Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-19
The "Tcrm0 aud Goycrnor Questions.


or NAssAcnusrrrs
--
The "Term" aud Governor Questions.
We are sorry to notice the manner in
which the question Of one term or two, UNI y
our amended Constitution, is being thrust
forward by certain papers and politicians to
affect the Governor question. II seems like
an appeal to popular prejudice and ambition
to carry point which could not be safely
trusted to its own merits. The result, should !
it prove suocessful--as It probably may
will be a triumph Of that policy which will
inevitably belittle the State government in
the estimation Of even our own people. One
would suppose, from the manner in which the
one term rule is insisted on that the great
object Of a Republican form Of government
was to provide every man with an office, and
not at all to secure the best talent for public
service. Everybody knows the value Of ex-
perience 10 respect to these matters; and
hence the longtime custom Of giving to tried
and faithful servants a second election. The
tenure OF Office being changed, does not affect
the principle: experience is just as valuable
as before and even more so. The one-term
argument can only be maintained on the
ground that the expectants are too numerous
and too anxious to wait. Hence it was, when
the expediency Of ronomnating Senators was
advocated the other day in the Chitteuden
County Convention, that not voice was
raised to break the force Of the arguments,
but the convention silently proceeded to vote
down the proposition, and nominate an entire
new ticket Doubtless there we're other
towns represented in that convention situated
something like the one Of which it was said
that it contained twenty-five ycungerly men,
all intelligent and about equally well quail.
fed to represent the town 10 the legislature,
and iuasmuch as the two-term principle would
require a hundred years for them all to be
served, they concluded it was too long to wait,
term
We favor the reelection Of Gov Stewart
for the reason that Vermont has been accus.
toned to bestow this mark of approval upon
, her worthy Governors and that he is the
peer Of the best Of them meme will deny. Iu
doing so we Go not abate one whit of the
highly favorable opinion we have expressed o.
1 Mr.. Billings for the same ofiee-the cx
d preston of that favor having Invariably beer
coupled with the condition precedent tina
Gov. Stewart would not be a candidate fo
reelection. Under the universal belief tina
II our Congressional districts would be reduced
i to two-and that there would be such unite,
y call Of Gov Stewart to represent the westerl,
= district as would command his assent-w,
+ did most heartily and conscientiousy approve
Of the selection Of Mr. Billings as his sue
{ cessor. This we did without thought o.
abandoning the two.term principle, but as an
exception to it under the circumstances. Blu
e when we learned definitely that Gov Stewart
e desired the usual compliment OF reelection
e and would not accept Of nomination tC
Congress DECISION, by-the-way, which n,
hRoso to have been made before the ST us Of
the Congressional district questi{ wa,
changed in any degree, and all nsinus pms tC
the contrary are slauderously false) Ather
our path of duty was too plain to admit of a
, moments hesitation Nor do we consider oul
p support of Gov. Stewart in any sense a breach
T of good faith toward Mr. Bllings-whom We
= expect to cordially support as the successor
of Gov. Stewart whenever it shall be decd
y ed to make the change. That he possesse
d superior qualifications for this high position
g and will fill an enviable place among the hon
} ored Governors Of the State we do not doub
4 though this favorable opinion would be es
It sentially modified were We to hold him re
It sponsble for all the questionable doing
J. and uucharitable speeches of some of biz
} proiessed friends And should the approach
; ing State convention decide to make tn,
c change now, and the lot fall upon Mr.. Bill
c ings--and should he prove, as he doubles
j. would, honest capable and faithful-then w
. q assure him that our advocacy of the two-tern
principle will not follow Gov. Stewart in hi
d retirement, but will be just as CONGREGATIONAL
o and heartily extended to his administration
J And in advocating his recollection we shall b.
. disappointed if We do not have the co-opcra
e ton of many of those who are now using tn
y oue-term cry to defeat the denomination o
/ Gov Stewart.
II n-@Ev Coyornor a. e., CIT ~