Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-01-27


| lie was against any change in the mode OF
representation. There are distinct rights
and interests--those which are PERSONAL and
those which may be called town or sectional
interests BY the representation of both,
no law can pass without the assent of both
and this was wise If changed, there was
danger that laws would be worse than they
are now, and still more unstable
Mr. Poland said he was instructed to go
against this amendment, and he should do
so, believing our present system of represent
tation to be right lie had no disposition to
abridge the rights Of the small towns; and
vet when he saw the small towns, the minor
I itS of the people, insisting not only upon
their own rights, but also denying the rights
of the people-as they had done in this con-
yenion by denying the people the right TO
elect their sheriffs-he confessed he should
vote against this amendment with some re-
luctance.
On motion Of Mr. Field, the convention
adjourned.
? 2 O'Clock, P. NJ.
Future Amendments Of the Constitution.
When we entered the hall, the tenth reso-
luton was under consideration, and MIR
Field of Newfane had the floor, and was
warning the representatives. Of the small
towns that, if they persisted in trampling
upon the rights of the people, the evil would
at length become so palpable that it would
not be tolerated or, to use an expression
of his own, they would "get a snap Of Rhode
Island" BY the seventh article in the dec
laration Of rights he claimed that the people
had an "indubtable, unalienable and indie
feasible right" TO alter the constitution when
ever and however they pleased. Write it
down, then. We representatives of acres, said
he-carry it home with you, and see if the
prediction is not verified within quarter Of
a century 1t was for the right Of selfgoy-
ernment and on the very principle that rep
resentation and taxation should 90 together,
that our fathers broke away from Great Brit
+ ain. He then went on to show that the con-
stitution was the supreme rule Of action for
the executive, Judicial and legislative depart
ments of the governments, and should there
1 fore most emphatcaly be matter subjected
to the popular will; yet in point of fact, it
was controlled not by the peope-not by
the representatives. of a majority Of the peo-
! pie, and persons-but by the representa-
tives of minority, and of corporations,
acres, property, &c. &c. Glastonbury, with
lis IL voters, land six justices Of the peace ~
and $40 oftaxes, had equal power with Ben
nington, with her population of more than
5000, who paid annually taxes TO the amount
Of $1,000. This he alluded to as speci-
men Of monstrous Injustice in the division
Of political power and as showing that taxa
ton and representation did not go together
Either one CT two remedies must be had -
a reform in the basis Of representation, or if
the towns are represented as corporations,
they should pay as such--that is, all an C.
quail amount. He said the constitution con-
sttutes detached whole, which, while il
represents the determination Of the whole
people, is no less binding on the Legislature
than on the private citizen, and so long as
II existed it should be regarded as the orr
gin Of all authority and the supreme law of
the land. He alluded to the remark of some
member on the floor Of the convention, that
this power should be kept from the people.
for the reason that its exercise would beret
idle controversy. He said he never depre-
Gated controversies among the people, par
ticularly where they related 10 those matters
which affected their rights aud liberties
! He said he would encourage controversy, for
with Lord Bacon he could say, that "coatro-
rorsy was the 1innO'cing ,cind that pinno,c-
:, ed out the truth"
Mr. Jones, Of Windsor, warned the gentle
man from Newfane not 10 put on 'the seven
league boots; !" humorously commenting to
him the unfortunate results in the case of
Gen. jackson, of the little man who under
took to tread in the Generals footsteps, and
OF some of the wings at the last session of
Congress.
4 MIR Harmon opposed the amendment,
doubling whether the people were yet pre-
pared to act Understandings in town meet
ings upon great constitutional questions
He, however was in favor of restoring to the
people their rights, particularly in exercising
the appointing power; and said that il this
was not done. the wing of Pawlet and the
democrat from Newiane, might be found
side by side, demanding the election of the
next constitutional convention on the basis
of population.
Mr. Lyman, of Burlington, spoke against
the amendment. He said gentlemen on all
hands agreed as TO the grand principle that
the people are the sovereigns, and the source
OF all political power; and still il was not
!, strange if, in their reasonings from this prin-
4 ciple, they arrived at different conclusions.
While the principle was fully admitted, in
carrying it out practically, exceptions to the
principle, or notifications of it, were every
where to be found, SO it was in the consti-
tuition of the United States-so in our own.
The people-;he majority-have now the
control of the Senate, which has an absolute
} negative upon the House, constituted of rep
I resentatives Of the towns as corporations
they, too, elect the Executive, who has a