Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-03-07
THE LATE COUNCIL OF
CENSORS.
A Revolution proposed in
Vermont.

The Honorable Council Of Censors has
concluded its abors, aud the public will soon
have an official account thereof, together
with the reasons therefor. In the meantime
we annex an abstract Of the alterations IN
the Constitution, which have been proposed
by the Council We suspect that most Of
our readers will be os,onshed at the results
of the Council, and incredulous as to the
possibility of any argument sufficient to jus
tify it. The proposed amendments amount
TO a sweeping nothing less.
The three great departments Of government
Legislative, Executive and Judicial--are
nl changed. The basis Of Representation,
both in the Senate and House, is changed
The right Of representation in the Towns Is
abrogated The term Of all State and Coun-
ty officers is changed and so also is the
mode Of election The old principle, that
the majority Of the people should rule, Is set
aside, and all the popular elections are 10 be
governed by a plurality of votes simply
The State and County elections add the
meetings of the Legislature arc changed,
The vote by ballot in the Legislature is a
polished, and even the yeas aud nays are
not to be demanded unless by the agree
ment Of ten members. Finally, the Council
has called Convention to act upon these
amendments, IN which The iopns are to have
no vo.ce, nor even is there any certainty
that the Convention will represent mdjori-
ty Of the people Of the State; and to crown
this last wrong upon the towns and upon the
people, the Council has proposed to perpetu-
ute it by Incorporation in the new Constitu~
ton.
We are astonished at this sweeping as
saut upon our good old Constitution, under
which Vermont has come TO be the freesL
the most purely democratic, uiv must iude-
pendent, the most intelligent, the most
thrifty, and the best and cheapest governed
State in he Union and the world Our good
old Constitution as it yet substantially is,
save the substitution of the Senate for the
Council in all other important respects,
the same as 1t sprang from the wisdom of
Benjamin Franklin, David Rlttenhouse, Tho
mas Young, Thomas Chiuenden, and Ira Al
len. Our good old Constitution it must be
preserved.
Some of the proposed amendments are
good some may be harmless some Of
them probably will not be submitted to with
out fierce struggle, engendering bitter feel
ing which years and decades will not re-
move. But were they all sweeter thar
honey in the honey-comb, we submit thai
the dose is altogether too large-Oltogethei
unnecessary and as, when one is gorge'
with the honey aforesaid, nature restores thu
stomach to equilibrium by summary actiol
Of ejectment, it will probably be necessar.
to reject these amendments altogether w,
suspect that the ichoie action Of the Council
is null, for the reason that it has transcende
its power We are inclined TO think that tn
Council has exceeded it's constitutional pow
or in three particulars each of which
probably sufficient to yitiate its entire at
ton;
Ersi-By the sweeping character Of tn
amendments
Secondly abrogating the right Of repre-
sentaton in the towns without their col
sent
Thirdly creating n Convention new
contemplated by the Constitution.
We propose to state the grounds for the'
three objections as briefly as possible.