The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-07-05

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not worth the expense Of one convention.
And it seems very clear to me, from what
has been said, that we have experienced all
these evils from our very singular mode of
amending the Constitution; and yet the
longer live, the less confidence | have in
any conclusions | form by reasoning on any
subject unless find them confirmed by ex-
perience.
To ascertain, therefore, what experience
teaches in this case, ! have examined all
the Constitutions of the different States; not
icing particularly the mode provided in each
for its amendment, and find that in every
State, except this, all amendments to the
Constitution are framed and adopted by
full representation of the people, either in
convention or in the Legislature; and have
ascertained nearly, what has been the prac-
teal operation of this general mode of a
mending the Constitution in the several
States, and cannot find that any State, ex-
cept Pennsylvania, has had more than one
convention to amend the Constitution; and
in Pennsylvania they have had but one con-
vention since the people abolished the coun-
Gil of censors, while we have had min, coun-
ellis of censors at an expense of more than
fourteen hundred dollars each, and seven
conventions, including the one recently call
ed, at an expense of more than five thousand
dollars each. Experience, then, proves the
correctness of the theory in this case; and
the conclusion seems inevitable, that the last
article in the Constitution ought TO be abol-
ished. Still, this branch of the subject
ought to be treated more at large, embracing
the observations contained in your letter,
and also history Of the Constitutions in
each of the New England States. But there
is no probability that this article can ever
be abolished by council of censors; but we
shall be compelled, as they were in Penn
sylvania, to refer the question to the people,
and there will never be more convenient
time to do this than the present. The Leg
islature may at their next session pass an
act referring to the people, at their meetings
for the choice CT delegates TO the conven-
ton, the question, whether they will author
ize the convention to abolish the last article
in the constitution, and adopt substitute.
1t is obviously necessary that 1t be made
clear to the understanding of every one, as
it certainly may be, that this will be no vi
olation of the Constitution, but legitimate
mode of proceeding, founded on the funda-
mental principle on which our institutions
rest-the right of self government in the
people-and in perfect accordance with the
following declaration of that right found in
most of the Consti utions of the different
States: ''rhe People have at all times an
undeniabe and inalienable right TO alter,
reform or abolish their Government, as they
think proper
Thus | have stated, in general terms, the
view which have taken of this importaut
subject and hope that you and others who
have leisure will be encouraged TO proceed,
and be able to gain the attention of the peo-
rIe, and enable them to form and express an
opitijon on the case; but | must say, fear
this cannot be done. ] see many difficulties
in the way. The patriots who formed our
first Constitution were oppressed with dis
tressing fears, that the people would prove
to be incapable of self government, and
would fall into anarchy; If not, they feared
the people would be so changeable, and
would so frequently change their Constitu-
ton, that there would he no stability IN the
Government. But experience soon evlnced
they were mistaken in every view they took
of the subject. The people maintained so
efficient Government, and submission to
its authority soon became so habitusl, the
people were hardly sensible that they lived
under any restraint, aud, of course, were
averse to any amendment of the Constitu-
ton, however imperfect il might be. This
has been the case, to great degree, in all
the States, but more pai ticulary so IN the
New England States; where, by means of
the town corporations, all the most burthen
some taxes are laid by the people themselves
in town meeting, and where, by reason of
the town representatives, the Governments
are So economically administered, that State
taxes are hardly felt The natural conse-
quence is, that the people feel little interest
in the State Government, and their atten
lion is almost wholly Withdrawn from It and
fha oil
Government. Will the people, then, pay
attention to any thing which may he said in
relation to defects in their Constitution OF
the State Govern nent, or to any proposals
of amendment?
There is still ano- her obstacle in the way,
which, fear, will be insurmountable. I'VE
have been so long accustome to our Con-
stitution, that we have become blind to Its
defects; and we have been so long accus-
toned to the provisions of the last article
that we consider them absolutely necessary
to the existence of the Constitution; and its
removal would produce pecllar uneaslness
resembling that which we feel on the remov-
al of an old house clock with whose face we
have been familiar from our infancy. So 1t
is with us all. If We have been long accD5-
toned to any system, oil the use of nipple
ments, without discovering any defects or
Inconvenience, we become blind to them,
however obvious they may be to others. !
have frequently noticed this with respect to
myself; but have never been sensible of so
striking an instance it, as in that relating
to the last article in our Constitution. per-
fectly recolect, that when at the age of thir-
teen, read our first Constitution, ! was
perfectly delighted with it; not only because
il was a new kind of machinery, but because
it appeared to me as seal to our independ-
ence as State. But The least article, in the
language of Cromwell, appeared to me as
the GROWING mercy; being, as it
appeared to me SO well calculated
to keep the machine in order for all
future time; for it was the decided object of
the article to preserve the freedom of this /
commonwealth inviolate forever. Ofcourse
witnessed its operation without discover
ing any defect. or any absurdity in its pro- {
visions, until the last convention, and then
was disposed to consider all the provisions
in the article, except the last providing Tor
its amendment, as merely Useless; but most
clearly IL is not 50. That clause in the arti-