Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-21
COUNCIL OF CENsORs.

We have in the Constitution Of the State
Of Vermont, q provision for Council OF
CENsoRs The older citizens of the State are,
of course, familiar with it but for the ben |
eft of those less informed we copy the section
containing the provision:
SEC 43. In order that the freedom Of this Common
wealth may be preserved inviolate forever, there
shall be chosen by ballot, by the freemen Of this
State, on the last Wednesday in March in the year
one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine and on
the last Wednesday in March in every seven years
thereafter thirteen persons who shall be chosen in
the same manner the Council is chosen, except |
that they shall no, be out of the Council or Gen
ersl Assembly, to be called ne Council Of Cezsors
who shall meet together the LIST Wednesday Of
june next ensuing their election the majority Of
whom shall be a quorum in every case except as
TO calling Convention, in which two-thirds Of the
whole number elected shall agree; and whose duty
II shall be TO inquire whether the Constitution has
been preserved invioate in every part Of the last
septenary (including the year Of their seryice),
and whether the legislative and executive branch
ee OF Government have performed their duty as
guardians Of the people, or assumed to themselves
or exercised other or greater powers than they are
entitled to by the Constitution. They are also to
inquire whether the public taxes have been lastly
laid and collected in all parts Of this Common
wealth; in what manner the public MONEYS have
been disposed Of; and whether the laws have been
duly executed. For these purposes thew shall
have power to send for persons papers and records
they shall have authority to pass public cen
sures, TO order impeschments, and to recommend
10 the Legislature the repeating such laws shall
appear to them to have been passed contrary TO
the principles OF the Constitution; these powers
they shall continue to have for and during the
space OF one year from the day Of their election.
and no longer. The said Council of Censors shall
also nave power TO call 8 Convention, TO meet
within two years after their sitting, if there sp-
pears to them absolute necessity of amending
any article Of this Constitution which NAV be de-
fective, explaining such as nav be thought not
clearly expressed, and Of adding such as are ne
oessary for the Preservation Of the rights and hap
Piness OF the people But the articles to be amend
ed and the amendments proposed, and such arti-
oles as are proposed to be added or abolished SHAH
be promulgated at least Elk months before the dav
spPoirted for the election of such Convention. FIR
the previous consideration Of the people that tb.v
may have an opportunity OF iustructing their del
egates on the subject.
The Constitution of the State of Pepnsvl-
vsnia originally had a like provision.
1.-THE Vermont section was copied from that
but the people of that State soon altered
their Constitution without any help from
Council of Censors, and LETT out of their new
one the provision for any such body. Yer.
mont has held on to hers, awkward. cum
brous, and expensive as the operation of 1t
has proved to be. For many years it has
been the remark of thousands of the more
considerable of her people as often as the SEP
tennlal business Of electing Il Council of
Censors has come round, that if the Council
OF Censors would propose to strike ont H..
section providing for it, and leave the amend.
Dent of 1.-THE Constitution to be effected bv
some OF the simpler methods in use in other
States 1t would be doing enough, and the
best that could be done, for once.
For long tine the nommatio, -,
thirteen men for the Cersors. was made
BY the members Of the Legislature. F.,
some rensOn that usage was not followed
seven years ago, and the people were left 10
get at nomination the best way they could.
Some proposed the NOMINATION Of one far
each OF the larger Counties Of the State.
emitting one, the smallest. since then.
were fourteen Counties. la one or iw,
Counties nominations were made on that
plan but the others did not do So. and II q
end OF all, after the presln alton Of score
or more OF tickets and sixty or more nam, :.
was, that Council was privately rlt IN
nomination and elected by the Know
nothing or American lod t., then sn
being in the State. The members OF the
constitutional Convention, elected according
to the order of the Council, when assembled.
to complete the drama, voted in substance
that they were no constitutional Convention
at ail-except to draw their pay-anI DID
not vote pro or con on the provisions lr
amendment submitted to them hut t,.k
their pay and went boue-ihe whole mo-
ceedins being very lttle to their CT, DIT. ns
many considered It.
After the expe fence OF that year, 1t was
to be hoped that the members Of t." Legis-
lature last autumn, would SCI ft To- agree
upon ticket OF good men and propose it to
the people, and thus prevent the ridiculous
tumble of 1855. But it was not done.
Probably the members were SO much occupi-
ed in finding out chow not to do anything, ="
on some of the more important 4natters of
business before them, that they could not
find time to think of anything else. We
see divers suggestions thrown out in the
papers of the State as to the most hopeful
way Of getting nomination but have no
special opinion Of our own to give On the
subject We should not be troubled at all if
nobody were to be nominated and nobody
elected, and the whole process were allowed
to slump through. for this time. That would
save a pretty sum to the State treasury, if
no more. However, if others have more Light
on the subject, they will, OF course, act ac-
cordingly. II n Council gets elected we
hope 1t will propose that i, be the last one,
and that the people with one voice will say.
ave