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

II. That document might reach his home too;
and should lis author. as was probable, be now
within the reach of his vice, he returned him
his heartfelt thanks.
To the editor ofthe Peoples Press:
SrR-The Council Of Censors having agreed
10 an amendment 10 The Constitution, providing
for the election Of Senators for three years, have
with great propretY caused il IN be published for
the consideration OF The people, bef''re they de-
cte whether II will he proper 10 call Convention
IL consider Of this and other amendments which
tney may propose. The Constitution does not
require such publication; but when amendments
TO the Constitution are proposed, every thing pos
Shle should be done 10 arrest the attention OF the
people, so that when they shall elect members OF
the Convention. It may be an expression Of the
sentiments and wishes Of the people in relation TO
the amend nents proposed. TIE mode prinled
out by the Constitution. we know by experience.
is not calculated to arrest the attention at all In
the first place the people called upon 20 give
IN their VOTES for a Council Of Censors, not upon
any paIIicul emergency, not because any
amendments Of the Constitution are coniemplI-
tel, but because, before they were aware of il,
another constitutional term Of seven years had
expired. Some few vnies are given in the Coun-
Gil is elected, but the attention Of one is arrest
ed and nothing is said thought Of the subjecr,
until The Council meet during the setting of the
Legislature. Now will venture 10 saw that up
TO this time, very considerable portion Of the
people know nothing of the election or existence
Of The Council. But during the sitting Of the Leg
IsaIure, the Council prepare amendments 10 the
constitutional say this, because almost every
Council Of Censors has done it, The proposed
amendments are subject OF cunversatinn among
the members Of The Legislature and others, dur
ing the seSsi most of them appear 10 ieel an
Ian 81 4 ~
urn home under strung impression that they will
he adopted by the Convention. Now al first view
Of the subject, we should conclude, that on the
return of the me nbers of the Legislature 10 their
several towns, they would inform their constitu
cnIs, VIII Il amendments TO the Constitution wee
proposed-tbar the amendments would becomea
ublect of converSalon-,hat the attention of the
eople would be arrested that they would attend
the meetings for the election of delegates To the
convention-and thai each wo I'D vote for one
who had formed the same oViniuns in relation To-
the amendments. which lie bad formed himself.
ct experience has shown that there is morning.
Of all this. The members OF the Legislature
return 10 their homes. and although more than
usual. confined to their individual concerns after
Il long absence, yet they wi take line to inform
their constituents wla: thes have done and 10
Justify the votes which they have given; but Eev
have given vote in relation tn the amendments
AMI the attention of the people is arrested and
very few attend the meetings to chohse delegates
10 the Convention. IL was so when the members
Of tn last Convention were chosen. In many
considerable towns, not more than fiftern or
twenty attended the meeting. And not having
had an opportunity 10 form an opinion upon The
proposed amendments, they naturally felt oppo 81
to a1y amendment OF tie Constituti n and in
many Towns they Instructed their delegates TO
vote aga n>t the amendments. And in this Ih,v
acted wisely except that instead OF in rructiny
their dele .ates 10 vote against the amendments,
they shoulI have left them 10 act erly in III
Convention, and 10 vote according Ia their hest
Judgment after full discussion of the sutjsot.
We do so IN our inhIvidu i concerns. five are
told that our system of farming is a veiy unprnft-
able one, and that BY adopting the modern i'm
proved system of husbaDdry. we can render cur
farms far more productive and profitable, we
er abandon thai system, in pursuing which we
have been quite prosperous. and adopt the new
system, until We have an opportunity tn satisfy
ourselves, beyond doubt, that We shall be ben
fitted by il.
When the delegates 10 the Convention. thus
elected, and many Of them thus instructed, f:s,
assembled. ii was supposed that there was mr.
orty opposed 10 the articles co stituting a Sep
ale; and when the vote was taken. there was Il
mai'mry of three only in favor of them. But al
forwards, on a m'iion 10 reconsider the vot.
adopting the articles, eleven OF those who had,
IN obedience 10 their Instructions voted agsns'
the articles. voted against reconsiGG raiion, say
ing. tina. the sense Of the Convention had cee1
falsely taken and it was not proper To reconsider
the vute.
Now # I have given correct statement OF the
operation of eur provision for amending The Con-
stituti1n, and appeal 10 all men Of observation
for confirmation Of il; does it not account FIR
the singular fact, that all The important amend
ments to the Constitution, proposed by the dihtr
ent Councils Of Censors, in which we have had
our most distinguished ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Ion. not proposed by way Of experiment, but 10
make cur constitution the same in substance,
rs the Consti uiions of all the adjoining States
have all been rejected by the several Conventions,
save The article constituting Senale?-And that
nal always been proposed by every Convention
before the last. And does not this pres az in
objection 10 our mode CT amending
lie Constitution? For what can be SO impor art
u such provision, Ia have it calculated TO
arrest the attention of the people and lead them
10 form and express an opinion upon all amend
nenis proposed2 Now. IL a convention be called
10 consider of he proposed amendments. | will
y niure 10 say, that IN very considerable pnr
ION of the towns, but very few will attend the
nee ing for the choice Of delegate, and that for
he reason which have given, they will aci IN
Ter the general impression that we have been
LONG we'll under the Constitution as it is, and
hat frequent elections are the safest, and viii
therefore be opposedIro the amendment, and elect
their delegate and Instruct him accnrdingly But
how would II be, were We 10 pursue the most
simple mode which has been devised for amend
ing Constitution-say the mode provided in the