Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-01-13


Hee iuru lbft Us would be pow erful argument
10y i.e ae'osetei Of the smaller towns should go
ect'e tNa Ufneu lmont; they would say that they
vot, Under 0a legations to yield to the popular
t.s HreH .lsr were not even invited 10 do IT,
To the smaller towns he appealed TO grant equal
privileges 10 the people.
Mr.. Barlow said he came here against this a.
mendnent, but occurrences here induced him to
change his views II was safe to trust the people,
aud it was not competent for him to judge over
! mem and say that the people will not do right
lie was not in favor Of altering the system Of rep
resenatlon that he would leave 10 the people,
confident that they would do better justice on that
ana oil other constitutional questions, than body
Ike this. The people, he thought, would adopt
amendments which had been rejected here
MIR. Galusha opposed the amendment, insisting
that it must be, as it is, the policy Of all good gov
ernnlents 10 take care Of the weak. This is done
now ny our constitution, in the provision for rep
reseniatlon according to population in one branch,
ana ny corporations in the other
Mr. Colby briefly supported the amendment, as
me only equal md just mode Of getting the pop
ulnr will
Mr.. CaIoon said he was satisfied there was
something concealed in this Amendment. Here
toinre direct propositions had been made to change
The basis OF representation and this amen dment
proposed Indirectly to do that very thing. He was
utterI, opposed to It. The result would he to de-
slr0y the admirable checks aud balances of the
constitution: both branches wouhl be represented
| ny population; the larger towns having more
power Ihnn the small, the practical effect would
! he That the small towns would have no power at
| all.
MIR. Parish said lac MS instructed on this qIes-
ton, aud in the name OF his constituents lie asked
| that their rights should bo regarded. IL wa1 not
| right that II snh minority OF the people, through
conventions like this, should hive complete control
Of The organic law Of the stale.
Mr.. Clnrk of Mldletuwn admitted that repre-
sri'alIou was IN 'q'ial. 50 II was III that
admirable work of human wisdom, the constitu-
lon Of the United States. And it was right: for
forty years, This had protected the state from an
nrIStorracy OF wealth, from the otherwise over
ro"erng influence OF the large and wealthy
towns.
Mr. Howard said it was hardly right TO regard
ihis as proposition 10 change the mode of repre-
senlaion. Ii was but simple proposition, wheill-
| or the people Of the Whole state should or should
MT have The right to make their own constitutions
! He thought they had me right to do this, and e
wouLi coni1 IN their disposition to exercise this
great power wisely. As u matter Of expediency,
he :houshI the change desirable. 1t would save
expense.
Mr. Rice Of Som; sad it was true the prop
oS'on was not directly to change the mode OF rep
reservation that would be tbs result. lie regar-
deti our present mode OF representation rs exactly
right The popular, the local aud The corporate
interests were now all secure; whereas change
would subject all To Tie control of one Interest,".
lie iorcsaw another weighiy objection: change
The mode Of representation, aud the political ma
Jordy in county or district would have all the
ators and representatives, thus leaving the minor
ny entirely uurepreSened and unpto ected
Mr.. Chandler thOught the udg ment of the peo-
pie was against tis change they did not deem
the town meeting TO he the best place 10 discuss
grave constitutional quesii lis, but rather would
they lave The wisest nrn OF the Stale assembled
10 decide such questions lie was against auy
change III the mode of representation. There are
trit.
sonal, and those which may he called town or Gee
iI"nal interests. iiy the representation of both,
no law can pass without The assent OF both and
this was wise. II changed, there Was danger lha,
laws would BE- worse than they are now, aud still
more unstable.
Mr.. Poland said lac was Instructed to 60 against
this amendment, and lac should do SO, believing
our present system OF representation TO be right |
He had no disposition to atrldse the rights OF The |
small towns; aud yet when he saw the small
towns the minority of the people, insisting
not only upon their own rights, but nlso denying
the rights of the people-as they had done in this
convention Wy denying the people the right to elect
their sherlifs he confessed he should vote against
this amendment with some reluctance.
On motion of MIR. Field the convention Il l.
journed.
2o'cLocK, p. NJ.
Future Amendments Of The Constitution.
When we entered the hall, the tenth resolution
was under consideration aud Mr, Field OF New
fame had the floor, aud was warning The represent
lalives of the sm, towns that, it they persisted
in tranIpling upon the rights of the people, the
evil would AT length become so pal palilj that 1t
would moi he tolerated; or, 10 Use an expression of
his own they would "gel snap oil Rhode Island"
BY tho seventh article OF the declaration OF rights
he claimed that the people had un nlubI'able,
uujrnUe aud uleieashle right toacr lh cun-
stinlum whenever and however thoy pleased.- /
Write il down. thea, ye representatives OF acres,
said llc-carry il home with you, and see il the
prediction is not vcrlfed within a quarter OF .
century. II was for the right of self government
II ii on the very principle that representation and
TAXATION should 90 together, that our fathers broke
away from Great Britain lie then went on 10
show that the constitution was the Supreme rule
OF action for The executive, judicial and legislative
departments OF the governments, aud should =
therefore mast emphnucnlly he matter subjected
to tls popular will; yet IN point of fact, 1t was
controlled, not 10y the peopIe-not by the repre- :
sentaIives of MAORI OF The people, aud OF per-
sous but 10y the representatives OF n minority, aud
Oi corporations, acres, property, &c. &c. Glas-
lenhury, with Ills voters (and six justices OF the
peuce y aud SIG dollars of taxes, had equal pow
er with Bennington, with her population OF more {
than 3000 who pail annually taxes TO the amount
OF $1,000. This lie alluded 10 as Il specimen of f,
monsirous injustice in the division Of political
power, aud us showing that taxation and represent
Ialion did not go together. Either one OF two
edes must be had relortl in the basis of rep u
res sntaon, or II tho towns are represented cor
porations, they should pay as such-that is, all '
an equal amount. lie said the constitution con-
sues detached whole which, while it repre-
stqts the determination of The whole people, is no
less binding Oh HE Legislature than on the private
clllzen, aud so long existed il should lie regar.
ded as the origin OF all authority aud the supreme il
law ut the land. lie alluded to the remark of !,
some member on the Aoor OF the conventions that II
this power should be kept from the people, Tor c
the reason that It's exercise would bcget idle con-
lroyersy. He said he never depreca,e,. controver-
sizes among the people, particularly whore they re-
if.tt 10 a. oas lu1ila ol-i effected their rights
Ha SAID ha would encourage coa B
l "..r cook ihs u
CaH. tntta lHt f.lrtH
t alf W. iJt,'