Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-21
COUNCIL OF CENsoRs.
The following is the section Of the Consti.
tuition Of the State Of Vermont providing for

council OF tcnsOrs
SIC t3. In order that The freedom " mi, common.
wealth may hr preserved iu,ilac forever thcr, shall be
chosen by ballot by the eemen VI this the last
"wednesday in March, In the scar one Thousand seven
hundred and ninety nine and the last Wcdne sday IN
March In every seven years thereafter thirteen persons
who shall De chosen Ia the the council Is
chosen except they shall not be out N the counc or
general assembly To be called The council Of
who shall meet together the first Wednesday u june
next ensuing their election, the majority NJ whom shall
be quorum in every case except a. To calling cnnvcu.
ton in which thirds u the whole number elected
shall agree and whose duty IL sha be 70 inquire wheth
er the constitution has been preserved uviuae 10 every
part during The last septcnary, (uoludng the year Of
their serycej and whether the legislative and executive
branches NJ government have performed their duty AS
guardians N The people or ASSUMED TO Themselves or
crcised other greater powers than they entitled 70
by the constitution. They also 10 inquire whether
The public have been justly laid and collected Boa 40
parts " this commonwealth in what manner the public
moneys have been disposed o. and whether the Laws have
been duly executed For these purposes they shall have
power 10 send for persons, papers and records they
shall have authority 10 pass public censurrs 10 order
lmpee hnehis ana 20 recommend 20 we legislature the
repeating such laws shall appear then have
pissed contrary In the principles oi the constitution
ese powers they shall continue 10 have Tor and during
the space Of one year from the day u their election, and
no longer The said council Of censors shall also have
power To call convention, n meet within two years after
their sitting there appears them absolute
atty " amending any article Of this constitution which
may be defective explaining such A. may be thought
not clearly expressed, and " adding such
say Jr the preservation Of the rights aud happiness u
the people. But the articles to be amended. and the
amendments proposed uuO SUCH ARTICLES a.
90 be added abolished shall be- promulgated at least
sx months before the day appointed Tor the election o.
such convention, or the previous consideration OF the
people that they have an opportunity of ust ucng
their delegate on the subject
In accordance with the provisions Of this
article, the Legislature Of Vermont passed
an act making provision for the election Of a
Council Of Censors on the last Wednesday Of
March, 1862 The Council is to cousis, of only
thirteen persons, and the question is being
agitated how they shall be nominated. As
they are to be elected on general ticket, as
are the Governor, Lieut.. Governor. aud Treas
urer we can see no better way than for the
Republican State Committee, which represents
large majority Of the legal votes Of the
State, to call Convention OF the people at
some central place for the purpose of nomin-
aung candidates. We would not by this be un-
derstood desiring strict party nominations,
for it seems to be generally conceded that in
electing the Council Of Ceusors parties shall be
laid aside, and the best men Of all parties
shall be chosen to consider the important
matters that are to come before them. As the
time Of election is drawing near. and some
concert Of action is necessary, we hope to see
a convention called Immediately, and we con-
slider the Republican State Committee the
most appropriate authority for calling it,
But let the call be so made as that there
shall be unity Of action between the Republi-
cans and Democrats.