Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-01-13
MONDAY, Jau. 0.

| Mr. Kidder introduced resolution for adjourn
nent without day tomorrow morning Oppose
by Mr. Hunt, supported by Mr. Kidder and re
iected
Election Of .Sheri6s and High BdiiGS.
On motion OF Mr. Langdon, the convention wen
| into committee OF the whole, MIR. Hunt in tn
chair, on the fifth and sixth resolutions, declarin
| 1t expedient to adopt the fifth aud sixth amend
menls proposed by the council of censors TIL
debate was resumed and continued during III
forenoon sng-Nlessrs. Langdon. Deavitt Bar
lew Duiton, Needham, and Bradley OF Sunder
| land supporting tho amendments, opposed b.
Messrs. Sabin, Story. Rce OF Somerset, Cahoon
| and Whitney.
On motion Of MIR Poland, the committee ros
md asked leave to SIT again, and the convention
Adjourned.
2o'cLocK, =. NJ.
Election of Sheri6S and High BdiiGs.
GA motion Of Mr.. Field, the convention wen
INTO committee OF the whole, Nh Eaton in til,
chair on the fifth aud sixth amendments. Tht
discussion was continually Nlessrs Field Of Now
fame, Poland, and Bowen, in favor of these amend
mcnis aud by Messrs Hunt and Chapman oppo
sed To them, when, on motion of MIR Hubbel, the
committee rose aud reported that i, is erpedien to
udOpt the amendments.
Mr. Clark, of Middletown, moved an adjourn.
lncnt negutived l3S TO SO.
Mr. lark, Of MiddIelown tlcn moved to lay the
report III the, comulttce on the table, saying he
wished 10 submit Il few remarks on the question,
but Withdrew his mOliun aud proceeded to sneak
briefly against the amendments protesting against
hastily adopting ihem, us il the entiun should
now crr The people could never correct the evil
without the Intervention Of council oil censOrs,
which can lie elected only once in seven years.
As a test question, MIR Hunt moved to amend
the resolution read that it is iGtTpedient to
adopt the fifth aud sixth amendments.
MIR EiplI nf Na,vfnnn r,ispJ 4
against this motion, which was sustained by the
chair; but after suggestions by Messrs. Hunt aud
Lyman OF Burlington The char reversed its decis-
ion aud admitted The motion of Mr Hunt.
Messrs. Colby aud Field Of Newinnc opposed
tho motion, when il was Withdrawn by Mr. Hunt.
The question then required Oh the adoption OF
the nth and sixth resolutions, which declare that
ii is exPedicnt To adopt The fifth aud SIKH articles
OF amendment: ayes l0l noes l23-so the amend
ments wore rJtcied Adjourned.
TUESDAY, jan 10.
Prayer Iy Rev. Mr. Gridley.
Election Of Justices Of The Peace.
MIR Hunt introduced resolutions adopting dis
luct puIlions OF the amendment OF, the election of
justices Of The peace, viz: LIST, providing for their
election by the iowhs and 3D. the clause limiting
the number OF Justices.
These resolutions were laid on the table, and on
motion OF Mr. Wright The convention went into
committee of the whole, Mr. Cark Of Middletown
III The clair, on the seventh resolution of MIR Ea.
ton, which declares that it is rXpedcnt 10 adopl
The seventh amendment, the election VI JUSTICES
OF justices Of peace by the people.
ne debate was opened very ably 10y Mrssrs.
WhiLcnIoic OF Milton, and Lyman ui Bennington
IN favor Of this respnllon followed by Messrs. Ca
IuShh, Barlow, Dexter, and Needham on the same
side. The argument started from the broad
principle that the people are capable of sui.gov-
nIt1t lint
power TO he directly exercised by lIenl save
where necessary to he delegated. In this case
such a Necessity was denied aud MS matter OF
policy S.oXpedcncy, II was urged that the amend
ment should he sustained. Practically, it vas ur.
ged thai die appointing power was in HE hands Of
one man from each town: that from personal and
party considerations the power was abused, re.
sulting III II vast numbur Of magistrates, many of
whom were incompetent, aud not few corrupt
thus diminishing the respect of lie people for the
nlnostracy, und increasing the means oi litigation.
These evils II was argued, would none ui them |
be Increased by restoring the appointing power
Inc people the limitation Of the number of mag
strutes would lessen the inducements now held |
out for them to purchase business 10y working
cheap il no, TO say for becoming the magistrates OF
he lawyer or the party employing them aud ar
5uing from the acknowledged resp. c,uhiliry Of the
Itiicers elected by HE people, su"h Us select
men, is was said that the character OF tho nagis-
rates would he ralsed, aud tie services Of better
ma more competent men would he secured. This |
consequence was deemed sure, from the consider
iilon that the people, Of all parties, would nulu
'aly always regard the public good it being their
JWU interest to do 50.
Mcssls. Smile, Hunt and Cahoon opposed the
esouon, taking the grounds that the people had
100 required the change, and that whether ono
nohe Was really more republican than another
imposed no obligation upon them to act against
lI,,f tla tltnp
creased in the constitution under which the peo-
nc had lived, without complaint, for fifty years.
/ was objected 10y some that the magistrates were
county officers, aud the people Of the whole coun
y shUud, therefore, have some supervision over
her appointment, AS they now do and also that
t was proposed TO elect them by bare plurality
If votes, thus conravenng the democratic prin
ciple that the will OF the majority should prevail.
The large number distributed over the towns was
urged as u convenience 10 the people, aud it was
lenied that the maglsIracy deserv 81 The bad char
lcter which had been assigned to Them.
la the course Of the debate, there We're some
personal and parry hits OF pretty sharp charsc
er, cutting both Ways, h0wev,r us men OF both
,arlies were found on different sides, Mr.. Whit.
emore took the occasion to arragn Mr. Van Bu-
'en, as well as some very prominent Van Buren,
nen OF our own State, with a portion of the
Wings, who, he tho'I, on this occasion, had depart
I'd from the republican platform aud Mr. Barlow
ocoj Significantly limited that he began TO find
hat there were about as many true democrats in
one party rs the other; and in reference 10 some
Of his own political friends, said he was OF con-
ent that they should conceal their own opinions
behind the aledged opinions of" the people"
Messrs Fuam and Chandler explained in
points oil which they claimed TO have been mis-
represented, without taking ground for or against
THIS nneh"ment, and on molion Of Mr. Story the
committee rose and reported progress.
Adjourned.
2ocLocK, p. NJ.
Election Of Justices OfMe Peace
On motion OF Mr. Austin, the convention went
INTO committee OF The whole, Mr. Needham in the
chair on ihe seV"H'h resolution nnd the debate