Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-03-21

Amendments of the Constitu.
ton.

We agree with the correspondent I'm last
weeks Watchman, that the Constitution au-
thorizes the Council of Censors to call "a
Convention for the purpose of considering
and adopting amendments proposed to the
Constitution, without directing 30 express
terms how the Convention shall be consiitu-
ted. But does 1t follow, as he seems TO take
for granted, that the Council have ON unde-
fined and unlimited power M tins respect -
The Convention must be composed OF deie-
gates, aud there is but one mode Of represent
ta,ion by delegates known To the Constitution
or in the practice OF the government, and
that is representation from towns consist.
ing Of one delegate from each.
THIS is emphotically the constitutional
representative principle under our political
system, and if the Council Of Ccnsors are
not bound by this principle ofreprosenlatIon,
how can Il be said that they are bound by
the principle which regulates the elective
franchise They may, for aught we see, as
well direct delegates TO conventions TO be
chosen, for instance, by ireeholdcrs alone,
excluding all other irecmeu, as 10 order O
convention of delegates, as your correspond
ent supposes may be done, from counties or
districts, or from towns IN unequal numbers.
No Council has ever yet advanced any pre-
tension to either power, and It is not to be
supposed that any one Will ever be incousld-
crate enough TO do so. That body has nth
erto been composed of grave, judlcious, aud
intelligent men, sound IN doctrine and con
servatve IN principle aud II Is not likely that
such men, IT hereafter elected, will ever all
low themselves TO be prompted to acts equal.
ly at variance with precedent and with the
spirit and intent of the Constitution.
Looking upon the question as originally
presented, or, IN other words, as depending
upon the spirit and intent of the Constitu-
ton, uncontrolled by precedent, we think,
viewed IN that aspect alone, there could be
very little doubt in regard to it. The con.
yenton being a representative body and the
Constitution containing no express regua-
tons as TO the mode OF constituting It, the
rule prescribed by that instrument Tor con.
stituting the representative branch Of the
government that being the most numerous
and important branch, would of course be
taken as the rule understood and intended 10
apply to the Convention. The alternative
being either a construction subcctiug the
power of the Council OF Censors to the Ian
ltation furnished by the analogy we have
] hlthAlhntus vi u Nuu1lNAtlph NhNlltliluH up
ON the Council power, 50 far as concerns
I the particular matter IN question, altogether
uureslrained and arbitrary, the former would
and ought 10 be adopted as the more safe,
reasonable, and just construction. But the
question IS by no means 10 be considered OF
treated as an original or open question. II
has been settled by early exposition, aud by
undertaking correspondent practice, as few
/ historical facts will show.
The convention which adopted the firs
Constitution of the State, IN the year M
consisted Of delegates chosen under a reso-
luton ola previous convention, recommen-
ding TO each ioton TO elect delegates 10 meel
In Convention
The first Council of Censors elected under
the Constitution, IN 1885, called conyen-
ton under the following resolution; -" Re
solved, That the first constable of each town
IN this state be, and he is hereby directed
&C., to warn meeting Of tho inhabitants oil
their respective towns, &c. TO elect oni
member OF convention, IN the same manner
as representatives. IA assembly are legally I,
be chosen &c.
The conventions Of 1857, 1913, 1915
1922, 1878, 1886, and the convention cAlle,
by the last Council Of Censors, and which Il
TO meet next week, beng all the cunyen
tons ever ordered, were all called and con
stituled on the principle OF one deeg ,te frou
each town.
II ~ thus seen that the construction ",
insist upon was adopted by The hrsi Couuci