Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-24
port and Resolutions Of the Constitu-
tional Convention of Vermont
liz Convention. January 8. Is5

liz CONVENTION, January 8, 1857.
Reported by Committee, read and ordered to
lie and that the Secretary procure five hundred
copies 10 be printed for the use Of the Conven-
ton
Attest, D. w. c. CLARKE, Secretary
The Committee appointed to report what
action is appropriate on the proposed amend
ments,
REPORT:
That the amendments are numerous aud i'm
porianl; that they contemplate many aud iad-
cal changes in our present Constitution. We
decline expressing any opinion on the merits or
J.mctils Of the proposed amendments. Our
attention has been directed mainly to The ord-
nance under which this Convention was called
and elected. In that ordinance the Courcil Of
Censors limited the number OF the delegates to
ninety. This number is apporiioned among
the several counties, by the ordinance, and The
election made by pl,tra6y vote
This wide departure from all former pre-
cedsnt or usage, 10 us seems strange aud start
ling.
Ga the first "Wednesday Of June, III, the
Convection which declared the Independence Of
Vermont, met according to previous adjourn.
ment at Windsor At that meeting Com
mGee was appointed to make a draft of Con-
siiulion, and a resolution was adopted rcc0m-
mendiug TO each torn to choose delegates To
meet in Convention at Windsor on the second
day of July following. On the second day OF
Jolly, III, that Convention, so called, met al
Windsor, and by Adjournment, was continued
alntr till ll,cnr,. lsnr tbn :,
adopted the first CoRs;Rutjon Of Vermont.
In the preamble 10 TIA, Constitution the Con-
venlon declared that i, "should remain in force
forever, una2tered, except in such Articles as
shall, hereafter, on experience, be found to re-
qulrc Improvement, and ieNich shat, bythe same
authority IF The people, fairly delegated, as .nl.
frame Of government directs, he amcuJed and
,j,np7evei.'
THAT Constitution ordained that the House
OF Representatives should consist Of freemen
chosen by the freemcu of erery io,ca in the
State, respectively.
The nth section Of the same Constitution
provided for Council Of C.nsors and defined
their powers. That section has never been al.
tered. Among the pow ers granted 10 this Coun
ell, is that of calling future Conventions. IL
consider proposed amendments To the Constilu
lion. 1t cid not, oy cords, define the number
to compose convention, or give the Council
authority TO do so. A convention of delegate.
might consist OF thousand, or ien.-Did the
trainers of the article under consideration near
the one or the other! or did they mean to sub
init thGt question 10 the discretion or caprice
OF the Council! We think they meant nei
Their.
At that day towns in their corporate anc
municipal character were objects of special re-
gard. They were the horn of strength to the
ihen struggling commonwealth. There mer
discussed their rights and prepared TO maintain
ihem-ihere and there only they could vote
In the aggregate-lhere express their senti.
nenis on all subjects touching the general in
'ierest-ihere give instructions to delegates and
eerpeiuale the same by record-and in all these
particulars, towns, as such, should be no Tess
the object of special regard now
But what may we safely assume, as the un
doubted intention and expectation Of the fra.
mers of that article of the Constitution Thet
had been elected from crery towr-,hey reear
ded the rights Of the towns " it'll great venera
tion-and in their preamble, as KEY 10 their
intention, had said no alteration should ever be
made, Except by the same authority OF the
people, fairly delegated.''
We feel warranted in the conclusion thai
that Convention neither expected, mtcndtd, OF
even contemplated the possibility, tina, any fu.
ture convention should he called in different
manner from themselves; and their views anc
iatcM seem to have been entertained, approved
aud acted upon ever since.
kfse Council Of Censors, chosen in 1855
proposed amendments 10 the Constitution anc
called Convention composed Of one delegate
from each tOiUa in the State; and such has beer
the Uniform practice in all Conventions called
since, tia the present one.
We feel satisfied that this primary intention
ol the trainers of our Constitution, which ha.
not only been acquesced n, but most cordial,
approved, cherished and revered, by the people
OF this State for three quarters of century
should nou be received as an authoritative con
siruction of that provision, not 10 be denied o
departed from.
We, ,heiefore, recommend to this Conven
iion the adoption of the accompanying resolu
lions.
PAUL DILLINGHAM;,
SUMNER A. WEBER,
WIN. G. BRADLEY,
BENZ. f. OLIN,
DAVID E. NICHOLSON.
HORATIO NEEDHAM,
WYLLYS LYMAN,
BRADLEY BARLOW,
V. w. WATERMAN,
HORACE WADSWORTH,
ELIJAH CLEVELAND,
JOHN DEWEY,
THOMAS BARTLETT, IN.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolred That in. view Of the language use
by tie original trainers Of the Constitution in
Convention held for that purpose of the fac
that the same Convention was composed of del
crates from the sevpral I'M, nc il, 40. c..