Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-20
The Next Governor.


The name Of the next Governor OF Yer
mont has been floating round in the air for
several weeks past. Occasionally it has
been mentioned on the streets, and in pri.
vate conversation in the circles Of men in.
terested in having worthy successor Of the
present Executive in the line Of the dis
tinguished and eminent men who have filled
the Executive chair Of the State Vermont
has but few honors to give, but she gener-
ally means to give them to the best men she
has. She has no reason to be ashamed Of
her civil and political record. She has
rarely been mistaken in the choice she has
made Of men to I'll the Offices Of the com.
monwealth. The list of her Governors is
remarkable one, from the FIRST until now.
1t does not contain the n.me Of G single
political adventurer or unworthy man. 1t
has many names that are historical and
illustrious She has never allowed parti-
sanship, or local jealousies, or any mean and
sordid motives, to dictate the members Of
her Judiciary. She has always selected the
best men possible for the bench, irrespective
Of their political affiliations Therefore, the
Judiciary Of Vermont has always been in
the highest degree respectable and honora-
bic, and has often been marked by great
ability. She has been not the less careful
in her choice Of United States Senators and
Representatives. They have almost uni
formly been men of high ability, political
honesty and moral integrity. They have
had the respect and honor of their ssso-
ciates for their sterling, incorruptible quail
tics; aud when the Senators and Repre-.
sentatives Of other States, and Of national
celebrity have been found guilty of corrup.
ton, or have been charged with using official
position for private emoument, hardly a
breath Of suspicion has ever blown upon
them. Aud some of them, like Prentiss
and Phelps, have been men Of commanding
power and influence, as well as Of inAexble
incorruptibility.
The designation of the executive Of the
State is always, therefore, matter of care.
full thought and reflection on the part Of
the people Of the State. Name after name
is usually suggested and dropped, and not
until long and careful elaboration does
the right name slowly come forth to the
public view, and draw to itself more and
more the suffragcs of the people and con.
csntrate their sympathies. Aud any at.
tempt to forestall and determine the will oil
the people by political management and
.fneSse has invariably proved unsuccessful
The attempt to dictate beforehand the can.
didate for high Office has usually recoiled
Editors and politicians do not often have
inspiration enough to sit at the right hand
Of the next Governor Of the State, or make
a successful nomination at a festal dinner
table. The best they can do is to follow the
wake OF public sentiment, and finally come
in to the support OF the man that was sew.
eral degrees removed from their choice.
1t is in this way that the name of AsAnEL
PECK has come up out of the chaos of GU
bernatorial suggestions, and begins to rally
and concentrate the public consent. We
have heard Judge Peck suggested on all
sides, in private conversations, for months
past. The first intimation Of him as a can.
didate was caught at, and the feeling of
his eminent fitness grew with each mention
of bis name, until in the thoughts of mul.
titudes it outdistanced all the other candi-
dates who have been discussed and urged in
the papers for nearly year. 1t is not a
little amusing to see how other prominent
candidates, who have been kept before the
people, vanish as Judge Peck comes into
the foreground. The Reform paper which
has nursed Bradley Barlows candidacy
with tender assiduity, and lost no oppor
tunity Of presenting his genial and homes
qualities, and exhibiting him as the coming
renovator Of the social and civil fabric whicl
had been demolished by railroad corruption
and hopelessly smashed by the Trustees O
the Vermont Central, is among the first t
discern the genuine candidate and give hir
endorsement and welcome. Its local riva
is lost in amazement at the vast imperti
hence Of the Messenger, which dares I
drop its favorite, and give voice for Judg
Peck. Its only regret seems to be that tn
Messenger should have outrun the Adue,
tiser and compelled it to have been second
when it wanted to be first.
1t is matter Of trifing consequence
whether Judge Peck's name was first mer
toned in the Free Press or the Messenge,
Hundreds and thousands of the elector
had spoken it before either Of them though
oft. The Governorship would add nothin
to the honors Of Judge Peck. The Stat
would be honored by his selection for II
So long as Vermont desgnates such men a
be is for its highest offices, it is not liable /
the old Tory rcproach against Republican
government, which condemned republic
mot because the people elected their off
GERS, but because they elected unworthy anc
ignoble men to Office He would be 4
worthy successor 10 the executive chair Of
Moses Robinson, Galusha, Palmer, Tchenor,
Skinner, Williams, Van Mess, Royce and
Hall, who were his predecessors on the bench.
His name will evidently harmonic the d.
verse interests of the Republican party, and
will reconcile all differences. 1t is not
merely unobjectionable. II is in every re.
spect honorable aud ft to be made. His
nomination would be followed by triumph
ant election. And when, in the course o.
time, the nomination of candidate for Gov
ernor returns To this side Of the mountain
We trust that the popular feeling will a
earnestly concentrate upon the name of ON
Of our own leading townsmen, as it nov
does upon Judge Peck.
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