Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-05

A ..JorryA1Isr'' who signs himself ''P,
and who it is fair 10 presume is ex-Editor
s. b. Peltcngill, contributes column
and Il half to The Springfield Repabticdh'S
boom for Mr.. Billings, for Governor OF
Vermont. A passage in his letter is as fol-
lows:
II was the general understanding when the
change from annual to biennial elections was
made that the Governor must. with the mem-
bers of the General Assembly, accept an
election TO the biennial term as equivalent TO
two elections under the old system. John
W. Stewart of Middlebury, an able and pop
ular man, was the first Governor elected alter
this change was made. The friends and sup
porters of Mr.. Billings, on the strength OF this
general understanding, supposed that Mr..
Stewart would not be a candidate for re-
election, and assured Mr.. Billings that the
field was open. Gov. Stewart dallied with
the question until he had given Mr. Billings
and all his friends fair opportunity to press
his nomination and until, as the result prov
ed. il was impossible for him, however much
at the last he NAV have desired it, TO ATTAIN
denomination. For, if Gov. Stewart had
made it known in season that he would be
| candidate for a second term, Mr.. Billings OF
course would not have been candidate, and
his reelection would have defeated the bad
precedent, bad especially as it bears upon
\ the composition Of the General Assembly, of
/ L single term.
/ Mr.. Pettengill's recollection is evidently
| somewhat at fault ; and the above is quite
an erroneous statement of the situation in
1872 1t cannot be said that it was then the
! general understanding that the one term
rule must prevail That was an important,
and as vet unsettled, issue before the people
/ Those who wished to retain the old two-tcrm
rule both for Governor and Members of the
Legislature, expected to present Governor
Stewart for second term and he expect
ed to be their candidate for denomination.
! But the matter was complicated by the Con-
gressional reapportionment of thatyear, under
which, as it was reported to Congress, Yer
atives in Congress. If that was to be SO, a
large majority of the Republicans on the
West side of the State wished Gov. Stewart
to represent them in Congress and he was
/
as they WERE he did not intend TO stand in
the way of Mr. Wizards return to Congress,
but would be again candidate for Cover
nor If Mr.. Stewart was going to Congress,
many of his friends wished Mr.. Billings to
succeed him as Governor. On the other hand.
Mr. Billings had expressed himself in favor OF
81, r,,ln haI
Gov Stewart was to come forward again for
Governor, on that issue, he Billings should
be for him. There was no unnecessary dal-
lying with the question on the part of Gov.
Stewart While the subject of our represen-
ton in Congress was in doubt, the question
of candidacy for Governor necessarily re-
manned open. Mr.. Willard finally succeeded
by a supplemental bill, in saving to Vermont
its existing representation. That al once
took Gov. Stewart ont of the field as a candi-
date for Congress, and put him back into the
field for the Governorship. Mr.. Billings
then-tO the serious disappointment and sor-
row of some of his best friends-permitted
himself to be used as the one-term candidate
for Governor; and to his efforts and those Of
the men who urged him forward, was large
" due the establishment of the one term
rule, which has given us such numbers OF
inexperienced Legislators and such quantities
of crude legislation. Gov. Stewart was
roughly attacked by the Woodstock Stand
ard; and the previous friendly feeling exist
serious chill. Gov. Stewart had not the
power to obtain denomination Though he
lacked but two votes of it in the convention
but he could say who should be his success
sor lie gave the nomination to another
Woodstock man, Hon. Julius Converse, and
Mr. Converse became Governor. These
were the facts of the case and if the history
of that unfortunate canvass is TO be recalled,
they may as well be accurately stated