Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-05-16
1}uIitiral.
Address of the Council OF
Censors.

mont nt:-The Council Of Censors
elected on the last Wednesday OF
March, A. d. 1855, having closed
their other labors, would submit to
YOU this Address, referring briefly to
the result Of their deliberations.
The various subjects referred to
the Council for consideration, and
the duties and powers assigned d US,
are enumerated in the fofty-third ar
tlcle Of the Constitution.
We have made inquiry whether
the Legislative and Executive
branches Of the government have
performed their duty as guardians Of
the people, aud believe that both
OF said branches Of government in
the discharge of their respective
duties, have endeayored to preserve
. the right, and promote the peace and
happiness of this Commonwealth.
/ The attention Of the Council, how.
ever, has been called, TO the fact. that
/ the Legislature, for several years, has
neglected. TO elect a State Superin-
lcndent Of Common Schools, by
reason of which neglect, an impor-
tunt office, for long period Of time,
has been aud still remains vacant.
/ The laws now IN force, which regu-
lales our system Of Common Schools,
furnish satisfactory evidence that the
people regard the subject Of vital i'm
porlance on which depend the best
interests and prosperity Of the State.
The passage Of the act, by which
the above named Office wns created
and the fact that several sessions ol
the Legislature have been held since
/ it, passage, at which its repeal might
have been sought for and obtained,
if desired 10y the people, required
the Legislature to fill the Office a.
grccably to the provisions Of a law,
which they we're under solemn obll-
gation to support or repeal. In view
/ of the facts, the Council feel impelled
to say that the neglect Of the Legs
laturc TO I'LL said office, or to repeal
/ the law 10y which it was created, was
ia violation Of the Constitution aud
Laws Of the State subversive Of
the right of the people and it has
furnished a precedent IN the history
Of legislative proceedings, which no
subsequent Legislature should feel at
huc,tf tu roi.o~-.
The Council have made inquiry
( whether Inc public taxes have been
justly laid and collected go ail parts
Of this Commonwealth, and on this
subject we find no cause ofcomplaint.
The Council have had under their
consideration that part Of the article
Of the Constitution which requires
them to examine whether there is an
absolute necessity Of amending, ex-
planning or adding to the organic
laws Of the State, and they have en-
/ deayorod 10 give the subject that at
tcutlon which It's importance de-
munds. The Constitution of YER
mont contains all provisions necessa-
/ ~ TO preserve 1t from evil consequent
ccs OF unnecessary innovation and
the care with which an instrument,
so important, has been aud should
continue to he guarded, renders it
manifest that the people should be
fully satisfied that the Constitution is
defective To their injury, before they
Introduce and adopt a new system.
But when 1t is apparent that sub
slantlal defects do exist IN the fonda
mental and organic laws of the State,
the dread Of innovation should not
prompt us to retain a system which
is inconsistent with the most sacred
rights of the people. The trainers
Of the Constitution Of Vermont, at an
early period in the political history
of the State, made provisions for
"lhe preservation of the rights and
happiness of the people y with more
the people, and to the population oi
towns at that time, and they wisely
provided for making such amend
menls to the Constitution as might
in the progress of society, become
necessary to secure equal rights, both
TO towns, aud to individuals and II
is manlleslIy not less our duty than
our interest TO accommodate present
institutions to the present rights and
wants of the people.
The Council have had under theil
consideration several important prop
osiions of amendment of the Con
slituuon, which they respectfully Of
fer for your consideration and de-
cision.
The House Of Representatives
should he made a more accurate and
immediate representative of The pIb.
lie mind. The present constitutions
al provision giving each organized
town one representative without re-
gard to population, is wrong in prln-
clple, unjust in lis operation aud un-
necessarily expensive. The Coun-
ell adhere to the more reasonable
doctrine that population and repre-
sentatlon should he equal, aud can
see no good reason why equal mum
bers should be unequally represented
They believe, aud the uuslIce ol
that belief is irresistible, that if ten
thousand inhabitants in one section
are entitled to ten representatives,
the same number of inhabitants ia
an other section should not be rep
resented by greater number. Blu
under the present system one quar-