Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-06
GOVERNOR N'CVLLOUGH,

In retiring from tho office Of chief
magistrate of the state OF Vermont Coy
ernor John Grifith Mccullough leaves
an enviable record Nominated on the
18th of June. 1902, passing through
remarkable thrce-sided campaign,
marked by unusual bitterness and excite
ment. during which he was subjected to
not little partisan and groundless
obloouy. and elected according to law
by the Legislature on the LIST Of October,
1902, ne has conducted his responsible
Office with such integrity, ability and
courtesy as to gain the respect # his
bitterest opponents and to win the esteem
of the masses of our people prospective
OF party or faction. He has given close
and careful supervision to the various
departments of the State government ard
to the State institutions. His selections
OF men for the judicial and other Of
fees which it has been his duty to I'LL
by appointment have been wise and APP
proved by the people and the business
Of the State has been attended to with
Judicious care.
In hut one particular 50 far as we
can nov recall, has his administration
been subjected to any serious crticism,--
namely his us i'll several instances of
the pardoning power. Our own view Of
this subject has been, for many years,
as our readers know. that the exercise
Of the power to pardon condemned GRIM
inals should. as rule, he confined TO
cases in which the discovery Of new cvi-
dence has shown that the verdicts reach
ed by courts and jurics were erroneous.
Some of the best governors however,
have held a different view of their duty
in this regard. Governor Horace Fair
banks, for instance. than whom there
has been no more conscientious and
faithful occupant OF the governors chair.
signed a comparatively large number of
pardons. The reasons controlling the ac-
tions Of the governors in such cases are
not often made public. In regard to Gov
ernor Mccullough, as in regard to Cover
nor Horace Fairbanks, in the few cases
open to criticism, his action has doubt
less been due to his native kindness of
heart sympathy for innocent relatives
suffering from the Incarceration Of the
criminal and belief that the latters fu-
ture conduct would be such that society
would not suffer from his release. Grant
ing the full force of such considerations
II still seems to us that stcrncr rule
on the part of every governor would
be for the public good
Among the interesting and important
incidents OF Governor McCullough'a term
OF office is one by which it will long De
distinguished, viz. the final adjustment
of the long pending ana conflicting claim.
ON the part of the STATE OF Vermont foi
interest upon the large sums of money
borrowed by the state to equip troops
to sustain the government in the Wal
OF the Rebellion and on the part of III,
general government for reimbursement oil
the value Of arms sent to equip the
Vermont militia for the defence of tn,
frontier after the st. Adams rand, which
have stood charged against the state tol
forty years ON the books OF the wal
department. The result of this settle
ment has been the payment INTO thu
state treasury in two payments, the las
of which was made a lew weeks ago
of 52s0.453, and when a small charge o
$l,619, against the State. for ordnance
stores on hand is settled, If it has no
already been settled, the books on eacl
side will be balanced and this mportan
and pcrplcNng matter finally closed.
ON the whole as will be admitted by
all. Governor McCulloughs administri
ton will go upon the record as an ON
phaticaily faithful and good administrd
ton. The release from his official care
and responsibilities will be a wclcom
one to him, and he retrcs with the mos
cordial wishes Tor his future health an,
welfare on the part of the great bod.
OF citizens of his State,