Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-06

Address Of the Council of Censors.
70 Hc Pcopic Of me state of Vermont
The Council Of Ccnsors elected on the last
Wednesday of March, \. u. 1855, having
closed their other hbors, would submit to
you this Address referring briefly to the
result of their deliberations.
The various subjects referred to the Coun-
Gil for consideration, and the duties and pow
crs assigned us, are enumerated in the forty
third article Of the Constitution.
We have made inquiry whether the Lcgis-
lativc and Executive branches Of the govern
mcnt have performed their duty as guardians
of the people, and believe that both of said
branches of government in the discharge OF
their respective duties, have cndeayorcd to
preserve the rights, and promote the peace and
happiness of this Commonwealth. The at
tcntion of the Council, however, has been
called to the fact, that the Legislature, for
several years. has neglected to elect State
Superintendent of Common Schools, by rea-
son Of which neglect an important Office, for
Il long period of time has been and still re-
mains vacant The laws now in force, which
regulate our system of Common Schools, fur
nish satisfactory evidence that the people re-
gard the subject Of vital Importance on which
depend the hest interests and prosperity Of
the State. The passage of the act by which
the above named Office was created, and the
fact that several sessions of the Legislature
have been held since its passage, at which its
repeal might have been sought for and OBJ
taincd, if desired by the people, required the
Legislature to fill the office agreeably to the
provisions of law, which they were under
solemn Obligation to support or repeal. In
view Of the facts. the Council feel impcled
to say that the neglect of the Legislature to
fill said Office. or to repeal the law by which
it was created, was in violation of the Consti-
tuition and Laws Of the State subversve Of
the rights of the people, and it has fur
nishcd a precedent in the history of logsla-
tive proceedings, which no subsequent Lcgis-
lature should feel at liberty to follow.
Tie Council have made inquiry whether the
public taxes have been Justly laid and collect
ed in all parts Of this Commonwealth and on
this subject we find no cause of complaint.
The Council have had under consideration
that part of the article of the Constitution
which requires them to examine whether there
is an absolute necessity OF amending, explain
ing OF adding to the organic laws of the State,
and they have cnlcayorcd to give the subject
that attention which its importance de-
mands. The Constitution Of Vermont contains
all provisions necessary to preserve it from the
evil consequences Of unnecessary innovation ::
onI tLn c,r, with wlich an Instrument So
;mnortor. Inns Loon and shoulJ continuo to
10 auorJ,d renders If manifest th,t tLn moo.
,le should be fully satisfied that the Consti-
tution is d.rrctivo to thcir iriurv hornro
they introduce and adopt n new system.
But when it is apparent that substantial de-
iccts do exist IN the fundamental and organic
laws of the State, the dread Of innovation
sbould not rromnt ms tn rctoin n s,str,,,
which i Inconsistent with tLo most :,craI
,i,l,ts Of tho reonlc TLc rr,mcrs NJ Mo
CHnstitufion of Vermont NJ a., o,ri,.
reriod in tLc noli,ic,, histnrv nC tIc St,tc
made rroyisinns for "tLc ,rcscryation Of tLc
riobt, and hnrrincss of the roorIo ." with
moro particular reference to the state or tho
roo,l,, and to thc nouuIation or towns,t,I,o
tima and tLcy wisely uroyidod for maxine srcb
amendments to the Constitution ns n,igLt
in the progress of society. become necessary
to secure equal rights. both to towns. and to
individuals and it is manilcstly not less our
- our interest to accommodate present
INSTITUTIONS to the present rights and wants
ofthc reorlc.
The Council have had under their con-
silcration several important propositions of
amendment of the Constitutions which
they respectfully offer for YOUR consideration
and decision.
The House of Representatives should be
made more accurate and immediate reprc
sentative of the puhlic mind The nresont
constitutional nroyision giving each orraniz-
ed town one REPRESENTATIVE without regard
TO POPULATION, is wrong in principle. unjust
in its operation and unnecessarily expensive.
The Council adhere to the more reasonable
doctrine that population and rcrresentation
should be equal. and can see no good reason
why equal numbers should be uneaually rep-
resented. They believe, and the Justice Of
that belief is irresistible that if ten thousand
inhabitants in one section are entitled to ter
representatives., the same number of inhabit
ants in another section should not he rcnrc
sonted nv n greater number Rut under tb,
present system one quarter Of the inhabitant
df the State have nearly the same number n
representatives MS the other three ouarters
therebv oivinc the controlIinc mower of leo
islation "a n minor;tv Snch nalnohle in;us
tice in n renresentatiye government. tboupl
submitted to with natient forbearance for Z
long neriod of Years. is. nevertheless. inius
tice sill. and should he rcmedied. and TN
Council believe that unless the nconle nrete
IA rive the minority mower over tho majority
tbc Conet;tptiopol Convention w;u odnpt H.
nrouosed amendment 10 make the rerrescnto
ZION moro in accord,nce ,,itb tho ndnuIot;o,
Of the State. The present number Of renre
scntatiyes is altogether too large; a less mum
her would facilitate the business of lerislntio
and lerislate more to the satisfaction of tn
people, in proportion as their individual re
fnonsibility would be increased
Another advantage would also be secure
by lessening the number of representative,
and bv holding biennial instead of annuf
sessions Of the Legislature. This adyantar
though Of a pecuniary nature, and cons
auentlv of less importance. is not for thi
cause to be overlooked ltis estimated. aftC
careful examination, that twenty thousan
dollars would be saved annually, Gy adoptin
biennial sessions of the Legislature, an
that ten thousand at least, would be save
by lessening the number of representatiy,
as recommended by the Council, Th
annual saving Of thirty thousand dollars
the expenditures Of State having compl
atiyely no public revenue, and where Il
expenses of the State are nearly all raised /
direct taxation though not cr,rded as of Il
first importance. should not be wholly wit
out It's influence in deciding upnn the mo-
-, ,.,, ,,o,. 1. .o,...a,.. - ~. ...,,,