Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-10-10
Correspondence.
Constitutional Amendments.

Mr. EDITOR,-Our cepte1AoeA CIV
tons are now past. The great question:
on which so many anxious hopes and
fears depended, who were to be Senator'S
Representatives and Justices of the Peace
for the year, is now settled. Two other
important subjects remain for the discus
sion and action of the freemen of the
State: the Presidential election, and the
Amendments of the Constitution of the
State, proposed by the State Council of
CensorS.
On the first of these questions. the
Presidential election, we are in this State
so nearly unanimous, that there seems 10
be scarce room for doubt. No exertion
is needed on the part of the friends of
Mr.. Fremont to secure him the vote OF
Vermont, and nothing here can avail the
other candidates; their friends here may
as well lie down in quiet despair.
The other great question: Shall the
proposed amendments of the Constitution
be adopted? seems to engage compare
lively but little attention. 1t has always
seemed surprising that questions relating
to the Constitution of the State should
excite so little interest in the minds of
the people.
Whilst so many anxious feelings are
aroused, and so many means, fair and
foul, are resorted to to decide who shall
have the empty honor Of representing a
town, or who shall be & dressed with the
| brief authority of a Justice of the Peace .
the grand question of amending the Con-
stitution of the State, which may affect
not only our own rights and interests,
but the welfare of remote generations
lies unnoticed and disregarded.
The fact however, is certain, whether
we will attend to it or not, that important
amendments to the Constitution of the
State are proposed, and a Convention
will soon assemble to reject or adop
them. In the hope Of exciting among
your readers little attention to this i'm
poFtant subject 1 propose to write a few
articles for your paper in favor of adopt
ing some of the most important of tn
proposed amendments of the Constitu
ton.
An objection has been made to the Oh
dinauee of the Council of Censors /
calling Convention to act upon the pr
posed amendments, because the numbe
of this Convention is limited to ninet
members, and the delegates are ordere
to be chosen by the several Counties
the State, instead Of each town choosin
a delegate to the Convention in the mai
ner heretofore adopted in the Convel
tons which have been called by form
Councils; and a complaint has been MAJ
that the Council of Censors have excee
ed their powers and have called an u
constitutional Convention.
1t cannot be doubted but Conventic
of ninety delegates is as capable of col
sidering the proposed amendments, al
as fifty representing the will of the pc
pie as a larger number. And it m;
well be hoped that a smaller number
delegates selected from each county, m.
furnish an assembly of more talent a
experience, than the diseordant and b.
erogeneous Conventions which have hel
tofere been assembled on former calls
Conventions. Neither can it be assert
that the manner in which this Convent
m. is now ordered to be elected contradi
or infringes any express provision of I
State Constitution directing the elect
of such Conventions.
The Constitution of the State provit
(Sec. 43, "That the Council of Gems
shall also have power to call Conv,
ton TO meet within two years after tn
sitting, if there appears to them an alb
lutte necessity of amending any article
the Constitution, &c. No intimat
whatever is given as to the number
a. the delegates, or the manner in VIII
they are to be chosen. That the G,
vention be chosen in way that 81
nv fairly represent the will of the freeu
of the State seems to be the only requi
'e'' ment Of the Constitution.
Seven modes Of representation
known and practiced among US, as
towns in choosing representatives,
gut; counties in choosing senators, by distr