Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-10-30
ADDRESS OF THE COUNCIL OF cENsoss TO
THE PEOPLE or THE STATE.

ADDRESS OF THE COUNCIL OF cENsoss To
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.
10 ne People Of he State Of Vermont:
! Tho Council f Censors, elected on the lasI
Wednesday Of March, 1863 having closeC
their labors, have deemed it proper 10 addTes,
you on Ito subject of the performance Of tht
dnties that have devolved upon them.
At the time provided by the Constitution
for the selection of this body, the people ofthi,
State, IN common with others, Were Fastening
70 pn; On their arwor and rush 70 the contest
which ls to determine the existsuces aad per-
Z petwty OF our Union or itsdestruction.
/ 10 you who had 50 long pursued the paths
oil peace, this was new and fearful experience
and so startling and absorbing was the thought
olclvl striie,s entirely did it engrossthe hands
and hearts Of all classes in community, that
thls body, without any opposition, and yet
with comparatively small vote, was elected
to the position ofrsponsibility which they now
occupy.
Since that period there has been no abate-
OF the interest and excitement growing out OF
the fact Of the war This state of feeling has
been 80 intense aud uniyersalas to oyershadow
and absorb the interest in most questions OF
State policy and constitutional law. The iu-
dications of what tho people demanded or ex-
pected 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 eudeavored to keep this in mind in
our deliberations, that amendments or altera-
tons of the Constitution should be clearly aud
couclusively what the people demand aud no
other. We have had the most full and elabo-
rate discussions Of the various questions which
properly presented themselves for our consid-
GRAFTON. The conclusion of our deliberations
has been that 1t was iuexpedieut to propose to
you any amendments or alterations ia the
present organic law of our State.
1t deyolyed upon us to inquire whether the
legislative and executive branches of the gov
eminent have performed their duties as guard
iaus of the people, and as far as we have been
able TO discover, we are satisfied that their Iu-
tentlon has been TO discharge with fidelity to
the people, the trusts that haze, from time to
time, been reposed in them. 1t is further made
our duty to inquire whether the public taxes
have been justly laid aud collected in all parts
of the commonwealth. A thorough investiga-
ton Of this branch Of our duty would require
a large range of investigation and more time
than we could properly devote to it, in so
short session as we have deemed it advisable
TO have
An unjust distribution or collection of taxes
would be Immediately felt by those on whom
such unequal burthens were imposed, and ,as we
have been unable on inquiry or investigation
to learn of any such occurrence, we think our
selves justified in saying that no expressions of
this kind have been imposed upon or borne by
any position of the people except in individual
instances which have bsen brought to the at
tention of the Legislature and have been or are
in process of correction.
To the people of this commonwealth who
have commissioned us to act for them we hand
back our trust, with the most earnest desire
that the liberty, prosperity and happiness of
the people may be forerer preserved and the
Union, aoa0 baptized amen in the blood of sta
patriot defenders, be as enduring as time.
SENECA N Dom,
Chairman of Committee.
Montpelier, Oct "a, 1862.