Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-09
The Council of Censors.
The Rutland Herald says:

proprlety demand. But we. in Vermont,
presume our Constitution to be a weak,
fragile, faulty thing. Once in seven years.
and no oflener II must be sick. its symptoms
must be examined, the Doctors must be
called together, and homeopathic doses must
be administered, or at least the Doctors do
not wish TO meet in solemn conciave, exam
inc the Patient, and then recommend
nothing. One change the Constitution does
need. Abolish the Council of Censors--
Turn out the Doctors. Let the Constitution
alone, aud learn TO respect, to revere, and TO
obey it. Let the Legislature propose needed
amendments, and then lot the people vote
upon proposed amendments as they now do.
We are IN favor Of biennial sessions of the
Legislature, and OF equal representation in
the lower House. But there is not the
slightest probability that these changes will
be effected and therefore we DO not propose
to make much talk about it.
Ii changes should be made so as to
constitute the General Assembly more
exclusively a legislative body, we should
like it. Let the people elect the Supreme
and Circuit Court Judges, as well as other
Judges. Then would legislation be less
tramncllcd with matters foreign to legisla-
ton and the Legislature would be less
hanassed by Office ueekcrs, and lobby mem
bers."
Our friend of the Herald usually accu-
rate, by the way-by no means does justice
to the trainers Of the Constitution, if to
the people of Vermont. They (the framers)
evidently considered that instrument an OK
cellcnt one, and not without reason, having
drawn largely, in the construction of it. from
the first constitution Of Pennsylvania, which
had been formed under the eve of BrNJAMiN
FRANKLiN, the President Of the Pcnnsylva-
mia Convention. Perfect they knew it nigh
not be, and therefore they provided, through
Council Of Censors, for amending it IN CT
ses of " absolute necessity" "for the pres
erva,ion of the rights and happiness of tic
people," These words, in connection with
the provision for an election of the Council
only once In seven years show that the fra
mers Of the Constitution did not anticipate
necessity for either material or frequent a.
mendmcnis and this Interpretation OF their
views is confirmed by the further fact, that
the chief duty OF the Council is altogether
different from amending the Constilu'ion-R
TO maintain the CoRJitiHi,0n urioilie Their
chief duties are " to inquire whether the
Constitution has been preserved inviolate in
every part during the last septenary, and
whether the legislative aud executive bran.
ches Of government have performed their
duty as guardians of the people, or assumed
To themselves or exercised other or greater
powers than They are entitled to By the Con.
sttution to inquire whether the public
taxes have been Justly laid and collected 10
all parts Of this commonwealth; in what
manner the public moneys have been dis
posed of, and whether the laws have been
daily executed" These seem to be the chief
purposes Of the Council. In short, they
are to exercise a censorship over pub
lie affairs, and hence their name" the
COUNCIL or CfssoRs;" hence, too. the ex
traordinary powers conferred upon them, to
send for persons papers, and records pass
public censures, order impeachments, and
recommend the legislature to repeal such
laws as sail appear u them to have been
passed contrary to the principles of the Con-
siituiion. See section 4 of tn, Consttu.
ton.
Now were the design Of tho Council sun
ply what the HcraH treats IT as being.-a
council to propose amendments, the propo.
sition TO abolish that body would resolve i,
lie 10y ts-sa a. -r-.--.t- s.etnut tiie
Constitution shall be open for amendment in
another mode. and would hardly he worth
discussing until some other mode is propos-
ed. The tferald suggests that the Le-is'a-
h~e should propose amendments, instead of
the Council. Then we m,y have amend
ments, not once IN seven years, but ero.y
year possibly reducing the supreme law
nearly to the level of simple statute. Ia
case of ubolishng the Council, won't tie
Herdd limit the power Of the Legislature to
prop Sc amendments in point Of tiale-sry
every seventh year; Those gentlemen who .
think that annual sessions Of the Legislator,
are too ireqienl, ought 10 concede that tn,
Constitution may possibly be too often tink
cred.
Again; i, as we think the fact il, Tie
chief purpose # the Council is TO detect and
prevent arrangements upon The Constitution.
and exercise rigid censorship over public
officers, both legislative and executive, those
who propose To abolish the Council should at
lncc proceed to demonstrate that the Com
'Iliution needs no guardianship anl public
'llicers no censorship, except such as VIII
spring spontaneously from the people. Go
ahead, Mr.. Herah.
- The Uooisioet Slmiard is nppa-
rently very much afraid that Montpelier peo-
pie will have great inf fence over the Coun.
cl, and hopes il will hold It's meetings some
where else. Don't be alarmed. The Gus.
tom of the Council has heretofore been TO
rotate over the State. We 90 not know of
any body in Montpelier who objects 10 til,
custom.
- The Chittend IN tRcpnbliean ,, e, I.
Committee have called County tonven-
ton on the 18th Inst, at Burlington, to nom.
mate a candidate for the Council Wbv M,
have one IN Washington Counly-say on the
92d-Washlngton's birthday. VIII our
Committee men lead or?
- The Freeman thinks Mr.. Redfeld is
eligible us Censor, although he has been a
member Of the General Assembly" within
he last septenary. But suppose the Coun--
Ill should think otherwise; Mr.. r. would
ose a seat, and Washington County men,
'er-wouldn't they
OF'Our friend-a rery saucy friend-of
he " Autograph and Remlrker," is anxious
10 know why the list of NJ. C.'s was omitted
IN our last Register. Well sir: first. the