Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-05-16


ance lof long period Of years is
nevertheless injustice still, and should
be remedicd aud the Council be-
lieve that unless the people prefer TO
give the minority, the Constitutional
Convention will adopt the proposed
amendment to make the representa-
ton more in accordance with the
population Of the State The pres.
out number Of representatives is al
together too large; less number
would facilitate the business Of leg-
islalion, and legisale mere to the
satisfaction Of the people in propor-
ton as their individual responsibility
would be increased
Another advantage would also be
secured by lessening the number of
representatives, and by holding Bien.
NAL instead of Annual Session Of
the Legislature. This advantage,
though Of a pecuniary nature, and
consequently Of less importance, is
not Cor this cause to be overlooked.
II is estimated, after careful exam
nation, that twenty thousand dollars
would be saved annually, by adopt
ing biennial sessions of the legi,la-
ture, and that ten thousand, at least
would be saved by lesseuig the mum
Der Of representatives, as recommed-
ed by the Council. This annual
saving Of thirty thousand dollars in
the expenditures Of State having
comparatively no public revenue, aud
where the expenses Of the State are
nearly all regarded as Of the FIRST im-
portauce, should not be wholly with
out its influence IA deciding upon
the weighly matters. 1t appears to
us, that annual sessions OF the legis-
lalure, especially with the present
number of representatives,, have d.
rect tendency to render the system
Of legislation unstapIe. The laws o
one session of the legislature are not
uuirequently altered, amended or re-
pealed by subsequent enactmeais,
before their import is understood,
and before their practical operation
could be tested 10y the people. This
has become so great an evil as 10 be
almost universally felt and complain
cd of by business men; even men
who make the study Of law thef
profession are compelled many times
to look over years of enactments to
ascertain what the law really is. The
adoption of biennial sessions Of the
legislature would remedy many Of
the evils complained OF, giving the
people limo end opportunity TO read,
understand and test the utility of
laws, before they are stricken from
our statute books.
The Council have proposed an ar
ticie oi amendment 10 the Consulu.
ton uuder winch uc General Assem-
bly, wilI have power To authorize
County Conrls, on application Of Ell
ther party, to refer such civil suits,
as in the opinion Of such court are
proper TO be referred, under such
regulations as they direct No en-
croachment should be made on the
right Of rial by jury in prosecutions
for criminal offences, and the right
of trial by Jury, should be preserved
lnwolate still it is believed that
many causes of action arise Of a ci-
ylI nature which might be tried by
referees more in accordance with
the just right Of partIcs. ln propos-
ing tins amendment we have more
particular reference to actions of G.
Jeclment aud irespass, in the trial
of which, the referees should, gener-
ally, go upon the land or IN the vi
cinlty where the cause of action a.
rose, and there hear the testimony
and make personal examination OF
monuments aud land marks, which
would enable them to find the facts
and TO decide the matters in dispute !;
and at the same time the parties
might reserve all questions of law
for the decision oil the County and
Supreme Courts. It is of great I'M
portance that the remedy for the ra-
dress OF wrongs be within the pecu-
mary means Of every individual /;
and we believe that in the ulal of
such actions by referees, the right Of
the parties would be decided more
satisfactorily, in less time aud with
much less expense, than the same
matters could, ordinarily, be tried by
jury IN the County Court
In proposing 10 classify the judges
Iol the Supreme Court, SO as to elect
one-thiTI OF their number biennlaly
and 10 extend their Term Of office
TO SIX years, the Council have been
acIuated by a desire to furnish every
reasonable guaranty for the perman-
ency and ability Of the most impor-
tant court in the State. By the
adoption Of the amendment proposed
by the Council, we shall have, at all
times, majority of experienced
judges upon the bench, aud thereby
secure greater uniformity Of decision
and the confidence Of the people.
The Secretary Of State, Auditor
of Accounts, and Bank Commission
er, being State officers, should be G.
lecled by The freemen, in the man
ner provided for the election of other
State officers. Impressed with the
Propnely of the proposed measure,
we have presented for your consid-
Grafton, alterations in the Consltu-
ton IN conformity with the views a
boye expressed.