Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-05-10
State Politics.

While the main business Of the State ConTeu-
ton 81 Bellows F.lls hal reference to usuonA
poliiss, It could not be but that in the
frs, STATE Convention in two years there should
be considerable oanvsssing concerning State
o.H,ss. TIE element Of uncertainty in regard to
our Congressional Representation, Of coE-se a.
fso;ei 81 calculations; Jet we think that most Of
them proIeat srrivei st pretty debate conclu-
sioas o. some points.
1; was the prevailing opinion among those best
informed about of the apportionment question
in Congress. that the State would not be able to
secures third member Of Congress, and must be
content with tive. Il was the almost universal
opinion that if that was to be so. the State would
be reiistric,el upon the natural division. 5y
the uouutsin line. It was the vellnigh
uu.nimols opinion snong The delegates from
the x-st side OF the STATE, thai in thst case
Governor S:cTart wac the msa TO represent that
district in Congress. AMI there wss hardly
dissenting voice to the general choice and eK-
pec;ation that Mr.. Billings, Of Woois;ock, would
lin thst EVENT. be Mr.. Stewar;'s successor as
Governor. Several OF Mr.. Stewzr;s personal
friends were present, authorized to speak for
him s. far as to say. that if the
people Of Vermont desired him to re
tsin the Coveruorship for smother term, he
would he gss,ifei by the honor, and content to
hold his present ofi;e for two year, more. This
la. been his position from the first But the
gentlemen WHO to this extent spoke for Cover
nor Stewart, we're almost to = mEn in favor Of
Mr. Stewart for Congress. l. can be said, We
think, with p1sitiveness and truth that Governor
steEart's friends trust and expect thst he will
hold himself in resiness to accept the call, 20
sure to come, for him 70 represent the West
Di,tric, in Congress. I, must be said, in order
to full undermining Of the situation, inst
there were a good many delegates who had made
up their minds that as to the goyernorthip at
least, however the case night be as to legislative
Officer, the one term principle ought to hold
under our bienaisl system. An such, Of course,
consider 1t 10; at al derogatory to Governor
Stewart to talk about s change this yeSr. Many
too, gave expression to the common opinion that
it is Of more Importance in these dsys-snd
especially so If our re representation in Congress
is to be rCduced-to send cur strongest and best
men to Congress, than to keep them in State
ofises st home; and thst NJ. Stewart csu render
the State better service as Congressman, than
a. Governor. Under such We've Of the case.
many we're uuconiitionslly committed to Mr.
B llings for Governor. We anticipate, however,
no contest upon that point, both because Cover
nor Stewart and Mr. Billings are not the men
to be opposed to each other, and
becausa they have too many friends
in common to permit the possibility Of any teri-
ols controversy. Governor Stewart, it has re
Gently been said 10 print, would not decline
second nomination for Governor. Neither, we
undertake 10 cay, would he decline a nomination
for Congress, cordially rendered him from the
West side Of the Mountain, with the assurance
thst his name would at this time unite the re-
publicsns Of that district better thSn any other
And we lef, Bellows Falls more fully convinced
than ever that such will be the eventu.l solu-
ton ofthe question.
As to the Lieutensnt-G5yernership there WAS
considerable talk Of Henry Clark Of Rutland,
Gen. Ripley Of the ssme place. and Hon R. S
Taft Of this city. Nothing, however, can be con-
sidered as settled, in regard to that Office. ex-
cept that there will be lack Of respectable and
worthy candidates.