially in regard to his appoint
ments. But their number is indeed very
small. and their ungraciouS complaints art
like the harsh gra,ings of a dry hinge, ane
a very small one at that. The weight o
their influence is no more than the bubble tc
the wave. The great mass Of our people, o
all parties, have both approved his measure
and admired his conduct
In regard to the troops, we believe the reg
iments of no State have been in all respects
better equipped, or more carefully looked
after, than those that have gone from Yer
mont.
The Governor has not told US, out We al
know what immense pecuniary interests il