Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-05-16

eral Assembly, or by either branch
thereof will be made pipa uoce-
The mode proposed would harmon
ize more with the Independent spirit
OF lreomen, and give the people an
opportunity of knowing how the
power delegated to their representa-
tiyes had been exercised.
The Council believe that section
43 Of the Constitution is defective.
and should be amended. 1t enloius
on the Council Of Censors several
duties, among which ARE, to " inquire
whether The Constitution has been
preserved lnyiolate in every part dur
ing the last septenary; whether the
legislative and executive branches Of
the 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 Constitution /;
and whether the public taxes have
been Justly laid and collected in all
parts Of ITS Commonwealth the
discharge OF which is of no practi-
cal benefit to the people. However
much importance might have been
attached TO the discharge Of such
duties, during the period Of years
when the government was destitute
Of any efficient checks on inconsld-
crate or unconstitutional legislation.
. 1t is apparent that by the organlza.
ilou Of the Senate, as coordinate
and 10 many respects an independent
brauch OF the Legislature, and the
passage Of laws regulating aud en-
forcing the discharge Of the duties
Of government officers, more eff
cieut remedies for the evils which
the trainers Of that section of the
1 Constitution anticipated might exist
have been provided.
The more important duties anc
powers of the Council under III,
present Constitution and laws reIat,
to amendments Of the Constitution
and their power to call Convention
TO adopt the same. The section pro
vides that the Council shall hav
power to call a Convention, "l
there appears to them an absolute
necessity Of amending any article.
/ Of the Constitution which may be
/ defective, explaining such as may be
thought not clearly expressed and
Of adding such as are necessary for
the preservation of the rights and
happiness of the people /; " but the
manner of calling the Convention
an the number Of delegates of
which It shall be composed rest en-
I lirely IN the discretion Of the Coun-
clI. In order TO prevent frequent
and unnecessary amendments and
alterations Of the Organic Laws OF
/ the State, the Constitution wisely
provides that two-ths.ds of the whole
number Of Tie Council elected shall
a4roe aa To calling a Convention,
which implies that two-lhirds ol the
lfeemen Of the State (represenIed
I by the Councd) Shall beside that
there is an absolute necessity Of u
mcndlng the Constitution, before
they call Convention to consider
the same and when the Council ~
the discharge Of The duties assigned
them, propose amendments to the
Constitution, and having decided 10y
IA Two thirds vote to call a Couven-
ton, it would seem that a majority,
at least, Of The frecmen should have
an opportunity of adopting or reject
ing such amendments. II the pop
[ ulatlon of the towns IN this State
was near y equal, SO that a majority
of the towns would necessarily rep
resent a majority of the people, there
might be no substantial Injustice done
by submitting propositions OF amend
menl of the Constitution TO Con-
ventlon composed OF one delegate
from each organized town. Such,
however, is not the fact, there are
one hundred and twenty-one towns
| "a majorlty,) the aggregate popula-
llon OF which is less than one-third
OF the population of the whole State
consequently the practical effect of
calling a Convention Of one delegate
from each town is to submit PROPOSE
tons of amendment of the Consli-
tuition, which 10y two-thirds vote
were adjudgcd necessary TO be a.
| dopted, 10 the decision OF a Conven-
ton composed of delegates, a major.
! lty of whom represent less than one
third of the people, thereby giving
the minority to decide what Consil-
tuition and Laws shall govern YER
mont 1t appears to US that no good
reason eau be given why a Constltu-
tlonal Convention should consist of
one delegate from each town, and in
The proposed amendment we have
limited the number to ninety, aud
have provided the manner OF their
election. And in order that such
Convention may represent the views,
interests, and wants Of a majority of
the people, the amenement provides
that majority of the delegates shall
be apporIoncd to The several Coun-
ties according to their population.
The Council, aclualed solely by
desire that the Convention called by
them TO adopt the proposed amend
ments, or such parts as will be most
conducive TO the good government,
peace aud happiness of the people,
shall represent the interests aud
] utatra . a..