Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-07-06
The Proposed Amendments.

constitution of Vermont, originated during
the sessions of the last council of censors,
was one submitted by Mr.. Lane, which is
as follows
That a committee of three be appoint
ed TO inquire and report upon the eXpedi-
euCy of so amending the constitution that
corporations may be formed under general
laws but shall not be created by special
enactment; which on motion was ordered
70 lie"
This proposition Is exactly to our mind.
The legislatureo Of this state yearly eXhausts
too much time in special enactments and
in what appears to US as paid pleadings for
private corporations. 1t is an evil that
should be checked; yes, stopped at once and
forever. \ general law applicable to ali
corporations should be passed, empowering
them to do business under a general char
ter, each company of course making its own
rules, regulations and by laws, as now
With the adoption Of this amendment a
prolific source of legislative wrangling and
lobbying will be abolished, while members
of the two houses can reserve the eloquence
they have been wont to waste in securing
the passage of bills of this character for
occasions Of greater importance and of
more pressing necessity. Each session we
see the speakers desk flooded with bills for
the benefit of private individuals, begging
charters for this or that company, from a
railroad costing millions of money to the
construction Of an obscure turnpike in the
kingdom of Norton; and from building a
half mile Of cotton factories that give en-
ployment to thousands Of operatives to the
incorporation Of "a fourth rate single shan
ty Such legislation is too puerile for men
10 engage in, and unworthy the considcra-
ton Of the peoples representatives. The
proposition is sensible from a business
standpoint, and it is essentially democratic
in theory. A general law for all corpora
tons is demanded by the best interests of
the state, and we hope the proposition sub
mitted by Mr. Lane may meet the appro-
val Of the people.
Mr.. Dewey submitted the following res
olution:
THAT committee he instructed to in
quire and report rs to whether evils and de-
tects exist in the present chancerv system
of the state, and whether the action Of this
council under the provisions of the consti-
tuition may and should be invoked to re-
move or ameIorate such evils and defects
if found to exist"
As we know nothing of " the present
chancery system of the state, " we are una
BILE to tell whether the proposed amend
mcnt Of Mr.. Dewey is pertinent or not, and
therefore venture no opinion.
Mr.. Dewey also introduced the following
relative to the salaries Of the Judges anC
the mode Of their election:
That a committee Of three members bt
appointed to inquire into the eXpedicnc,
of 80 amending the constitution as TO en-
large the term of office of the Judges of
the supreme court, and to fix their salaries
and also To- inquire into the eXpediency OF
changing the mode of their election
If the salaries now received by the judg
es Of our courts are inadequate for thei
proper support, we would raise them to
point that should be satisfactory We hol,
that labor should be properly paid, and T.
q liberal remuneration for all intellectual
toll. 1t requires greater expense to fit on
TO be a proficient in the learned profession
than the employment of mere muscle, tn
compensation therefore should be highe
We should seek the best talent to preside q
our courts, paying what that talent woul
command in any othersphere of action, thu
making the position one of profit as well a
of honor. If however, the proposition o
Mr.. Dewey is intended to refer the eleetio
of the judges to the people, we object
Render them as Independent of the peopl
for interpretations as possible. Make thel
dependent upon voters for their places ant
let us ask, how long would it be before tn
courts became as corrupt rs our nations
and state legislatures? Every farm, felC
workshop and store would be invaded b
the agents of the various candidates an
their occupants badgered to bestow the
sutirages in favor Of this or that candidat
in pending elections the inevitable resu
of which would be that in few wears
farthest, the courts would become mel
places of party intrigue, the jury box
packed committee on nominations, and til
Judges themselves a set Of hair Drained Do
litical demagogues, too liable to base the
opinions of law upon the personal and DC
ltical predictions of the parties appearin
at court. To many persons this view ma
appear overweight and strained and loo
rs though we were frightened at aphanton
but we fear our imaginings would pro,
but too real in the event of the election G
our Judges by the people. A judge is bl
MAN at best. He is open to the same il
ducements, has the same aspirations, I'll
same anxieties and desire of promote
that are shared by other men, then WI
should he not be as vulnerable as the $
called public servants in another and higl
er branch of the national service? We fei
they have none of that divinity whiC
doth hedge in king" for, we are told |
the great dramatist, that judges have bee
bought for gold" Since governments fir
had an existence in the memory of ma
we have read Of the corruptions of legisl
tors and officials in every branch of publ
service; have heard of fragrant dishonest
gross immoralsties, glazing vices and Grim
the Rost wicked and revolving. And VIII,
Obliged TO 20 directly to the people for +
ror- and support, these patriot demagogu
e forced TO invent every species of falls
mood and resort to the lowest cunning
hide their detormities and make their We
baseness attractive to their constituents.
Thus do the unworthy leap to positions
power where they too often barter aw
the liberties of their subjects. This is t
history of too many of the worlds rule
since " the morning stars sang together
Though there have been rogues
deepest dye among those who have DOM
the Judicial ermine, we think the histo