Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-01-15

In this view Of the case The delegate of More.
town is constitutionally elected; and where.
eyera body pnrportiag to bo constitutional
Convention is assembled, Moresown has q
right to appear, aud he knew Of no power ia
shut her out. To The suggestion that if he.
Mr.. b. had right to a seat here, all the
other members have no constitutional right
he replied, That wherever any body is togeth.
er, assuming to act upon the Constitution
to alter it-there the town of Moretown had
q right to appear, and to act, or at least to
protest, ia defence of he constitutional rights
Of the people. Il may be that this tody is
anomalous and unconstitutional. That is
not the fault Of Moyotown, and should not
exclude Morotown. lift did, the fact of ex
clusion proved the Convention to be uncon-
stitutional.
Mr. Adams Of Chttcnden county said that
if NJ Buckley is admitted on his ground
the other members are not constitulionally
elected and there is no constitutional con.
vention-no quorum.
Div. Rockwell Of Rutland county renewed
the melton to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr.. Crane Of Ghittenden county opposed
this motion, and was in favor Of admitting
Mr.. Buckley as recognition Of the consttu,
tioBal rights OF the towns.
Mr.. nazea Of Grand Isle county said that
if Dir. Buckley is admitted, every town NAV
appear, and thus constitute an anomalous
cqpycpto9, not constituted by towns, but by
tt'Ti.s.&s and counties. The first question to de-
toFmiae is, whether this convention is consti.
tntiona; as upon that question depends the
right Of M9retown.
Mr.. Fcrrln Of LamojIIo county moved to
Ipostpono The motion indefinitely
Mr. George Of Washington county preferred
that tho resolution should be laid on tho Ia
bic to await action upon the rights and pow.
e.s Of bis Convention,
Mr.. Smith of Addison county said this
was ali anomalous body, cotton up under a
scheme concocted ia barus and other dark
corners. Delegates had come here indeed
under such extraordinary auspices but he
thought they had all come here to rebuke the
tyrannical and despotjc power which had
sent them here. Now it is possible that the
gentleman from Moretowo is the chosen man
to give SAVIOR Of constitutionaiity to this
! body, if he is admitted; and he was inciucd
to admit him il he could.
Mr., hittrodgo Of Caledonia county said
this is constitutional convention, or it is not
(f It is, 5Jr. Buckley has no right here If it
is not the resolution admitting him would it.
self be a nudity.
Mr. Chapman Of Windsor county suggested
THAT the motion of Mr.. Fcrrin was not recoe.
ei4e3 by the rules; aud thoreapon it was
withdrawn.
| The question rocurrcl on the motion Of Mr.
Rockwell to lay upon the table.
Mr. Jones Of Addison county suggested
thatif The views Of some gentlemen were cor.
rect they should never have come here at
all.
The motion to lay upon the table was then
agreed TO.
Adjourned.
AFTERNOON.
The Convention met pursuant to adjourn
ment.
The Sorgoant-at-arms nominated, and the
President approved, the following officers -
John Wilson, Door-koeper; L. j. Bates, .Iohn
?. Domerritt, VIM. 2. Thompson, James Ste.
vens. Messengers.
Mr.. Dillingham; Of Washington county,
from the committee Of fourteen, submitted
tsa Glowing report and resolutions, which
was signed by thirteen members of the COM
mttee:
The Committee appointedto report what ac-
tlgh is appropriate on the proposed amend,
ments, report
That the amendments are numerous and i'm
portant that they contemplate many and gad-
Cal changes in our present Constitution Wei
decline expressing any opinion on the merits or
dement's OF the proposed amendments Our at
enton has been directed mainly to the ordi.
nance under which this Convention was called
and elected, In that ordinance the Council off
Censors limited the number of delegates to
ninety. This number is apportoned among the
several counties, by the ordnance, and the cleo
ton made by plurality vote.
This wide departure from all former prece
dent or usage, TO us seems strange and start
ling.
On the flst "Wednesday of June TIT, the
Convention which declared the Independence Of
Vermont, met according TO previous ADJOURN
ment at Windsor At that meeting Commit. |
tee was appointed TO make draft Of Consitu-
ton, and resolution was adopted recommend
ing to cach tolsn to choose delegates to meet
ia Convention at Windso, on the second day of
July following On the second day of July
lit, that Convention, 50 called, met at Wind |
scr, and by adjontnmenl, was continued along
tilI DApf t1hAr of Tho IVhpn odnptol
the first Constitution Of Vermont
In the preamble to that Constitution the Con-
yention declared that i" should remain in force
forever, paaAered, except in such articles as
shall hereafter on experience, be found to re-
quire Improvement, and rhich shall, By the same
authority Of the people, }aU}y delegdted, as this |
ibis frame Of government directs, be amended
and improved.
Thai Constitution ordained that the House Of
Representatives should consist Of ireemen. eho
sen by the treemen of eoery tom in the State,
respectively.
The 4lth section Of the same Constitution pro-
vded fora C0HacN If CeaSars aud defined their
powets That section has never been altered. |
Among the powers granted to this Council, is |
that Of calling future Conventions, to consider
proposed amendments to the Constitution. IL /
Ola NOT 5y lp9rds, detao the number TO compose
a convention, Or give the Council authority 10 do
SO. A eaavanion Of delegates might consist of
ihoGSM71, or ien,-Iid Inc trainers of the ar
dele 0e3er consideration mean the one or the
Other OF did they mean to submit that question
10 The discretion OF caprice of the Council! We
think they meant neither.
At STAT day towns in their corporate and mu-
neipaI character were objects Of special regard. /
They were the horn Of strength to the then
struggling commonwealth These men discuss
I'd their rights and prepared to maintain them
there aad there only they could vote in the ag-
gragac: there express their sentiments on all
subjects touching the general interest-there
give instructions 70 deegatas and perpetnate the |