The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-08
Proceedings Ofthe Council of
Cenaors.


copy of the proceedings of the Council
has been received at this office, and the fol.
lowing abstracts will detail the most impor-
tant business which was brought before them:
The Council of Censors elected on the last
Wednesday of March, A. ID. 1913, met in the
SENATE Chamber at Montpelier, on the 9Th of
June.
The Council were called 10 order by Mr.
Bell. Chnres X. Williams was unanimous
ly elected President, and John N. Pomeroy
wns in like hummer elected Secretary.
The petition OF G. Arlington and others,
requesting the Council to inquire, among
ether things, into the eXpediency of so a.
mending the Constitution as TO limit the u
mount of land hereafter To be acquired by
purchase by any individual, and of securing
from debts here after to be contracted,a fam
lily homestead, was received read and laid on
the table. This was finally referred to the
President the Council, TO report at the
next meeting.
A committee ofthree was appointed to en-
quire whether the Constitution has been pre-
served inviolate during the last septenary,
called the Committee on The PolUers Of the Con-
stituiion, composed of the following persons:
Messrs. Hebard, Crawford and Burt.
a committee ofthree was appointed to en-
quire whether the Legislative branch of the
government have performed their duties as
guardians ofthe people, or assumed to them
selves, or exercised other or greater powers
than they are entitled by the Constitution,
and whether the laws generally have been
duly executed, called the Legislative Commit
lee, composed of Messrs. Dewey, Allen and
Dulton.
A Committee was appointed to enquire
whether the Executive has assumed other or
greater powers than the Constitution allows,
called the ErecttiUe Committee, composed Of
Messrs. Bell Crawford and James.
A committee was appointed TO enquire
whether the public taxes have been Justly
levied and collected, and in what manner the
public money has been disposed ofcalIed the
Committee on I'dreS and expenditures, compos-
ed of Messrs. James Burt and Cool.
a committee was appointed to enquire in
to the cons,itutionalty and expectancy of
laws in relation to the School fund. compos-
ed of Messrs. Bell, Hebard and Dewey.
A committee was appointed TO enquire
whether il is eXpedient so 10 amend the Con-
stituion of the State as 10 secure II more e.
quail representation in the House of Repre-
sentatives, composed of Messrs. Pomeroy,
Cool and Allen.
A committee was appointed to enquire in
to the eXpediency Of so amending the Con-
stiiuiou us 10 give the election of Asst Judges
of the County Courts, SheriflS, High Bailf ifs,
and States Attorneys, directly TO the free
men ofiheir respective connties,and the cleo
ton of the Judges of the Probate Courts di
rectly to the ireemen of their respective Pro-
bate districts, and of Justices of the Peace to
the freemen of the towns in which they re-
side.
A committee WINS appointed 10 enquire and
report upon the expediency ofso amending
the Constitution that hereafter all amend
ments to the Constitution shall be proposed
10y the Senate, aud their adoption submitted
directly to the ireemen ofthe State, 10 be by
them adopted or reiected-under such regu-
lations and in such manner as shall he provi-
ded by law-and in that case to abolish the
Council of Censors, composed of Messrs.
Dutton, Ilebard, and Pomeroy.
A resolution that it is eXpedient so to alter
the Constitution as 10 give the choice Of the
Clerks of Courts TO the freemen of their re-
spective counties, aud so as to give the choice
of Register CO Probate to the freemen of the
several Probate dstricts--or to provide for
the election of these officers in the same
manner that other county aud Probate Off
GERS are chosen which was referred TO the
committee raised relative the election of
County officers.
A committee was raised to enquire whether
it is expedient so to amend the Constitution,
as to elect the State Senators for longer
term than one year, and TO provide for CLASH
flying and arranging the Senate, in case the
term of office should he extended, Composed
of Messrs, Crawford Poneroy and James.
A committee wns raised to enquire into the
expediency SHOULD the Council see fit to call
II Convention) of having the delegates to said
Convention elected by the several counties,
according to their respective population, con-
sisting of Messrs. Burt, Allen and Cool.
The following resolutions wera referred to
the above mentioned committees:
Resolved That the committee on the Pow
ers of the Constitution enquire i'll the eSpe-
diency of so amending the Constitution as to
dispense with the County Judges.
Resolued, That the committee OH the Pow
ers ofthe Constitution enquire into the expe-
diency of so amending the 9th section of the
I'd Part of the Constitution, as 10 limit the
elections therein provided for,to the LIST Tues
day of September, annually.
Resolved. That the committee raised reIa-
tive to the election ofSenators, be directed to
enquire and report upon the expediency of an
alteration and amendment of the 4th article
of the amendments TO the Constitution so as
to provide for an apportlonment of the Sena-
tors TO the several countries according TO their
population-regard being always had in such
apportionment, to the Counties having the
greatest fraction.
RESOLVED, That the Legislative committee
enquire into the expedicncy of so amending
the 48d section of the Constitution of this
State, rs to provide for the election Of IA
members OF the Council of Censors.
And also, the expectancy of amending the
Constitution so as TO provide for the election,
4 ~, "a yitI