Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-06-06
from the Bellows Falls Times.l
The Voice of the Press.
TILE GovERNoRsHIP.

In accordance with the usual custom
therefor, the Vermont newspapers,
some time since began discussion on
the question of candidate Cor Cover
nor. With very general unanimity the
expression was in favor of new man
for Governor, and very naturally that
he should come from the east side of the
State. A majority of the Republican
press named Mr.. Billings of Woodstock,
others named Mr.. Converse. We were
among those who favored Mr. Billings,
not however, until we understood that
Mr.. Converse's name would not be pre-
8 nted, and very soon thereafter Mr..
Converse himself caused it to be an
nounced that he was not candidate.
The question was therefore in the best
possible way of SETTLING" itself, when
presto. several of the press earliest in
the field on the subject and in favor of
Mr.. Billings, veer back and announce
Gov. Stewart as a candidate for re-elec-
ton. What elements have been at work
to produce this change we know not
Certain we are that no such change has
come over us.
The reason given for the reelection of
Mr.. Stewart, seems to us entirely super
fetal and specious OF himself we have
of course nothing to say. His excellen-
cies as a gentleman and qualifications
for whatever position the people may.in
their own time, assign hun, need no dis
cussion. Next October he will have
held the office of Governor two years,
same as all our other governors for more
than thirty years. But right here we
are met with the specious argument that
| our governors heretofore have been re-
elected and consequently Governor Stew
art should be reelected. Is any one so
Jolly green as to not understand that a
biennial election simply combines two
elections in one
The only difference between Mr.. Stew
| arts two years of governorship and his
! predecessors, is that he and the legisla-
| ture have not had the pleasure of two
| sessions at the capital, Of an expense to
the people of over forty thousand dol
lars, luxury which, however much en-
| loved by our excellent officials, it seems
to us most of the people are willing to
! dispense with But we are told that he
| has been such a ''faithful governor,
| that he should receive Sn endorsement, y
of his first two years. Then, of course,
| his next two years should be indorsed,
and so on. and we may then enter upon a
never ending eternity of endorsements. y
/ Omitting this, however, what eXtraOr-
! binary thing has Gov Stewart done to
entitle him to an extra two years? Moth
ing, absolutely nothing. Why? Not
because he can do nothing extraordinary,
but simply because there has been moth
ing extraordinary to do. And is there
| ANYTHING extraordinary about Gov.
! Stewart himself that he should be Gov
ernor twice as long as his predecessors
who included such men as Williams,
/ Royce. Hall and others?
gain, will some of Gov Stewards
friends bear in mind that two years ago
hey went to Mr.. Converse and offered
support his nomination for governor,
! if he (Mr. CD would be content to serve
one wear, or what was called the remain
ing term of Gov. Washbun. Mr.. Con
verse declined any such arran@ ement, and
we only refer to it now to show how
then Mr. Stewards friends couldn't wait
but one year any way, that one year
was long enough for Mr. Converse, while
now the present governor must have il
four years and the Lord only knows
how much longer
We believe too, that it will be good
political policy to establish the one term
for governor. This is a Cincinnati
movement. One of their main planks is
one term for President. That movement
will soon assume form in this State.
Depend upon that, no matter how small
it may appear, and let us pursue that
course hest calculated to unite the re.
| publicans of Vermont-and where is
there a better platform than that en-
bodied in the speech of Mr.. Billings al
the late State convention-and thus pre-
serve our time-honored republican
STRENGTH for Evarts, Grant, Colfax, OF
whoever shall be the republican nomi.
nee for President at Philadelphia.
Finally, if Vermont was able to pas,
through the emergencies of the late re-
bellion without requiring the services Oh
one man as Governor more than two
years, without endorsing him beyond
that time, can we not without danger tC
the commonwealth do as much once
more in time of profound peace p
The Lamoille NeaoSde0ler closes an ar
ticle on the Governor question with
Rotation in office is one of the mos
formidable safeguards of Republican
Government. and we can see no reason
why the zone term principle" SHOULD
not prevail under our biennial system.
The Greeley hat is straight, ever
lie no. Since his nomination he has
been careful to avoid even the appear
| ance of evil. and has removed the Dents