Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-16
Correspondence to the Boston JournalJ
The Vermont tGubernatoriaiC Contest
Mo NTrEI1ER, VT, May 81. 1870.

Mo NTPEIIER, VT, May 81. 1870.
The Republican State Convention to
nominate candidates for Governor, Lieu
tenant Gov ernor and Treasurer has been
called, to meet at Burlington on Wednes-
day, June 's2nd.
Had Governor Washburn not died,
very little interest would have been felt
in the resi- lit of the convention, and its de-
liberations would have been only the
pleasant york of an hour. In other words,
the excellent ticket of last year would
have been nominated for reelection by ac-
clamation But his death has changed all
this, and attached some responsibility to
the duties of the convention, and given a
good deal of interest to the canvass now
going on among the candidates. Luckily,
neither the Republican party nor the
State il wanting in men who would both
honor and grace the Office OF Governor ;
and if, out of the six or seven men who
have been named in connection with the
nomination, theconvention makes its selec-
ton. il will not do a bad thing. In giving
the names below, it should be stated that,
40 far as know, none of these gentlemen
have had any agency in placing them
selves before the people for candidanoy.
fined TO two or three persons.
By the death of Governor Washburn,
Lieut.. Governor Hendee acceded to the
position of Governor, and is therefore
very naturally candidate for the Bur
Hugton nomination and the suffrages ot
the people next September Besides him
the following gentlcmen-all good men
and true--have each their friends, viz
Hon julius Converse of Woodstock, Fred
erick Billings, Esq, of Woodstock, Hon
Dudley c. Denison of Royalton, Hon. A
L. Miner of Manchester, and Hon. John
w, Stewart of Middlebury.
Gov. Hendee il quite warmly pressed by
his friends for the nomination. He ha
served in both branches of the Assembly
with credit TO himself, and as President o
the Senate won liberal share OF the hon
ors incident to that position. He Is b.
profession a lawyer, is still young maj
and probably is not so devoid Of ambition
a. to be indifferent as to the results of th
Convention. AT the same time, he will
not, as am creditably informed, enter
any contest for the nomination. While
it would be gratifying to him to be placed
in the Executive chair by the votes of the
freemen, he will withdraw his nam,
rather than urge it uuduly.
And il is about the same with Mr.. Con
verse. While not doing anything him
self to secure the nomination, he has per
sonal friends who are doing what they
can for him. Mr.. G. is also a lawyer and
has been much in public life in the State
He has been repeatedly in the two Houses
of the Legislature and was for two years
at one time, Lieut.-Go of the State. Hi'
character is above reproach, and thougf
over seventy years of age, he is hale aud
hearty.
Mr. Denison is in the very prime of life,
is man of ability, has had large legisla'
tive experience, and would make popu-
lar Governor He was Attorney General
for the district of Vermont during the ad'
ministrations of Presidents Lincoln and
johnson. He was prominent candidate
against Gen. Washburne last year, and
his friends have, therefore, felt that he
had the first claims to the nomination this
year. His modesty, however, will always
stand between him and the executive
chair, and however much his friends may
like to vote for him, it is not probable
they will have the chance-not for Gov
ornor. @
The mention of Mr.. Billings name has
attracted a good deal of attention, and
with not few he would be the candi
date in preference to all others. He is a
Young man, and as a candidate would
have as many of the elements of popu
larity as any one in the State. He has
large wealth aud large benevolence, and
of his abundance is accustomed to devise
literally toward all good objects. From
residence of twenty years In California
he is just now less known to the people Of
the State perhaps than either of the other
candidates; but should he become Cover.
nor, the people would not be long in find
ing him out. A ripe scholar, a fine writer
brilliant orator, and withal Christian
gentleman, he would be Governor to be
proua OF. Vermont is his native State
ana WOODSTOCK his native town and
now, after so many years of busy Iife
abroad, he comes back like a true and
loyal son to renew the associations and
friendships of youth, and to make the in
terests of the State henoeforth his own.
Mr.. Miner is another good man and en-
joys to large degree the respect and goot
will of the people. He has seen goot
deal Of public life, and has, if mistake
not, served more frequently in the lowei
branch of the Legislature than any mar
IN Vermont. He was once elected te
Congress from the First District. and hi,
name has been frequently mentioned in
connection with various important office,
in the State. His nomination for Gov
ernor would be one every way fit to be
made.
But it is not unlikely that the Burling.
ton Convention will pass by all these
good men and nominate Mr.. Stewart, Of
Middlebury. He is a gentleman of Gull
ture, has wide acquaintance, fine social