Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-10-30
RUTLAND, VT, THURSDAY MORNING, 1862

Of the best and freest government on earth.
No State, | am proud TO say, has answered
more promptly and cheerfully the demands
made upon it, and to-day no patriot soldiers
tread with loftier mien, and more noble bear
ing, the battle field of duty, than the hardy
yeomanry who have gone down from our hills
and valleys TO yindicate the integrity Of our
government and its laws. We have freely
offered of our best blood-we will freely give
of our earthly treasures, until the last traitors
bones shall bleach ON southern plains, and an
outraged government be restored to its pristine
purity and power over the whole Union.
To meet the demands upon us, we should
retrench our expenses-not in mean. narrow,
contracted and parsimonious spirit, but with
that lofty purpose which prepares us to sacri-
flee our pleasures for the sake of greater
good which we may accomplish with our avail
able means,
In the contest in which we are engaged, the
| clouds that brooded over us have been lifted.
| We look beyond them into the siiyery light of
a coming future, and our hearts are gladdened
by coming peace. We know that God is
| Just, yetwe see not the end of our nations
| trials. We know that the doom of traitors is
sealed, but we know not the day nor the hour
when the sword can be returned TO its scab-
| bard and our loved fathers, brothers and sons
| come back to their vacant seats around our
mountain firesides. We know that whether
peace shall come sooner or later, we shall have
| years of taxation in which our debts must be
paid. 1t is the duty of statesmen caring for
and protecting the interests of their constitu-
ents, to see that our expenses are reduced to
/ thal L.
prompt and honorable discharge of all our
| duties.
1t is estimated that an annual session of our
Legislature costs the people the sum of eighty
| four thousand dollars. In the next seven
| years, the saving by biennial meetings of the
Legislature alone, would amount to the sum Of
| two hundred and ninety thousand dollars-no
small item to be taken from the pockets of the
| people, and placed into the Treasury of the
| State.
| Advantages of pecuniary character are not
of course the most important considerations, in
connection with the amendment or alteration
of an organic law. The great principles Of
| popular liberty, and the security and protec-
tion of individual rights, are the first and most
important elements of a constitution but in
vested for the time being with the considera-
tion of all questions which arise under State
Constitution, we ought not and cannot over
look items Of a purely pecuniary character
and more especially so at this time when we
cannot shut our eyes to the fact that for years
We must bear burthen Of taxGtion unprece-
dented in our history.
| Ii then, We can in the next seven wears save
to the people the snm of two hundred and
1 lnt,,a o,,1 J,llo IL.
prove the character and stability of legislation,
is it not our first and highest duty to do so.
There are doubtless other changes that might
under other circumstances be desirable but if
we will but vest the power of amendment where
1t can be reached at each session of the Leg
isature, feel willing to trust the more imme-
diate representatives of the people to work out
| for themselves at all times and under all cir
cumstances, such changes in their organic law
as the exigencies of the times NAV require. and
the people approve.
1t may be proper to inquire how far the
adoption of any resolution may effect the action
already taken by the Council
| At our first session under the rules adopted
by us, committees were appointed as follows :
On the Powers of the Constitution,-a Leg
islative Committee, Executive Committee,
and a Committee on Taxes and Expenditures
| The duties of these committees, ARE duties which
| devolve upon us by virtue of the constitution
| whose provisions we have assembled to consid-
| er, and Of course will be in perfect harmony
with the adoption of my resolution.
The resolution introduced by the gentleman
from Chttenden and adopted by the Council is
as follows:
| Y bat 80 IL L..
pointed, to enquire into the expediency of Sc
amending the constitution of the State as {,
enlarge the term of Office of Senators and Rep
resentatives to require less frequent session:
of the Legislature a smaller number of Rep
resentatieos, and TO secure equality among III,
people IN the basis of Representation"
This resolution is intended to involve bi
ennial sessions of the Legislature, and ofcours,
an extension Of the term of Senatorial ant
Representative tenure to correspond Herewith
So far, it is in perfect harmony with the reso
luton under discussion, but it proposes to g
farther, and radically change the present basis
of Representation by towns. | believe thai
propositions involving this point have beer
adopted in most Of our councils, but have in
varlabty failed to be approved by the conyen
tons called for their consideration. / do no
refer to this as an argumentagaiast the PROPOSE
ton, but simply to observe, that aside from thi
change inlnumber andlbass ofRepresentaton-
achange the adoption Of which by any conven
ton we may call, We may be permitted to en-
tertain at least grave doubts), there can be NJ
clashing. 8ss
i The resolution offered by the gentleman
from Orleans and adopted, is as follows:
\ "Resolred, That committee Of fthree be ap
pointed to inquire into the eypediency Of s.
J amending the constitution of this State as t
dispense with the Office Of Assistant Judge Q
the County Court.o
There are indeed few gentlemen of legs
ability and discernment who have not seen i
the course of their practice, that this auxllliar
of the Judiciary of our State can and ought +
be Topped off. 1t wouldbe noinconsiderable sa
wing of expense in the machinery of govern
ment, and believe if the Legislature had pow
er over it they would at once abolish so unnec
essary an office and SO useless an expense.
submit to the gentlemen from Orleans, whethe
1t will not be well for the purpose of simplify