Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-11-17

in this State. The Convention which
nominated him was called as a Wing
Convention but it by formal resolution
invited the cooperation of all who be-
lieved ii to be the duty of Congress 10
prohibit the extension of slavery, into
the territories of the United States, and
it placed on the ticket with him man
ofthe Free Soil " OF" Liberty" party,
IA Lictenant-Govcrnor viz: Oscar l..
Shafter, who subsequently declined the
nomination, and Ryland Fletcher was
placed on the ticket in his stead. The
next year the State Committee appoint
ed by that Convention called q Republic
can Convention, and nominated The
same candidates. Judge Royce was
elected Governor by some IL, 900 majoii-
ty, and was reelected in 1855 by an
equally decisive majority.
The University of Vermont, in 1887,
conferred on him the honorary degree
of DR.. Of Lars.
The time when Gov. Royce was called
to the Executive Chair of the State, was
one f great public excitement from the
condition of affairs west of the Missis-
sippi to which we have alluded, and the
action of the United States government
in relation thereto. What was to be
the end, and by what means the end
would be reached, caused great solicit
tude in the minds of all considerate men.
In this State-where the popular mind
was perhaps more generally and deeply
than in any othe- State in the Union,
imbued with an adherence of slavery
i'm any and all its forms - the fragrant
outrages accompanying the attempt TO
bring a territory solemnly conseCrated
to freedom forever by a national act in Il
previous generation, un der the domin-
ian of the slave power, stirred up most
intense indignation.
| The importance at such a time of hay
ing at the head of the State Government
man who possessed in the highest de-
gree the public confidence for soundness
of judgment, for thorough and discrimi-
mating legal knowledge, for a deeply
seated love of free institutions, and an
adherence of everything which could
impede their progress, and who also
combined with these a never failing
discretion of speech, had never been
greater since the earlier days of the Re-
public. 1t is not too much to say that
IN no other man in the State were these
acquisitions; better combined than in
Gov Royce-If, indeed, any one would
have been named who possessed them
in an equal degree. His gubernatOrial
career fully justified the popular choice.
His public communications were mod
els for their comprehension, their brevi-
ty, their precision, the weight of their
sentiments, and the felicity of their eX-
preston. A single brief sentence on
some important topic relating to either
National or State affairs often contained
all which, by many writers would be
said in succession of paragraphs
~, l., L.
its and moderate in his speech, he was
manner to all who called upon him,
either business pertaining to his office
or for an interchange of friendly senti
ment, was eminently courteous and con-
siderate. Sometimes, too, when the
occasion served, the usual gravity of his
manner was enlivencd by sparkles CT
quiet humOr which gave q charming
warmth to his conversation. We do
not believe any Governor of the State
was ever more thoroughly respected by
all the members of the Legislature, or
by the people at large than was Gov.
Royce.
With the close of his office rs Cover
nor his career as a pu ollie man ended
The natural infirmities of age kept him
thereafter at home, aloOt from the pub
| iiS SyS, NCt Ills lltClCSt III Vic puOllS VI
fairs during the great trials which the
nation has had to go through with OF
late years, continued undated. HIS
feelings were ever those which belong
to the Christian lawyer, patriot, and
statesman. The younger men of the
present day, those whose active life had
hardly begun before the major part OF
his was ended, can hardly realize the
weight of good influence which the
State received from the subject of our
notice. The older men. those more ia
miliar with the public men of early
years, will realize it deeply. His death
at the ripe of eighty-three brings in
to narrow compass indeed the list Of
those who survive from the group of
eminent men who, in the past genera
ton, either on the bench, in the chief
executive office, or in any of the respon-
sibie offices and professions in the State!
added largely to its credit and prospect
ty, and more than repaid the people all
the honor and respect which was ever
bestowed upon them by their eonstitu-
ents. Huntington Free Press.
IMPORTANT TO PENSIONERS. - An
act was passed on the 9th of July last,