Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-08-25


SEC l. The i3d section Of part "a of the
Constitution is hereby abrogated. and in lieu
thereof, in order that the freedom Of the people
may he preserved iny0late, at the annual session
Of the Legislature, at the beginning of each de-
cade Of years commencing A. ID. 1850 the Senate
are hereby empowered by tw0-thirds vote Of an
the members present TO propose amendments TO
our state Constitution, and send them ~ the
House of Representatives with request of cln-
cuueuoe, which shall have power 70 concur or
nOn-concur, 10 amend, alter or reject. and return
the same 30 the Senate this action TO be bv "a
two-thiris vote Of an the members present and
whenever q concurrence Of. both Houses is effect
ed ly like two-thirds vote, the proposed amend
mcuts shall be referred % the next annual legi--
lature, with no power to alter or amend t. add
20 w to take from, but shall within the first tweu-
ty days after ITS organization, vote TO sanction or
reject any or all the proposed amendments This
ycte IN each House TO be tw0-thirds vote Of all
the members elected to each House respectively
SEC , Whenever proposed amendments are
thus perfected, it shall be the duly Of the Secre
ary Of state to send printed copies thereof to the
Clerk OF each town and city in the State, whose
duty shall be 10 procure printed slips numbered
% correspond with the articles of amendments
and at the next freeman meeting 70 make known
to the legal voters thereof by reading these pro-
posed amendments publicly in said meeting, and
notify the electors of their privilege 10 write each
his name ON the back Of a slip and against each
article, the word yea OF nay, as he may elect, and
when voting for State and County officers, deposit
each his slip thus written ON, in o box prepared
hY the Clerk purpusely to recciVe them.
SIC 9. The selectmen, town and CITY authori-
ties shall count these yea and nay votes the dav
they are taken, the Constable, Clerk or one of the
Selectmen pr0claimihg the result; and the Clerk
shall certify by his oath that 10 his best knowl-
edge and belief il is true and correct statement.
and forward the same by mail or otherwise to the
Secretary of State within ten days after said meet
ing whose duty il shall be 10 canvass these state
ments, and verify By his oath the true and correct
result to the Governor OF the State soon as may
be, and If it shall appear that majority of the
voters have said yea to the proposed amendments.
OF 20 any Of them, this action shall he final and
the Governor shall forthwith issue his proclaim
tion declaring the fact, and that the Constitution
is thus amended
SEC. A. The House of Representatives shall
have all the power now possessed by the Council
Of Cens0rs 10 order impeachments, which shall in
all eases be by two-thirds vote.
RFroRr OF MAJORITY or SPECIAL
COMMITTEE on CHANGING THE MoDE OF AMEND
ING THE CONSTITUTION, AUGusT 3, 1862
TO he Honorable Comai Of Censors'
The majority Of the special committee to whom
was recommitted the report heretofore made upon
the subject of abolishing the Council Of Censors,
would respectfully submit the following supple
mental report
The only mode Of proposing amendments TO the l
Constitution suggested by the minority of your
is to refer the same to the Legislature
md it is argued that the Legislature IS a safer.
cheaper and more democratic tribunal than the 1
Council Of Censors for this purpose. Our Con- /
'titutiOn was framed for the lChOic people 1t is /
The organic law which governs not municipalities,
but the pe0ple of municipalities, and as SUCH I
ought to be beyond the reach OF municipalities to
control. The Council, as now constituted, are
elected by The people, on a general ticket and a /
mlize the voice Of a town with ten thousand in .
in selecting the Council TheOret- /
ally, then, the Council created by the people .
themselves more emphatically represents the
popular voice than any other tribunal in our
rame of government This was unquestionably /
he idea Of the " fathers" in creating the Coun- |
III. In the opinion Of your committee they ought .
% have gone one step further, and provided that
he Council should submit proposed amendments !
% the people directly, or TO n Convention chosen /
n some manner that would represent the people .
,ne-halD, who represent fourteen counties. The .
lther sixteen senators represent the people of the
arger counties. The House of Representatives /
simply represents the several town corporations |
IS corporations, without any regard to the num- |
Der Of people composing such c0rp0mtions.
Ii is proposed hy the minority Of the committee |
% submit proposed changes in the organic law 10
hese two tribunals thus constituted, upon the
sround that It will bring them nearer to the peO-
lle. 1t is submitted that the result aimed at is
not brought about under this plan.
Again il is urged that the Council Of CensOrs .
= body unknown 10 sister states, and has arriv- /
u at that respectable old age in our own,
hat entities il TO funeral hon0rs We are unable
% see any force in this argument The very soul
If an organic law-Of q constitution for q com
is pcrmdHeHcy. The people demand
ome permanent law so that legislatures Of part
san bias shall not trampe upon the rights of
Again, Vermont has very many in
titutions not enjoyed by sister states, and this
act furnishes no argument against them.
Nor is the plan recommended by the minority
If your committee cheaper than the existing
node. We are of opinion If the Legislature once
n ten years have power to reach the Consttu-
ion that large portion of their time will be oc-
'upied in " tnkeringn it. No member will
hink he can subserye the interests Of his consti-
uents unless he strikes some blow at the Consti-
ution which his fancy may dictate and thus, if
10 unwise changes are made, much time will DO
AIKEN up, and great expense to the State incur
ed.
The other powers delegated by the people to the
Council of Ccnsors ought not TO be surrendered,
Through them the people hold check over the
lillerent departments OF the government Exc
'utiycs MAJ become usurpers, legislatures may
,ecome corrupt, and both become uniaithiul
guardians " of the people. Public taxes may
,e uniustly " laid - and public moneys squand-
red, and impeaehments may be demanded in
ases where corrupt legislature would screen Of
enders.
The proposition to abolish the Council has been
lgitated several times before, but without sue
,ess and although in Difference to the wishes of
portion of our people who call for this change
Ne may be constrained to vote to submit the pro-
posed amendment Of the minority TO u Conyen-
ion. still in Justice 10 ourselves we are bound TO
,xpress our views against the wisdom of such
'hange.
Respectfully submitted,
n. HENRY POWERS,
For mgOrty Of Committee