The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-13
TEE SUCCESSON.

1t may seem an early day to consider the
question of who shall succeed Charles Sum-
ner as United States Senator from Massa-
chuse.ts Mr.. Sumner is scarcely yet cold
from death, but his seat is vacant, and
Massachusetts only. partially represented IN
the highest branch Of the national legisa-
ture. In this busy world we take little
thought of the past, one man drops out,
another takes his place and all proceeds as
before. It is important, just now, that
New England should he fully represented
III the national councils, and by her choicest
men. If the state legislature were not in
session, We doubt not we could place our
finger ON the statesman whom Governor
Washburn would appoint to fill the yacan-
cy. 1t would br a man tried and true aud
untinctured with 'Butlcrsm"- il would
be, in our judgment, Henry J.. Dawes of
Piiisiicld. But as il is, under the present
law, the legislature being in session, the
governor cannot appoint--the legislature
must elect Mr.. Dawes has every qualif-
cation for the position, and every argument
in his favor. lie is ifty-seyen years of
age, man of liberal education, has served
in both branches of the legislature and in
the constitutional convention of Massachu-
sets, and is now serving his ninth term. or
eighteenth year. in the national House of
Representatives being the leader of the
House and chairman of the committee on
ways and means. lie has, in that body.
Gone the country most nestimible services,
and although some may feel, us IN the case
OF our own Morrill,, that he cannot he
spared from the House, yet ms opportuni-
ties for good will be equally great in the
Senate, perhaps in some respects better.
We made 20 mistake in asking Justin S.
Morrill, TO take higher seat. neither will
Massachusetts by taking a similar course
toward Henry l.. Dawes. He was the
competitor for the seat rendered vacant by
the election of Henry Wilson to the vice
presidency, now occupied by Governor
Boutwell,, and failed Of an election only by
few votes. This, of itself, would natu-
rally suggest his name and favor his pro-
motion. Moreover if locality is an argu-
meni-which, by the way we do not
think It is--he resides in western Massa-
chusetts which has not had representa-
tive in the Senate for thirty years, with
the exception Of few days or weeks SER
vices on the part of Julius Rockwell, also
of Pittsfeld, in 1854. The law relating to
the election OF Senators, where the vacancy
occurs during a session of the legislature.
provides that 1t shall occur ''on the second
Tuesday after the legislature shall have
been organized and shall have notice of
such vacancy" What the construction of
the law may be- as several Tuesdays have
passed since the organization of the legisla-
ture, we cannot tell, but 1t will probably
be that the election shall take place one
week from next Tuesday. Mr.. Dawes has
always been pronounced opponent of
"Buterlsm,' but whether there is enough
OF that element in the present legislature
to defeat him we know not, but we trus,
and believe not. We believe. moreover,
that INSCRIPTIONS as We have reason to
think Butler, he would not venture to OBJ
pose the election of Mr.. Dawes on this ac-
count. Massachusetts has plenty of good
TIMBER for the place, but we think that
Dawes will the best fill out the figures.