Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-10-31
Correspondence.
For the Standard.
For the Stal1uhIu'
Constitutional Amendments
NrNBER THREE


mort of schools. roads and panpers, and
other local affairs, but it may well DC
doubted whether they afford the best ba-
sis for representation in the Legislature
The town as a corporation rarely has any
interest which requires the
care Of a special representative IN the
T legislature. and if such a contingency
should arise, such interest would be as
faithfully represented and attended to by
the representative of the district or coun-
tv. Under our present system when
town or an individual has any real busl-
ness they may wish to have attended to,
they are quite as apt to rely upon the
tact and management of some member
of the third house." as upon the member
they have honored by their votes. Inc
unfitness of towns for basis of represent
alton arising from their inequality in size,
wealth and population, has already been
discussed. Other reasons might be urged
against a representation by towns. Some
of our towns do not afford a very extern
sive field for the selection of represen-
taiive, and in many of our towns the cleo
ticn of representative is controlled and
governed by family interests, local preta-
dnes and neighborhood intrigues.
Should the proposed amendments be
adopted and the representation be by
counties, or by districts larger than most
Of our towns, a greater chance would be
given for fit selection of a candidate. If
the number of representatives was dimin-
ished, and the time of service extended
to two years, the election would be made
more important, and we might hope that
greater caution would be used in the Sc
lection of our candidates, that men Of
more talent and experience would be
elected.
If the character of our Legislature
could be somewhat elevated many i'm
portant advantages might be hoped from
the change. Among these advantages
it would not be the least if our laws
should become more stable and less fuc
tuating than they have been under oul
present system. In our numerous Legis
latures we have had many who were de
t sirous of doing something that might ex
d hibit TO the world their sagacity and tai
; ents in legislation. Some new act o.
: some amendment of an act is therefore
introduced, and the bill by the earnes
n endeavors of its patron is passed through
o the Legislature, aad the crude idea of tn
e inexperienced member becomes law
n The consequence of this is that our stat
st ute laws are in constant state of chang
/ and uncertainty. BY the time law
understood and people begin to conforr
: to its provisions, and perhaps its meanin
! and construction is settled by some judi
Il cial decision, the act itself is repealed G
: amended by some new Scion in the LIZ
gislature, and the whole subject throw
J. into uncertainty and confusion. Frol
this changing and uncertain condition {
81 our laws we may trace the origin of man
y of our lawsuits which probably woul
u never have occurred, if the former Law
;" which were well enough in the outset ha
. not been SO rashly and inconsideratel
7; changed. Our laws have been so ofte
lo changed and modified that in every ha
I'll dozen years new compilation of OF
u statute becomes necessary, or to find o
al what the law is We are obliged to ransat
several yearly statutes lest the innoy
sc tons of successive Legislatures may ha
us overthrow some cid and well establish
10 principle Of the law.
% Aspiring politicians-in our Legislatu
OF often attempt to do something in legisl
n ton to advance their popularity and co
ID ciliate party. To effect this they sic
upon some topic which happens to be pc
ro- ular at the time, and they introduce a
in on this subject more in accordance wi
pie the excited feelings Of the time, than wi
'm those sober and stable principles viii
ed ought to characterize all legislation. G
eat we not trace from this source a certa
degree of ultraism or violence which a
i0 pears in some of our laws designed
D., the benefit of the poor debtor, and in t
-"0 laws TO restrain the use of intoxicati
io liquors, and more especially in the act
at the protection of fugitive slaves pass
eS- in 1850?
If the sessions of our Legislature W,
biennial instead of annual, and thenu
ny, Der of representatives reduced to {
u hundred and fifty, would it not hav
'ne tendency to make our legislation mi
Vi stable and more consistent, and if
have fewer enactments Shall mot h;
'oN on the whole better code and althor
we have less number of Legislators, n
M t. l.