Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-28
Address of the Council Of Censors to the
People Of the State.

Below we PRINT The Address, prepared y Mr..
Dorr, of the Council Of Censors
10 The People Of The state Of Vermont
The Council OF Cousors. elected ou the last
Wednesday Of March, 1902 having closed their
labers, ra'e decmed il proper 20 uddru5 you on
the subject OF the performance Oh lhc duties
that have deyolyed upon them
At che time provided o} tl. Constitution for
tile selgctOu OF this body, the people 81 this
State, IN common win Others were fastening
to put on their armUr aud rush 90 tie contest
which is to determine The cXistCuge and perpe-
tuity Oh our Unon or IT. deHtructioa.
10 you VINO had 80 long pursued the paths OF
peace, II was a new and earf appearance and
80 slartlng and absorbing was the thoughtof civil
STRIFE so entirely did II engros5 the hands aud
hearts Of all classes 10 community, that this
body, without any opposition, ana yet with a
comparatively small vote, was elected to the po-
siton Of responsibility which they now occupy
Since that period lhere has been no abatement
of the interest and excitement growing out of
the fact Of the war. This state OF feeling has
been 30 intense and universal as to oyershadow
and absorb the interest 10 most questions OF
STATE policy and constitutional law. The indi-
cations OF what the people demanded or expec'
ted OF us, or what they desired us to do, IN the
discharge of our constitutional duties, have
from this cause, been somewhat limited. We
are convinced OF this great and controlling fact
and have endeayored To keep this IN mind IN ou
deliberations, that amendments or.alterations 0
the Constitution should be clearly and concu
siyely what the people demand, aud no other
We have had the most fall and elaborate dis
cussiOns Of the various questions which prop
erly presented themselves Tor our consideration
The conclusion Of our deliberations has beer
that il was nexpedent to propose to you an.
amendments or alterations 10 the present organ
10 law Of our State
1t Dc yOlyed upon US 70 enquire whether th
legislation ana executive branches OF the gov
ernmeni nave performed their duties as guard
ANS oil the people, and as far as We have bee
able to discover, VIC are satisfied that their ~
tentlon has been to d.srhargo with hdehty /
the people, the trusts that have, from time t
time. been reposed IN them. lilr further mad
our DUTY to enquire, whether the pubic take
have been Justly lli1 aud collected IN all part
of the commonwealth. \ thorough iuyestgi
ton Of this branch OF our duty would requlr
large range OF investigation ana more TIN
than We could properly deyOts " y, 10 81 s'oi
a session as We have deemed Il advisable
have.
An unjust distribution or collection u take
would be immediately felt BY those on whol
such unequal burthans were imposed and, a
We have been unable on inquiry or ingestgAuo
to learn OF any such occurrence, we ihlus OUT
selves justified 10 saying that no upprcsiuns d
this kind have been imposed upon or torne y
any portion Of the people except IN lndNidua
instances which have been brought to the az
tertiou OF the Legislature aud nave been Or ar
in process OF correction.
10 the people OF this commonwealth VIII
have commissioned Is 10 act for them we han
back our trust with the IN st earnest desire tina
the liberty prosperity aud Aafpialssoi the PEI
pie may be torerg preserved and the Ua'on Ho
bapfi-ei anae ~ he b'ood Of as patriot d9cno
trs, BE- as enduring as h0,e.
SENECA w. DoRR,
Chairman Of Committee.
Montpelier, Oct. "A, IsG2