Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-12-23

MIR EDTOR,-l is n trlte hut nevertheless
true saying, that power is always stealing from the
many 10 the few consequently II requires tie
mosl waichiul aud constan, vigilance OF the peo-
pie aud the press, to prevent the few from control,
ing aud governing, at the expense Of the best i'll
iercsis md welfare Of The many.
In order 10 counterart this tendency IN tho state,
the constitution should he so framed ms TO retain
as much power in the bands Of The people, 10 be
exercised 10y themselves, as is compatible with
good government. It was probably IN this, or u
more comprehensive view OF the subject, that the
late council OF censOrs were indnccd to propose
the article OF anlendmen, which proposes 10 take
the power Of adopting Or rejecting amendments to
The constitution, from convention Of dslegaes
aud renvest II IN the great body of the ireemen
where it righ,uy belongs. Their address to the
people says: This measure will place The ques-
ton Of amendment before each individual who
VIII bo dependent upon no one for The expression
Of his opinion 4" IL comments iisefio your ia.
vorabe consideration because ii is in strict cCnlor-
nifty to tha first principles Of a republican govern
nienL" 1.-The peupe have the rlglt 10 alter or n
mend the constitution for the promotion of their
welfare, and that right is inaIicunhe.' "a right
so vitality important, which can with so liuo III
convenience he exercised by The irecuen them
selves, shOnId never he entrusted 10 others" BY
an article ~ your paper Of the llth Nov, it APP
pears that You are opposed to this amendment.
hat article, II we are not greatly m!stuken pre-
StiIlS All NlCN nom OF inc operation
The constitution US it now is, and also OF It's opera
ton II the proposed amendment should be adopt
ed. Your article says: "Accurding to existing
| regulations, all alterations or amendments Of the
constitution must he proposed by the council OF
censors, chosen by the people at large, and adopt
ed 10y II convention composed of one delegate from
each town i'll Tie state, in its organized political
| capacity" And after giving very favorable opin
ION Of this mode ofanlending the constitution, :hc
arucle proceeds TO say that the proposition of
the council OF ccnsors is to give 10 simple major.
| ny OF HE people The power ol adopting amend
| ments in addition 10 the power they now virtual.
~ possess OF p'opJSlAS amendments, so that The
whole pDner over the subject OF amendment will
rest win mere majority oil HE ireeinen in their
aggregate or collective capacity" Here follows
IA remark or two the high power of amending
the constitution. And then great fear is express
Cd that evils of no small magnitude will be seen
and felt, especially in times OF high political ox-
element, II amendments pr opposed by mere ma
Iority OF the council OF censors, may become part
fthe constitution by mere majority OF the pop
uiar vote" There are two fundamental errors in
these quotations, upon which your whole areu-
nrnt against the amendment in question rcsls.
" Len these are corrected, aud your premises
shown 10 he false the arguments aud conclusions
drawn from them must fall 10 the ground The
first error consists in the assertion Tint, accord
lug TO existing regulations, all amendments to the
constitution must he adopted by convention
composed oi one delegate from each town." The
second, IN surprising that "a mere majority of TIE
council oil ceusoIs" can propose amendments for
the action OF the freemen, i! The amendment in
question shall be adopted. Upon these rest the
whole sulerstrucure of your argument against
his amendment especially HAT part of 1t which
goes TO show that, under lis operation, the smaiI
towns would bc in greater danger OF losing their
separate representation in the legislature. The
small towns are taught 10 believe That, under EEK
islinc regulations" !hey tire safe but that, if fu
ture amendments should he referred TO the people,
10y "a mere majority OF the council OF ccusors, '
then their representation will he wiescd from
them. This is well calculated 10 excite the fears
OF the small towns, and TO secure the votes OF their
delegates against this amendment. But perhaps
it may he well for the small TO Nns and all Others
not TO place too much reliance on newspaper ari-
ees on subject of such importance, when 10y ref
erence TO the constitutions aud to the proposed n.
mendmens, they will be able to arrive NJ ,uore
just conclusions Wei, then. how stands the con-
sullon on the subject OF Il convention TO adopt
+ amendments? That instrument simply says
"The said council Of censors shall have power 10
call Il convention TO meet within two years after
I their sitting" Not one word is said lathe con
stnTtion whether the convention shall consist Of
one, TWO, or three delegates from n town or
whether IL shall consist OF delegates from Towns,
or counties, or districts We look in vain for vny
| provision or existing regulations" in The consu-
ton, restricting The council TO the constitution
OF line convention which they may call. The con
] stulitn leaves il 10 their discretion. They have
| therefore pennry and unuled power over the
whole subject Every council of censors can do.
eide for itself how constitute the convention ii
may call Any future council, who should pro-
| pose an amendment taking the representation n.
way from any number OF small towns, would call
a convention on the basis OF population. This
may he done under The constitution rs it now
4 IA,
wilhstanding. What more ran he done under the
proposed amendment iti is adopted? Certainly
nothing for the small towns To say The least OF
il, would he MS safe 10 commit their interests TO Tho
freemen nj large, as 10 convention strictly on the
basis OF population. The writer OF tins Is opposed
TO taking The representation in the legislature from
the smnl towns on The contrary lac cheerlully
accOrls 10 them that ancient right" Nor does
he believe that Two thirds OF any future council OF
censors will ever propose an amendment to the
constitution leprivinel hem oiit'To prove The Soc
ond in your article, as above stated II 10 hn-
J ly necessary 10 copy part of the 10th article OF
the proposed amendments OF the constitution
! This article commences as follows:
Whenever two-hrds of the council of CEN
sors shall propose any amendment, explanation
or addition 10 tho constitution OF this state, they
shall propose the same directly TO HE people, for
their adoption or rejection, instead Of calling a
| convention therefor"
Ihus II WIN DC seen thaf instead oil mere ma
lority, il will require lwo-hrds oflhe whole num-
her Of the council of eensors to propose the
slightest amendment Of the constitution f,I
the action of the freemen, il this amend
ment should he adopted, Is this no security a
ganst an imprc viient exercise of this important
power? Whenever amendments arc proposed
the people will be furnished with ballots for ano
against each nmendmen which they can depos
tie IN The ballol-boxes with no greater trouble Of
expens, than il would cos, Them TO depos,e theI
ballots for delegates to the convention so that Tho
whole expense of u convention would be saved e
the tax payers Of The state, once in seven years
'ihe event Of the rejection Of this amendmsnt, III