The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-18

The General Assembly, whenever two thirds oil n
each house shall deem it necessary may propose b
amendments to this Constitution; which proposed a
amendments shall be duly publish he'd in print at least
three months before the next general election OF Keep
resenatives for the consideration Of the people, and
it shall be the duty Of the several returning officers at
the next general election which shall be held for Rep
resentavss, to open the poll for. and make return
70 the Secretary of State for the time being, Of tie
names Of all those voting for Representative. who
have voted on such proposed amendments: and if
thereupOn it shall appear that majority of all the
citizens Of this state, voting for Representatives have
voted in favor Of such proposed amendments; end !,
two thirds Of each House of the General Assem-
bly, shall, after such cleo ton and before another,
Iatfy the same amendments by yeas and nays. they
shall VALID all inents and purposes parts Of
the Constitution: PRovID that the said proposed
amendments SHALL at each of the said seasons, have
been read three times three sevsral days in each
House,
In pursuing this mode, each member oi the
legislature having given his vote for or against
The amendments, will return aud endeayor, by all
the arguments he is master OF, 10 justify the vote
which he has gwen, and his competitor, Tor he
will meet wiz one, at least, if he shall Judge he
can carry majority with him. will make use oil
all arguments and all means in his power, 10 con-
vince The people Il at their Representative has
committed very great error in giving his vote
but if any one of his competitors shall believe that
a majority of the town will approve OF The vote
given by theirs Representative, he will sendeav-
or to discuss the subject ably as TO convince
the peoplr that he is their most able advocate
Thus the attention Of the people will be arrested,
they will form opinions for or against the propo-
sed amendments, attend the meetings and vote
acco,dingly | will not say that this IS the best
hoe hoe DIV for
Constitution, but must say that II Is far prefer
able 10 ours.
Icannot but stop heie and make some remarks
upon the Constitution of Alabama. although 1t
may be considered out of place. There is
clause in that Constitution, prohibiting the Leg
islature from aboshing slavery, and IL is seen
that the concurrence OF two thirds OF both bra1ch-
es OF the Legislature is made necessary to amend
the Constitution and there is in the same Con-
stitulion declaration that the people have at al
lines an undeniahe and indefrasible right to al
ter, reform or abolish their form government, in
such manner as they may think e1pedient. The
same provisions are found IN the CONSTITUTIONS Oh
other slave states. This was undoubtedly con-
sidered an ample security against The abolition OF
slavery. But suppose that in some one oil those
States, there should be majority 10 both branch
es Of the Legislature, but not two thirds, Nniavor
Of abolishing slavery, must the majority be gov
erned by The minority by means OF these proVs-
ions in the Constitution Most certainly not, for
moment. For when men get 50 far as To wish
the abolition Of slavery, they al once see and
feel all the evils OF slavery, moral, religious and
POLITICAL and are inspired with an uniring energy
IN pursuit of their 05jert, sometimes rising INTO
an enthusiasm which will lead them 10 do things
calculated 10 defeat their object. An act then
will be passed by both branches Of the Leglsla-
lure, referring TO tn, people the question: wheth-
eI convention shall be called TO amend The Con-
elitu!ion. A Convention will be called the Con-
sti,uIion amended and slavery abolished. But
10 return.
If the proposed amendments, providing for tie
election oil Senators for three years, be laid before
aConvention an objection TO our mode OF amend
ing the Constitution will appear OF as much
weight as any which has been stated,-they can
only decide the simple question, whether the
Senators shall be elected for three years instead
of one year.
Now in the different States, Senators are elect
Ell for diffe, ent terms, from one TO five years
and the members OF the Senate Of the United
States elected for six years.
ii is unnecessary to add 10 this article already
proracted more than had contemplated, dis
russloE of the question, which OF the foregoing
terms we ught TO select fer to show the obscu
Iily Of the provision for amending the Constiu-
ton II will be sufficient TO observe, that the Con-
rentions not permitted TO decide this question
The Council might, however, remove this dith
Gully, by proposing five amendments ;-one pro-
and SD on, 10 six. This would indeed, be
strange proceeding, but 40 matter, it would only
The better correspond with the whole svs and
MY il would be valid proceeding, for al
though il is The province of The Judiciary TO con
stFue tie Constitution they surely would rot
quash it on olon, as they quash IN Indictment.
There was case IN the last Convention, in
which the obscurity of the pro vision was il
more apparent. The council OF Censor had pro
posed an amendment TO the Constitution provid
ing that the sherffs should be elected by tie peo
pie of their respective counties. for three years
Ia this case the great.and important question was
whether it is best, all things considered, tha
sherrffs be elected by The Legislature or BY th
people OF the counties. But rhis question coult
nat be decided, for many members who were il
favor of an election BY the people, could no, con
sent To have g sheriff hold his Office for tire
wears; of course the article was rejected. Nov
WIRE there no other objection TO mode O
amending the Constitution beside those which
haze stated in this article, who is there who woul;
not make an effort 10 get rid OF this absurd ant
expensive provision.
Twill add only some few remarks on The suhJec
Of bi, NAL elections, connected with the pro
posed amendment, for it will be seen, that il lh
State elections be- Biennial the Senators, sioux
be ele cted for two four or six years.
The Con- tiiution OF Tennessee which wa
ndop,ed in the year l776, and has remained un
altered. provided for biennial elections The Leg
isIature 10 meet soon after The election and not tc
ni~et again under two years, unless convened by
ti,e Glvernor on extraordinary occasions. Six
other States have followed this example, and il
is thought by many, that all the States, excep
some OF the largest, will fad it 10 be great saw
ing of EXPENSE. and every way beneficial, 10 hulC
k;onn;,I instead of annual elections, 1t is SAID