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

ligencc and education there is in Vermont. the
Government require a submission of their c0nsti-
tutlons TO vote Of the people And shall 10 be
nid that here in enlightened Vermont. n Council
OF Oensors OF l3lmen refused 10 submit amend
monts to the State constitution 10 q final vote Of
the people Such action seems 70 the minority
Of your Committee TO beprcpostorous and unjust.
The greatest objection 10 the proposed change
that has come 10 the knowledge of the minority
OF your Committee, is enhanced cost. by leaving
it with the Legislature 10 be continually tanner
ing with constitutional questions. prolonriur the
session nt great expense 10 the State etG Now
we do not propose that the Legislature shall have
any power over the question oitcner than once i'm
TEN years, which may lengthen that session one
week, and the reference 10 the next Legislature
may consume one-lal week, as the second vote
is merely 70 approve or reject by articles or sec
tons. This is just about the same length of time
that the conventions have been ia session. and at
about the same expense costing in each Ten
ydrS what is now expended In each eeren yo1rs
Then there is the additional cost iu each seven
years of the several sessions Of the Council and
the TWO primary meetings Ol the people 20 choose
the Council and the members of the Conventions
which hy the estimate Of the Committee 0n Bien-
nlal Sessions would be q large Uau two day,
work tO each voter
But no time is lost ia the proposed change by
voting at home, for t s done nt the time and
place Of voting for State and County onicors.-
Ahd tle expense ul the proposed change must be
considerably less than the present system. or
this fact the minority Of your Committee have
not the least particle of doubt. The object Of re-
ierring amendments TO second Legislature. is 30
give the newspapers O full year 10 discuss the
subject proposed, and the people time TO know
and understand the whole matter. and they can
then elect members in reference % their vote ON
The amendments instruct them II they please.
and afford every facility 90 the people t1 know
and understand what their fundamental law is.
and whether or not they desire amy change
In conclusion, the minority of your Committee
would appeal % the honor and sense of Justice of
those OF the Council who DO mot like the change
personally, 10 suffer &c 90 gYto the people through
their Convention, ii one IS t1 be called let the
people ny hy their Convention whether thcy
want the change OF not u they vote 10 down.
there will be the end of it, and it will become "a
settled question. Otherwise it viii he aeitated
again at the next -cptennial Council. The peo-
pie viii not be satisfied wit0ut an opportunity to
express an opinion through q Convention, and it
seems 10 minority Of your Committee. that 10 is
their right to have 1t SO referred. 10 deny it To
them, when perhaps other questions may be re-
lerred that no part Of the people have asked for,
would appear -0maniiestly improper and unjust
that the minority Of this Committee feel bound
respectfully TO protest against such action. All
Of which is respectfully submitted to your cJnsid-
Grafton.
j. W. CoLWRN,