Year: 1872

Tnepeople are getting somewhat weari-
ed If not disgusted with the muddle into
which the question Of the GovernOrship
has been thrown. One day it is rumOred
that Governor Stewart expects to be re-
nominated, andit has been his wish from
the first, according to custom, to serve
TWO terms, and that his name has been
drawn into the Congressional contest
against his wishes, and that If he is hon
ored with either office, he prefers to be
reelected Governor On the other hand
i, is claimed that Gov. Stewart is not to
D. considered a candidate, therefore Mr..
Billings is to go on with his canvass for
fh office. From all we are able to
gather Governor Stewart prefers to be
re-nominated for Governor, and 50 frank
ly says. If so, that settles the question
on one side The next question every
one asks, is Mr.. Billings in the field
against him? That has not been so au-
thoritatiyely announced. He is report
ed to be candidate in any event at this
late date, but how this may be we are in
ignorance as yet. The question at once
arises whether the Republicans of YER
mont can afford the present year to
have local contest on this question,
taking into consideration the liberal
movement in the State, which is not
quite 50 dminutIvc as some of our CO.
TEN pOrariCs apprchcnd, especially if
the Democracy should join with them.
At this time should the party heretofore
united be digided in view Of the Prcsi-
dental election? There seems to have
been q misunderstanding about this sub
iect ali along until now it amounts to Il
muddle 1t would seem that our sage,
political magnates have not fixed things
up as is their custom, 50 that it sticks.
We, not being of the political ring, are
unable to unravel the matter, or to
give information to our readers Oh this
point. If mistake has been made in
putting up this job, let it be rectiicd at
once. The people would like to have
their masters fix up the matter. We sup
pose it depends entirely whether the
one crn principle shall be adopted We
lberefore await further events.


Let lis see what our State newspapers
tell us. The Burlington Free Press,
whose editor is chairman of the State
Committee, says that the Bellows Falls
Convention afforded an opportunity to
1aik up State matters, and that it was
well improved, But it says also:


Several of Mr Stewards personal
friends were present, authorized to
speak for him so far as to say, that if
the people of Vermont desired him to
retain the GovernOrship for another
term, he would be gratitied by the honor
and content to hold his present office for
two years more. This has been his posi-
tiOn from the first. But the gentlemen
who to this extent spoke for Governor
Stewart, were almost to man in favor
of Mr. Stewart for Congress. 1t can be
said, we think, with pOsitiveness and
truth, that Governor Stewards friends
trust and expect that he will hold him
self In readiness to accept the call, so
sure to come, for him to represent the
West District in Cangress.


The st. Albans Messenger comments
on the above and announces Governor
Stewart as a candidate for denomination
as follows,


With all Difference to the generally
sound opinion Of our cOtempOrary, we
believe that Governor Stewards friends
do not trust and expect that he is sure
to be called to represent the West Dis
trict In Congress. The great majority
of them, however well they would like
him for Congress, desire to re-eleCt him
Governor and this number is to be found
not only in the West District but
throughout the State. Now, as the
the Gubernatorial election is to take
place before the Congressional, and as
it covers a larger field, its voters ought
to have the first choice, provided the
candidate himself is willing On this
score, and to remove all doubt and
all pretense, we have authority from
Gov. Stewart to say that if he is to be
honored with either office, he prefers to
be reelected Governor. In this, there
fore, he and the people agree, and both
are in accord with sound public policy.
And this ought to settle the question.


1t will be seen that the Free Press
avows that Governor Stewart would
be gratified by the honor and be con-
tent to hold his office for two years
more" But in the same paragraph the
editor of the Free Press endeavors to
dispose of the Governor or sell him out,
we hardly know which, by using the
following language: "But the gentle
men who, to this extent, spoke for Gov
ernor Stewart, were almost to man in
favor OF Mr. Stewart for Congress. 1t
can be said, we think, with positiyeness
and truth, that Governor Stewort,s
friends trust and expect that he will
hold himself IN readiness to accent the
call, so sure to come for him to renra-
sent the West District in Congress- "
Why Is it that the Free Press ia so
ready to urge on all occasion that Gov
Stewart must go to Congress unless they
desire to get him out of the way. How
Is 1t that the editor has such oracular
powers as to foresee the great call that is
to be given Mr.. Stewart. If that call
Is so patent why do not the people of the
District In which Mr.. Stewart now lives
see 1t in that light? 1t seems coming
to be question under Mr.. Willard's
Dill which has just passed the House
giving US three members of Congress,
that this District may remain substan-