Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-05-31
The Gnvernorship.

Falls the LIST inst.--sOme one announced
authoritatively that Gov. Stewart would
not be a candidate for Congress in any
event, but that he was candidate tor
reelection. Coming at SO late day
and after as most supposed, both the can
didates for Congress and GovernorshiF
were settled upon, this announcement
complicates matters, and puts the friend;
of Mr.. Stewart, who are also the friend:
of Mr.. Billings-for they are both pop
ular, able and unexceptionable men--in
an unpleasant position. Some who were
favorable to the nomination of Mr.. Bill
lings because they supposed Gov. Stew
art was out of the field, now take the
back track and advocate the reelection
of the latter. Others who would have
earnestly supported Gov. Stewart for
Congress do not approve of his re-elec-
ton as Governor, believing in and hold
ing to the two-years term of office.
This is the position of the Caledonian,
and as far as we know, of the majority
of the people of this section. And the
thing for the people of the State to de-
eide, and the first question that will be
likely 10 come up at the Conventionnext
month is, Shall we elect a Governor for
two or four years? If the newspapers in
dictate the sentiment of the people, this
side of the State would vote to-day to
stick by the old custom Of new Cover
nor every two years; and we think If
they get proper expression at the Mont
pelier Convention, they will vote so then.
Some prominent papers the west side of
the State also favor the two-years term,
among which we notice the Rutland
Herald.
There are good reasons for electing a
Governor for q short term which will not
apply to many other officers, national,
county and town"
The Woodstock Standard discusses
at length the sudden fight on the COVER
nor question and says
Before Mr.. Billings was named as
candidate for Governor, his friends, who
are the friends also of Gov. Stewart, re-
ceived assurances from the latter that he
should not ask for reelection, as he
felt compelled to yield to the urgent call
of many citizens and allow his name to
be presented as a candidate for Congress.
To the above the Burlington Free
Press of tuesday responds;
Our friend of the Woodstock Stand
ard, we are confident, would not willing
ly misrepresent any one and certainly
not our worthy Governor. But the
Standards article on the Governor ques-
ton, copied in our columns yesterday, is
calculated to give an erroneous impress
sion on one or two points, We think the
Standard cannot name any man who
will say that Governor Stewart ever gave
him any assurances that he should not
ask for reelection" We believe we
understand what Governor Stewards po-
sition has been in the matter. We have
stated it repeatedly, and will do so once
more We think he has always taken
the ground that it was for the people to
settle the question in what Office, if any
they would prefer his services"
If they desired him to be Governor
for another term, that would crafty him
personally. But if, in the event of re-
districting of the State, there should be
strong call on him to represent the
West District in Congress, such as he
had been assured there was likely to be,
he should not feel at liberty to disregard
it. We cannot see why this was not
square and manly attitude. 1t claimed
nothing for himself; aud left the settle
ment of the question where it belonged,
with the people. The only change of
front on Mr. Stewards part, if it can
be called one, is this. Whereas he did
give his conditional consent to be a can
didate for Congress, upon contingency
acl,ich has not occurred, he subsequently,
for reasons satisfactory to himself, con-
cluded that he would not be candidate
for congress, in any event or at least in
no event which he considered probable
or possible. We understand that the
condition and wishes of his family gave
added force to his own personal prefer
enee to remain in Vermont and that he
had expressions of desire that he should
accept reelection as governor, not all
of them as disinterested, perhaps, as he
supposed; but sufficiently numerous and
influential to convince him that it was
proper for him to announce himself as
candidate for denomination.
We wish this matter might be fully
understood on the east side of the State.
There should be no misunderstanding be-
tween the friends of Mr.. Billings and of
Mr.. Stewart Many of the friends of the
one are equally the friends of the other.
The two gentlemen have not heretofore
occupied any position of personal antag-
onism, and we trust and believe that
they will not in the future"
We give the above response from the
Free Press on "Gov. Stewards Position, y
entire, as it has been very liberal in Civ
ing the " east side folks hearing by
copying what they have to say on the
subject, but we can't help asking what
on earth would prevent Gov. Stewart
from remaining in Vermont even if he
should not be nominated for governor
The following is from the Bradford
Opinion
ONE TERM, OR TWO TERMS
Since the announcement is made that
Gov. Stewart is a candidate for re-elec.
ton, the Governor Question is brought
down to this whether we shall adopt
the one term principle along with our
biennial elections, or adhere to the old