Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-11-15

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her accustomed good sense and caution in ever.
thing affecting her system of government, sh'
will be sure to retain her freedom, her credit, ant
her high state Of prosperity.
q NO ..
The proposed amendments provide, among 9th
or important alterations, that the assistant Judges
Of the county court sheriiis, hieh-baililiss, an,
states attorneys, shall be elected by the iroemer
of their respective counties; judges and registers
of probate, by the iroomen Of their respective
probate districts; and Justices of the peace, by
the freomen Of their respective towns.
This proposition, it will be perceived at once
is Of very serious import II ia so, on account Of
the radical change it would effect in the consti-
tuition, by obolishing the mode of appointment
which has existed from the foundation Of the rov.
} ernment, and introducing mode which is new
; and in character an experiment The inquiries
which naturally arise are these: Is there any ncces-
sity for change IN the mode of0pponhncnt? Are
there any known existing evils which require a
change to be made? J. there an evident certainty
that the change proposed will be am Improvement :
These inquiries should be answered in the affirm
ative before we should consent to abandon a
mode Of appointment established by the wisdom
Of our fathers, and which has been in practice,
with the appreciation and sanction Of the people,
nearly three quarters of a century.
What is the present mode of appointment? All
the county officers are appointed by the senate
and house of representatives, in joint assembly, on
nominations first made, according to long settled
usage, by the members from the respective coun-
ties in separate county conventions. The ap-
pointments arc annual and are made on nomina-
ton by senators and representatives annuity
elected by the people. There is responsibility.
The power of appointment is exercised by
known responsible persons, who are bound to
] do buVp ri -
pacity, character, and merit. The history of the
state shows that the power hls been exercised
IN genera with Judgment, liberaity, and mag
IMMUNITY Tree from excessive party nanowness
and blTotry, and without exciting or disturbing
the quiet of the community
How will it be under the change which is pro-
posed? | do not Ike to speak rcproachfullv of
any indlv uals or bodies of individuals: but the
truth III so important matter should not be con-
cealed. Our Judgment should be guided bv
facts, by the actual practical operation. rather
than the theory Of the thing. Is not the country
lull OF organizations, in the form of clubs.
chques, and conventions and have not these
organizations acquired so much strength and in
Huencc, as to assume the direction, if not the uc-
tual control, Of the popular will? By whom are
all the succ ;sul nominations for political offices
made! by these organic tons, managed and
controied 10y the active politicians oflentimes by
heated and INSCRIPTIONS pnrtzlns. And is it
to be supposed that there can be any ropular
elections over which they viii not claim control
What, then, are we asked to do: Whv. virtual
" TO transfer the power Of appointing tie exc
cutive and Judicial officers, from a responsible
constitutional body, to irresponsible self-created
o0dleS TO make every appointment the subject
OF open political contest: to introduce amonr
the people new and fruitful causes of popular
STRIFE and dlsscnsion; and to augment ten fold
HE tyranny and eXclusiveness of party
1t Is quite certain that the change proposed
would neither improve our social conition nor
elevate our public character The fear is. that
the innovation would be extended still further.
and ultimately change the character Of the entire
judiciary Of the State bringing about sad and
Notifying decay in the administration Of Justice
IN ability, purity, and rcctitude If the principle
# the amendment in question is once admitted,
there would be great difficulty in denying or re-
sisting its application TO the judges of the SUI
preme court Indeed, its extension to them
might be counted upon as an inevitable result
for when the agitntCrs hive uccoeded in osiab-
fishing the Principle, they viii not rest until they
have carried it out to its full legitimate extent,
and brought every public officer and especially
The more important ones, within its operation
And what then should we have? The Judges of
The highest court Of the State elected annually
and by popular vote; nominated and put up Tor
election as candidates for political Offices are
nominated and put up; exposed not only like
them to Misrepresentation and abuse from party
violence and madness in the public journals, hut
10 anonymous attacks through the same channels
from disappointed suit0rs and unsuccessful COM
petitors. What Won d be the character and con
diton Of the judiciary? What the state Of the
law These questions are easily answered |
The Judges would become party Judges, and the /
court tribunal without dignity commanding !
neither respect nor confidence The law would !
become rather matter of popular sentiment than
OF fixed rule; and when the law loses its SYSTEM |
attic nature, and is dependant on popular mpu- |
ses, what security is there for rational freedom,
what safety tor private rights
It is much to be doubted. as said at a former
period on the same subject, whether the people
will feel greatly llattered with this proposition
or regard II, however well it may have Teen in
tended, as much Of u compliment to their intelli-
gence or patriotism. Their object must be. as
they know it IS their interest, to have the eXecn-
tive and Judicial Offices Of the State filled, not
with mere political partizans, but with men of
admitted capacity established character and I'M
doubted integrity snd if this is effected, they
care little about the mode in which it is accom-.
pllshet, whether by means of their direct and
acton, or through the fundamentally
OF agents by them annually elected for the puf-
pose.
The power Of appointment is now virtually in
the people, exercised by Them TO be sure through
Their authorized and responsible agents, the SEN
atoTs pnd representatives. F; ana they well know
that the appointments can be made more peacea-
bly, and quietly, and at the same time not less
fairly and iudiciousy, in the old, accustomed.
and approved mode, thar through the medium,
and amidst the turbulence and angry violence of
excited and enraged popular contests. The
sound and sensible part Of the community must