The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-11-05

though not certain.
The Legislature in new Business.
The late Council of Censors thought
proper to address tho Legislature. last
year, on subjects with which, as soon
stitutionul body, they had nothing to do.
The messages of our State Governors are
usually elongated with references to sub
jects exclusively within the jurisdiction
of tho Feneral Congress. and invit.
ing the General Assembly to legislate on
these matters. The Legislature now in
session have during the past fortnight
been engage in attempting to nullify
acts Of Congress. or 10 forestalling tho
action Of the Constitutional Convention
about to be assembled Resolutions CO.
pressive of the sense of the House Of
Representatives., on the subject Of the
proposed Constitutional amendments
have been solemnly passed A PROPOSE
tion is now before them to appropriate
some twenty thousand dollars. to b.
raised by direct tax on the people of
this State, for the relief Of matters in
Kansas.
These are only few Of the many in
stances which might be cited, in which
the Saxon propensity of mcddling with
things which do not belong to them, is
manifest These instances and those like
them have their origin, either in an en-
tire ignorance CT the great principles
which lie at the base of our for of gov.
eminent, or in desire to make political
capital for some party or for some DEM
agoguo of a party and whether origi
mating in the one or the other Of these
causes merit apprehension from the press
and the people.
The organic law or Constitution of
the United States and of the several
States, for the wisest of reasons, has pre-
scribed to each department Of the gov
eminent its exact duties and the powers
only incident aud necessary for their per
formance Accordingly to the Council
of Censors is assigned one duty; to the
Constitutional Convention a0other duty;
to the General Assembly quite another
Inty. .nd IN ,ta Evaon,;,o I'D Ind;
ciary severally, duties very distinct and
peculiar. Each of these departments ars
directly responsible to the people for tho
discharge of their own specific duties and
for no other. This division of response
bility, the wisdom of our fathers clearly
saw, was absolutely necessary for prop
er exercise of power; to prevent confu
sion 10 the administration of the govern
msnt and to furnish checks for the safe
ty and welfare Of the people. If one o.
these bodies should undertake in any
manner to invade our liberties, or to op
press the citizen, powers are granted &c
some other department of the govern
ment to interfere and prevent the mig
chief. Besides this, and with the sam,
intent, a written Constitution has beer
provided, which carefully restricts tn,
action Of each and all of these depart
ments so that so long as the Constitu
tion is respected, and these several dc
Pariueuts are kept strictly within thei
proper limits, the liberties Of the peopl
are safe. Every attempt of any depart
ment to usurp the powers of another dc
partment, shonld be therefore resisted
even in matters apparently of tho Sigh,
est consequence, as fraught with DANCE
to the State. Nor should the people
less careful Of that Constitution, withou
which there could be neither safety {
person nor security Of property.
When therefore q deliberate sttemp
is made by tho Legislature to assum
functions which do not belong to then
and to usurp Tho prsrogatives Of Coz
stitutionL Convention, We feel ii our d,
" TO antss our protest against the PR
eeeding and hold it up to the censure {
the people. We are about to slsc.
body of men to whom we are t. sntru.
the amendments proposed by the Cour
ell Of Censors, and when ne want an
Legislative advice Oh the subject, "
have no doubt the people will call for i