Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-04-24
Political.
tnr iIt journal
OUR NEXT GOV NOR

TT-TTTT-T
your remark, made some two three months ago.
that II seemed little premature to then agitate
the question Of who should he our next Governor.
IL seems TO me that the time has nor come when
we may with great propriety enter upon the dis
cussiou OF iii, subject At least / have a very
decided testimony as our good Quaker friends
say, which desire TO offer.
While no word or act of mine shall in the least
detract from the merits of other gentlemen who
have been named in connection with this office. ]
have nevertheless been highly gratifed TO witness
tle general expressions OF favor, both ON the part
OF the press and tine people. in behalf OF the Hon
douN y. PAGE. of Rutland. And, with your leave.
] VIII briefly give the reasons OF this qualification.
For several years have been thrown into rcla-
uous, official and personal, more or less intimate
with Alr. Page, and have thus been made acquan-
ted with bis private merit and public worth While
yet mere boy, by the failing health and ultimate
death OF his father, the financial labor of the Bqnt
OF hati4Hd was thrown upon his shoulders and
$50 tully dld hc prove himself equal TO the cncr-
gency, that at "a remarkably early age he was made
DTS President, and has ever sine had the respon-
sitie control ui the Lauk--one of Che largest and
most successfully conducted in all the State And
SO etiectualh has he labored to become master of
the science of banking that it has graticd my
State pride 90 notice die prominent position and
apparently controlling influence OF MIR. Page, not
only n our organized National Banking Associa-
ton. bat in all the Banking conventions and dis
cussions which attended the radical changes Ia our
financial system Of tine last few years. In fact,
he has become noe oHhority upon this whole sub
leet. mot only in Boston and New \ ork, but also
at Washiugton
But not alone to bis chosen profession has Mr..
Page confined bis labors. Early developing a re-
markahle apiue's and capacity for general bush
ness, There is scarcely an important and extensive
material interest IN that whole section OF the State
FROM which, by common custom, our next Cow
crnor is 90 come--bUt haas received au organizing
aud stimulating impress from bis mastery hand
will only allude 10 the vastly improved condition,
in every important respect, Of that great interest
-the RuI0Hd and huntingdon Gaitroad-uuder
the administration Of Mr.. Page as conclusive proof
Of my statement Nor is it in respect TO these
subjects alone, OF chiefly that Mr.. Pages influence
ior good is felt. The infinitely higher interests
Of education, religion, and moral relom--cycry-
thing, u short, that houors God and benefits man
kind-Hnd in him a most liberal supporter and
earnest champion.
But the browning act Of Mr. Pages service to
the State--that which furnishes Tie secret of his
strong hold upon the minds and hearts of all the
people OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO be brought out
The war-cry OF the rebellion broke upon our peo-
pile like a peal Of thunder in clear sky. Com
posed Tor the most part of small farmers, of frugal
habits, with limited incomes, it seemed impossible
for our State to meet the cXgencies Of The hour
MEN and Monty was the ineNorablc demand
The former we had, "ready to be offered, bot
the latter we had not; and our oldest fnanciers
saw nothing before ms but financial ruin and bank
ruptcy All eyes were turned upon Mr.. Page
the Treasurer Of the State; nor was the appeal in
vain. With calmuess and scll-rehanCc, e.
qualled only by the magnitude Of the interest at
stake, and without noise or ostentaton he met
ereyy dcmGHf for the 'sineos Of tr0r, and bore
high aioit the financial banner OF our glorious lit
tie State through all the dark days of the rebellion
And so well was this done, that what seemed to
most hS&scal impossibility, was accomplished
with the greatest ease aud the credit of the State
improved with eao \ successive demand. The pres
em Indebtedness ~ the state IS tesStban million
and a h0lf, with its bonds commanding % premium
49, while the bonds OF most OF the other New Eng {
land states ave al a discount: and our people are
infinitely richer to-day, in the consciousness of
their ability to meet any emergency, than they |
formerly were in their utter ignorance of our own
resources. Then, too, were those collateral mea-
Hures, involving vast labor of the most delicate /
and responsible character-the atiatmcat system, /
whereby our soldiers could safely transmit their /
earnings to their families or for northumberland
mated and faithfully executed by Mr.. Page the
extra pay OF - per month to all the Yermont sol
diers aud the State aid 10 soldiers families All |
these separate departments were so thoroughly or
gained and so admirably executed to form
perfect and complete system OF financial admins
tratiOn during the war which challenged the Won
der and admiration Of all our sister States. And /
in this connection may mention the signal ser
vice rendered the State by Mr. Page, in eflecting
the sale of its Agricultural College scrip on terms
SO advantageous 10 its interests.
yield 10 no man in my regard for our gallant
soldiers, who by their patriotism and valor made
record for our State as enduring as her hils--who
aecer suffered the hand Of u rebel 10 poiiite her
R0g: but 1t any one of them has written a bright
er page in the War Record of Vermont than has
JoHN b. PAGE, then do | greatly err in my
Judgment.
| need not add, as the browning reason Of my
high regard for Mr.. Page-lor it is already well
known TO the people OF the State-that lac is a fine
specimen Of an intelligent, accomplished christian
gentleman, OF the Vermont pattern
EAsT-sIDE.