Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-06-17
THERUTLAND HERALD
FRIDAY, JUNE II, 1869.
Constitutional Amendments.


The large number of preliminary inqul
RES started by the first session OF the
Council of Censors recently held at MONT
pe,ier. and the deep interest manifested
by the press and the people of the State
in some Of them, renders it almost certain
that the council will exercise their power
of calling constitutional convention, for
the purpose Of amending the articles Of
the constitution of the State, or of add.
ing thereto such articles as may be neces.
sary for the preservation of the rights and
happiness of the people.
Under the present method of making
amendments, or changing the provisions
Of our State constitution, it is necessary
that the measures proposed for the action
of the convention, shall be promulgated
at least six months before the election Of
the members of the convention, for the
consideration of the people that they may
have the opportunity of instrueting their
delegates on the subject
The organic law of the State seems to
contemplate that there shall be the fullest
discussion and consideration of constitu-
tional changes, and that the people shall
nave no excuse for acting in matter of
so much Importance without mature de-
liberation and careful consideration of
the points of amendment upon which
they are called to act
Many subjects are under consideration
by the Council, and the important bear
ing they have on the public veal con-
strains us to say that we consider it the
Imperative duty of the people of this
State to demand that such changes shall
be made in our political system as will
promote the highest political, social, and
financial progress of the inhabitants of
the State.
The question of female suffrage is at
tracing much attention, and is assuming
proportions which require action. We be-
heve the time has come when restrictions
upon classes of our people must have a
reasonable foundation or be swept away,
and we might as well meet'the question and
decide whether TIE Sex of an intelligent eli
tizen of mature age il to be the criterion by
which the right of suffrage is to be grant
ed or withheld. The people must give
this question a respectful hearing and
candid solution, which shall be consistent
with justice to woman and in accordance
with the enlightened progress Of Repub-
lican liberty We do not know as this
State is prepared for this question at the
present time, but we believe that an in
telligent agitation of the subject would
soon create all the preparation necessary
tn remove from our political system a
manifest injustice to at least half the in
habitants of our State.
Another subject of grave importance
10 our people is the proposition to pro-
hiblt the creation of private corporations
10y special onactments of the legislature.
1t Is a notorious fac5 that much of the
time of our legislative assemblies has been
sqnandered in wrangles over the char
ters OF private corporations. We do not
wish to be understood as advocatine a re-
moval OF all restrictions to corporates
monopoies, or the granting away Of the
sovereign right of emenant domain.
Whereby private property may be taken
for railways, canals, turnpikes, or other
public improvements, but we believe the
BEST interest OF the people require til at the
right OF granting corporate charters and
rights should be lodged in some judicial
tribunal under general law of the State
such course would relieve the sessions
OF the legislature of tho c,roater part OF
their burdens, would shorten the sessions
and tend to Il more correct decision of the /
legal Questions involved in each applica-
ton, besides relieving the State at large
from the turmoil and excitement of every
petty railroad or corporation squabble IL /.
every locality of the State
Again, it is manifest that the syssem of
special Legislation upon the question of
corporate rights and charters, is raising
at least suspicious of corruption in our
Legislative bodies. Wa have of late, often
witnessed in the railroad fights in the
legislature, the assembling of powerful
lobbies, to influence the course of leasisla-
ton 1t requires no argument to convince
the people Of this State that the foun-
thlns OF our happiness and prosperity are
strongly menaccd by the evil and corrnpt
ing influence of an INSCRIPTIONS lobby.
having money and patronage at command,
upon Legislative body in the considera
ton of that class Of their duties known ne
special legislation 1t is uncontradictel
everywhere that the lobby of t,very le,is-
htive body obtains its lcountenancs, and
pay to large extent from parties eaeSi-ino !.
special Legislation. The examples which ,
we have IN q ncighboring STATE, of the :
r"rrupting influence of =, professional lob
by upon legislation IL obtaining special
rnactments, should. awaken an alarm in
our people, arc AZ once arouse them to
the prore> preventive measures against its
r"potition here.
we cannot claim superior virtues over
our fellow-citizens of other States. and the
instances which have been witnessed at
our capital shouldteach us TO be careful to
protect our legislatures from corruption
as far as possible, by removing the mo.
tive.
For these and other reasons, we com
mend to the people of this State, and to
the members of the council, the expedi-
eney of a diligent endeavor to SO amend
the constitution of this State, as to pro-
bibit the creation of private corporations
by special enactment
Boston letter. !,
BoSToN, june 9, 1869.
A short time since the National Photo
graphic Association held an exhibition in |