Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-03-29
Our Next Governor.

Several of the newspapers have been
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. Stewar. for Congress. If the dis
trict could unite upon him and thus res
tore the old harmony there, it certainly
would be a very desirable object, but we
should not wonder if there should be d
difference of opinion on this point in
that district-a matter for them to set
tie. 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 of
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 reason why he should
receive a second election, and thus hold
the office for four years. Why? Will
some one give 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 2
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 mem.
bers. But SO it has been and very likely
will continue. AS however, Gov. Stewart
is proposed for another position, and is
therefore not likely to be candidate for
reelection, we will discuss this point no
further now.
There are plenty of good men on the
east side of the State who would make
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
presented 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 tn,
convention thought otherwise, and Mr.
Stewart was nominated. We are no
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 tn,
Hon. FREDERICK BILLINGS of Wood
stock, 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 literally and enter
prise, and while in Europe during por
ton of the war against the rebellion
was a most earnest worker for the Uniol
cause, in preventing the british govern
ment from acknowledging the indepen
dence of the shareholders confederacy
Should he receive the nomination there
fore we shall have candidate everywa,
worthy, and who will no doubt receiy,
the cordial support of the people of Yer
mont.