Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-10-24
Amendments of the Constitution.


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Amendments of the Constitution.
In the Standard last week we briefly
adyerted 10 what we conceived TO be the
unauthorized, and certainly the anPreee-
dented mode adopted by the Council OF
Censors for organizing, not a COHst't"-
tional Convention, but Convention to
consider proposed amendments to the
Constitution. The doings of such Con-
vention, if one should be held, as the
Council have assumed the right to call,
we think will have no warrant for their
support in the Constitution of Vermont.
The Council proposes biennial sessions OF
the Legislature, and our correspondent
"Orleans' seconds their endeavor. The
main argument of the Council as well as
our correspondent in behalf of the prop
Osition is economy. Wea not prepared
to believe any saving would follow the
change. Sessions of the Legislature, if
held but once in two years, would be like
to hold thrice as long as they are held
now. Members would burrow through
alternate winters in Montpelier instead
of spending a few weeks there in the
fall, as now. But there is another objec-
ton to this proposition. The amend
ments proposed must be taken up separ-
ately by the Convention, and adopted az
hoe rerba, word for word, as proposed by
the Council, if adopted at all. The Con-
vention has no power to strike out, alter,
improve, or make worse, any amendment
proposed by the Council; it can only say
yea, or nay, to their proposal, without
any power to substitute anything else
If the proposed amendment in relation
to biennial sessions of the Legislature is
adopted the Convention must necessarily
adopt several other proposed amendments,
namely, those whereby it is proposed to
elect Judges of the Supreme Court for
the term of six years, and state officers,
Secretary of State, State Auditor of Ac-
counts, Bank Commissioner, and all coun-
ty officers including Justices Of the peace,
for the term of two years; because I'M
der the present Constitution the Judges
of the Supreme Court, Secretary of State
Auditor of Accounts, and Bank Commits
sioner, are annually elected By the Legis-
iatare, and the returns of votes for coun.
ty officers are required to be made year
ly to, and their election annually declared
BY the Legislature. The terms of Office
for the officials before referred to are now
limited by the Constitution and statutes
to one year, and if there be no anna
session of the Legislature, unless the
other proposed amendments referred tC
should be adopted, these offices, which
include all the county offices in the state
must be left entirely vacant. 1t is Ger
tainly remarkable that the council shoult
have so framed their proposed amend
ments that such as are least obiectiona
bic can not be taken and more fault,
ones left.
Tom Cooper's arrangement of dor
was vastly superior to the Councils ar
rangement of propositions. In Tomt
case you might take one dog, if Won
would take him from the end of the train
without being constrained to take more
We have seen many animals that woul,
readily swallow rat but for the consid
Grafton that the tail of the latter mus
follow Its illustrious predecessor" t,
the proposition of the Council to depriv
the towns of corporate representation
and to the rule proposed by the Counci
for a basis Of representation in the Hous
of Representatives we earnestly obiect
Substantially the same proposition wa
made by a Council of Censors seyer
years ago and it then met the marke
condemnation Of a Convention of dele
gates from the several towns. We ar
constrained to believe that reasons which
are concealed induce this proposition. a
well as that which relates to futur,
propositions for amendments of the Con
stitution; and that those reasons diffa
from such as are put forth in the - Al
dress of the Council" We say so he
cause the amendments proposed in 70
gard TO representation are widely at va
rance from, and inconsistent with III
argument Of the Address" In III