Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-10-28


sidera,ion and decision.
The manner Of appointment OF the oiicers
or the county has been urged upon the
Council from various parts of the state
Strong objections are made to the present
mode of electing these local officers by the
Legislature. The candidates cannot be sup
posed to be personally known TO but few OF
that body. Consequently, imposition and
intrigue have too frequently had more to do
than merit in the appointment of these Off
GERS. The Council, therefore, have thought
it advisable to give these appointments d.
rec,ly TO the people, who Will be best ac-
quainted with the qualifications OF those VINO
are to serve them, and will be better enabled
to select, and as well inclined TO appoint, /
the best men TO office, as the body whose
duty it now is to make these appointments.
As, in free government, all appoint
ments to Office, as we'll as all laws, proceed
directly or indirectly from the people, it can
not we'll be denied that as far as is practical
bic, these powers should be retained by
them. The Council, therefore recommend
that the election of sheriff and high baililf be
given to the freemen OF the county. These
are executive officers Of the county, clothed,
. in the execution of their duties, with the
power TO control, not only the property, but
/ the persons of individuals. Their authority
is confined to and pervades the county, and
their appointment ought, therefore, not to
be taken from the people of the county.
In regard to the appointment of justices
Of the peace, by the ireemen Of their rcspec-
tive towns, although the Office is for the
county, yet as their services are mostly con-
4. a., =, oh a. III
inasmuch as, in the one case, they will be
personally known to every elector, and III
the other (if elected by the county, will be
known to but few, it is the opinion of the
Council tina, the whole public interest will
be better subserved by giving the appoint
ment oft the justices of the peace to the free
men Of the town in which they reside, than
in any other way.
We have, therefore, proposed an amend
ment of the constitution giving the appoint
ment of this officer directly to the freemen
of the town aud we have likewise recon-
mended that the number of justices, to be
appointed for each town, be somewhat in
proportion to the number of inhabitants of
each town-no one town being allowed more
/, than twelve.
!, We have proposed an amendment TO the
tenth section of the second chapter Of the
constitution, altering the manner of making
returns of votes given for Governor, Lieu
tenant Governor, and Treasurer, authoriz-
: ing the several presiding officers over the
, several ireemen's meetings in this state to
forward certificate Of the number of votes
: given, without transmitting the ballots them
/ selves.
Under the present mode, considerable in
convenience has been experienced, while it
: is not known that any benefit has been de-
rived The certificate of the officer alone
canvassng committee when ascertaninp the
number of votes cast for the respective can
didates
The subject of abolishing the Council of
Censors, and giving the power to propose
amendments of the constitution to one or
both branches of the Legislature, has been
presented to the deliberate consideration of
, this Council. 1t has been urged thai it would
be an important saving of expense to the
State, and that the other duties of the Coun-
Gil, as now prescribed, have, by the progress
of improvement in the legislative and Judi
cial departments of the government, become
unimportant aud useless But, after a full
ed IT expedlent to recommend the abolshnp
OF that body. We have reason to apprehcnd
: that If the power to propose amendments of
the constitution were exercised by one or
both branches of the Legislature, there could
be no saving of expense, considering the time
that would thus be occupied by those bodies
that party politics would too often mix
with the discussionst aud influence the de-
cisons in relation to the proposals of amend.
ment. -
The Council have seen fit to place before
you, for your consideration and decision. one
other proposal of amendment to the CON
stituton. This relates to the forty-,hird
section of the second part of that instru-
ment. We propose so to alter and amend
that section as to give directly to the people
the adoption or rejection of such recon-
nendatlon of amendments TO the constitu-
ton as shall be proposed by the Council of
Censors.
This measure will place the question of
amendment before each individual, who will
be dependant upon no one for the expression
OF his opinion. 1t commends itself to YOUR
favorable consideration, because it is in strict
conformity with the first principles of a re-
publican government. The constitution is
the groundwork of the law of the land, and
as such should proceed directly from those
who are to be bound by it. This is the char
ter by which all the departments of the GOV.
eminent are limited, and which declares
thus far shalt thou go and no farther. The
people have right to alter or amend the
constitution for the promotion of their wei
iare and that right is inalenable A right
/ ii taIl