Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-03-24
From the Daily Of March ~.
Constitutional Amendments.

We are informed that the Judges Of
our Supreme Court are giving their con-
sideration to the question of the consti-
tutionality of the act, passed by the last
Legislature of this State, comforting the
power to vote upon our absent soldiers.
What the decision may be, we shall not
attempt, Of course, to anticipate, But
the subject is calculated to bring forci-
bly, to mind our helplessness in the mat
ter Of amending our state constitution,
whenever there is urgent occasion for it,
whether to prevent the Acknowledgement
of our patriotic volunteers in the coup-
trys defence, or for any other purpose.
We are still suffering under the ancient
delusion of the magic number "seven."
There were seven wise men In the olden
time, seven wonders Of the world, seven
ages of man; we read of the seventh
son of the seventh SON" we have heard
of seven years irritating disease not
to be mentioned to ears polite, and Ver-
mont at present is afflicted with a seven
years humbug called the Council of Cen
sors. While other States are providing
for the continuance of the elective fran
chise to those OF their citizens whose
patriotism leads them to temporary
absence from their state in answer to
the country's call;-while states like New
York, whose constitutions require amend
ment to effect this object, are promptly
amending them, Vermont can only re-
joice in the prospect,--if her constitu-
tion now presents an insuperable obsta-
Gle to the validity of the act in question:
that in some five or six years after the
emergency calling for it shall have pass
ed by, there will be an opportunity for
the Council of Censors to- consider
whether an amendment to the cOnstitu-
tion shall be permitted to 90 before the
people for their approval battinaip
Is The experience of other States shows
that abundant safeguards can be thrown
around the constitution to prevent too
ilCAANho5 vi t5iISohSibNldNC lhkCllClCuSC
with its provisions, without any such
superhuous, expensive, cumbrous and
slow coach machinery as Vermont en-
joys. In New York, for example, it was
necessary that the proposed amendment
:ecei:e .eceive the approval of majority ofall
the members elected to both branches of
the Legislature, for two successive
years 1s6S and 1864 before being sub
mitted to the vote of the people. These
and other more formal provisions
against inconsiderate action, abundant
for that purpose, are got through with
in time to meet the occasion calling for
the amendment, and the soldiers of New
York in the temporary service Of the
country are not to be deprived Of their
right to vote because of their patriot
ism. In Vermont as elsewhere, the
constitution is supposed to embody the
sovereign will of the people Of the State,
and the people Of Vermont are without
doubt overwhelmingly in favor Of the
above mentioned act OF last Falls Leg
islature. If the Supreme court pro-
nounce it unconstitutional what can
be done?
The Senate and House Of Representa-
tiyes ought to be sufficiently able to de-
termine whether proposed constitutional
amendments shall be submitted to the
popular vote. The last Council of Cen
sors should have taken measures for
putting an end to it's own useless exis-
tence if it did nothing else. 1t did
nothing else, except draw its pay, and
still left itself in the way Of all
amendments to the constitution for an
other magic period of seven years. Is
there no way of removing this magical
seven years stumbling block2 asN
s4ar i.