Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-11-20
The late JUDGE and Gov. Rnrce.

In the death of Judge Royce Vermont has lost
one Of its men of mark; one Of those most honor
ed and trusted in her history; one who. as %
just and upright judge, adorned for twenty-five
years the Supreme Bench of Vermont; and who
vas one OF its most respected Governors.
Stephen Royce, the twenty-frst Governor If
Vermont, was the oldest son of Stephen Royce.
and was born at Tinmouth in the County Of
Rutland, on the 18th day Of August, 1871. His
father was the son of Major Stephen Royce. If
Iinmouth, who was one Of the delegates to tie
Convention which me; in Dorset in July, I77i.
todeilare Vermont free and Independent State
Stephen Royce, the second above named. moved
from Tiumou.h to Berkshire IN the County Of
Franklin, and for many years represented that
town in the General Assembly If Vermont. lie
married daughter Of Hon. Ebeuezer Marvin.
who was a member of the first Council Of Cen
sors, and Chief Judge Of the County Courts for
the counties of Rutland. Chittenden and Frank.
liza respectively.
Judge Royce was thus Of honorei ancestry ON
both sides. lie fitted for College at the Add
sou County Grammar School; graduated at
Midi ebury College in 1907, in the same class
with Governor Slade; studied law with hi,
maternal uncle, Ebenezer Marvin, Jr. ESD, at
Sheldon; was admitted to the bar in Franklin |
county; and commenced the practice Of his pro- |
fession at East Berkshire After remaining /
there short time, he removed to Sheldon. in 1
The same county. where he continued in prac-
tice about SIX years After this he removed to
81. Adams, and continued in active practice till
ls2', except during the years lS2G and 1927,
when he was one Of the Judges Of the Supreme
Court. In 1922 he again removed to East
Berkshire He represented the town Of Sheldon
IN the Legislature Of Vermont, in 1875 and
1916 He was also Representative from St.
Alh1n, in 1922. 1923 and 1924. and was the
delega' from that town 70 the Constitutional
Convention Of ls22 During the years 1916
and 1871. while residing at Sheldon. he was
States Attorney for the county Of Franklin
In 1873 he was elected one Of the Associate
Judges OF the supreme Court Of Vermont. and q
was reelected in ls26 The next year he de- s
cined a Reelection, and resumed practice. In
lS3' he wa again elected one Of the Judges Of q
the supreme Court, and was continued on the J
bench til 1852. receiving twenty-three success :
I've annua elections, and serving in all twenty q
five years as Judge Of the Supreme Court Of Yer d
than any other person has ever D
hell that office in this State On the retirement b
af Judge Williams, in 1916, he was unanimously Z.
e cted Chief Justice, and was reelected in 1917.
-. ~, 80 and 81 In 1852 he declined re "
ele'r H., aud retired 20 his farm in East Berk- ii
shire 5,
During the same year Os52) he was ap- III
pointed by Governor Fairbanks Chairman Of a u
Board Of Commissioners, authorized by q reso- Ia
luton Of the legislature, to report such pro,is- IS
ms and amendments in regard to plefiinps and CO
practice in our courts, as in their judgment pa
you'd be beneficial he
In 1881, and during the excitement which fri
o!owed the passage Of the Kansas-Nebraska vi
Bill, Judge Royce WAS nominatei for Governor
Il the time Of the organization # the Republican on
'arty in this State The Convention which -a
him called as Wing Conver- no
ion but it by formal resolution invited the coon re-
'oraton Of all who believed it TO be the duty # ku
'ongress 10 prohbi; the extension Of slavery do
MO tie iertories Of the United States. and il Of
'lacei on the ticket with him man Of the ",
. Free Soil So or" Liberty party. as Lieutep- H.
nt-GoTerior. viz, Oscar L. Sh,fter. who sub IND
oquently declined the nomination. and RylaBd te,
fletcher Was placed on the ticket in his stead Ia
he next year the State Committee appointed by ae
hat Convention called a Republican Conyeniior be-.
nj nominated the sane candidate Jujr. ir-
Joyce was elected Governor by some elerea no- th,
and majority, and vas reelected in Is.5hg TIA
\ equally decisive majority. d.
The University Of Vermont, n 1897, conferred .,g
n him the honorary degree Of D3-ior Of Laa. m,
The time when Gov. Royce was called TO the on
1ecutiye chair of the STATE was one Of -res. VIII
lblic excitement from the condition Of affair. Ore
est Of the Mississippi, to which We have al are
lei, and the action Of the Unitel States govern Of
ent in relation thereto. What was to be the sou
ID, and by what means the end would be pah
aehed. caused great solcitude in the minds of Sch
consideraie men In this State where the aut
pular mind was perhaps more generally and sext
ply han in any other State Of the Union. and
bued with an adherence Of slavery in any and bett
Its for1ns-the fragrant outrages accompanying tel
attempt to bring territory solemnly con- ness
r'ei 10 freedom forever BY national act in thin.
Fious generation, under the dominion Of the expe
We power, stirred up most intense indigna- quail
/ text
he importance at such a tine Of having a. one
head Of the State government man how " an
essed in the highest degree the public con Yet