Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-25
The Old Constitute. Hsa ss.

The windsor Journal OF last week con-
tains an article relative to the improve
ments that are being demanded by some
of the people of that village, INDUCES y
some "reminiscences regarding the 500
Constitution House," which is a scrap o.
local history worth preserving, and there
fore transfer it to our columns. From the
initials, we judge it TO be from the pen OF
George P. Hayes, ESQ, who is giving
some attention to Vermont history; and
his labors are proving valuable. 1t is to
be hoped he will often favor the Press
with the results Of his Investigations.
The Old Constitution House on the OPP
posite corner, of which it is sometimes
said, ait ought to burn Hold on gen
tlemen, a moment We have sometimes
heard a young man say, that something
would be done when certain old soyeys"
passed off the stage and left TO them their
property and their room as well, and when
we would burn this old relic, We are in
spirit akin to these same young men. We
can AFFORD to wait a little, as we know this
property is in good hands for permanent
Improvement when the time shall come.
But little for the claims upon our for
bearance as to this piece of property.
History has q short page that We propose
10 copy entire. While Congress was
resolving to dismiss the petition Of the
inhabitonts OF Vermont, and that the
independent government attempted to be
established by its people could derive no
countenance or jurisdiction from any act
or resolution OF that body" the peo-
pie Of Vermont were engaged IN form
ing a constitution Of civil government
The convention which declared the indie
pendence of Vermont, met according to
adjournment, at Windsor, on the first
Wednesday of June. At this meeting a
committee was appointed to make draft
of constitution and resolution was
adopted recommendary to each town to
elect delegates to meet in convention at
Windsor, on the second day of July fol-
lowing. On the second day of July the
convention met at Windsor. The draft Of
constitution was presented and read.
The business being new, and of great i'm
portance, required serious elaboration.
The convention had it under consideration
when the news of the evacuation of IL
conderoga arrived, which occasioned great
alarm, as thereby the frontiers OF the State
were exposed to the inroads of the enemy.
The family of the president of the con-
vention, as well as those of many other
members. were exposed. In the awful cri-
Sis, the convention was for leaving Wind
sor; but a severe thunder storm came on
and gave them time to reflect; while some
members, less alarmed at the news, callad
the attention of the convention to finish
the constitution, which was then read,
paragraph by paragraph, for the last time.
| This was done and the convention APP
pointed a Council of Safety to act during
the recess, and adjourned Previous to
the adjournment, it was ordered that the
first election under the constitution should
be holden in December, l777, and the
general assembly thus elected should meet
at Bennington in January, 1878. The
public attention being arrested by the
evacuation Of Ticonderoga, and the pro-
gress OF the enemy under Gen. Burgoyne,
the Constitution was not printed seasonal
bly, to have the election holden in Deem
Der. The convention was therefore sum
moned by the Council of Safety to meet
at Windsor on the 9th of December,
1777. They met, revised the constitution,
and postponed the day of election until
the first Tuesday Of March, l778, and the
sitting of the assembly until the second
Tuesday of the same month.
Should the building that sheltered this
august assemblage, under such trying
times, be the subject of the slightest van
dal wish No, let it bide its time, and
| Underneath the cornerstone Of its success
sor place the foregoing record, that its
prestige and glory may not pass away.