Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-01
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.

OeVeral OF inc newspapers nave Deen
discussing the question of who is to be
our next governor The first question
to be settled is whether Gov. Stewart is
to be reelected The Burlington Free
Press of Monday has a lengthy article
on the subject, the gist of which seems
to be that whether our State shall here
after be divided into two. or continue in
three congressional districts, Gov Stew
art will be wanted for Congress. The
Middlebury Register has also suggested
Gov. Stewart for Congress. If the dis
trict could unite upon him and thus re
store the old harmony there. it certainly
would be very desirable object, but we
should not wonder if there should be a
difference of opinion on this point in that
district matter for them to settle
However this may be, we do not think it
necessarily follows that if Gov. Stewart
is not wanted for Congress that he must
be reelected governor. He will have
held the office for the usual term IF two
years, which even the exigencies of war
fail to break up. We are aware that
the present biennial election system may
be urged as a reason why he should re-
ceive a second election, and thus hold
the office for four years. Why? VIII
some one give a reason why a governor
should hold the Office four years now any
more than formerly? Besides in times
of peace (and our practice was the same
during the war; the office of governor
is mainly honorary, and being honorary
why not continue the old practice of
passing it over to some other deserving
man?
We have never applied this doctrine
to congressman or Legislators where more
duty and experience are needed. They
are the men who do the hard work of
and give shape to legislation, and it is
not unfrequently that experience has
proved more useful than talent, of course
better with both combined. We never
liked the practice that most of the towns
in our State have of electing their sena-
tors and representatives for two years
only, and thus the legislature is always
largely composed of inexperienced men,
bers. But so it has been and very like
ly will continue. AS however, Gov.
Stewart is proposed for another position
and is therefore not likely to be a candi-
date for reelection, we will discuss this
point no further now.
There are plenty of good men on the
nact eide ,f tba Sfoto xubo WOULD mol a
good governors, and the probability that
any Of them would decline nomination
is very small. Two years ago the Hon.
Julius Converse of Woodstock. was pre-
scented at the State Convention. His
nomination was favored by most of the
delegates from this section of the State.
They had long held him in high esteem,
and desired to honor him with the office
of chief magistrate of the State, but the
convention thought otherwise, and Mr..
Stewart was nominated. We are not
aware that Mr.. Converse's friends pro-
pose to present his name again, and pre-
sumo they have no such intention, and
thus far the expression given in the
State seems to indicate the name of the
Hon. Frederick Billings of Woodstock,
as received with the most favor for the
next governor of Vermont Mr.. Billings
as our readers all we'll know, is man
of large iberality and enterprise, and
while in Europe during portion of the
war against the rebellion. was a most
earnest worker for the Union cause, il
preventing the British government from
acknowledging the independence of the
SHAREHOLDERS confederacy. Should ht
receive the nomination therefore we shall
have candidate every way worthy, and
who will no doubt receive the cordia
support of the people of Vermont. Bel
l0qcs Falls Times.