Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-08

The following summary OF proceeding OF
the various Councils Of Ccnsora and Consti-
iutional Conventions which have been held
in this State since the adoption Of the Com
stitution, will show at glance what has been
proposod--what has been accomplished, and
what has failed.
Under the provisions Of the lorty-third
section Of the Constitution Of this State,
there has been elected Council Of Ccusors
once in seven years since the first adoption of
that instrument
Tho original Constitution Of this State was
adopted by Convention in the year l71S.
The first Council Of Ccu.ors was elected in
March, 1885, and held three sessions, one mt
Norwich. one at Windsor and o.c at Bon
nington and Of this body Increase Mo,cly was
President and Micah Townsend Secretary.
They proposed numerous amendments to Che
Constitution, and issued an address TO the
irccmcn Of the state, in which they criticised
freely and sharply the legislation Of the pre-.
coding scp,onary Their most important
proposals of amendment, those limiting the
numbcrof Representative 20 $50, 90 DE clcct-
ell ON basis OF population, and disuict.ug
the State for this purpose, were not adopted
by the Convention which the Council called
The second Council held three sessions at
Rutland, in june, October and November Of
1892. Samuel Knight was President and
p Roswell Hopkins Secretary. This Council
proposed that a Senate should be elected,
livery much as our Senate is at present con-
stituteD and limited the duties Of the Gov.
crnor and Council to the right Of veto, but
provided that any bin vetoed by them might
be passed by majoray Of the House and
Senate. when it should become law. The
right of the Governor to Judge in eases Of
81 impeachmont was abrogatod, and an advisory
council of four was to be elected by the
House and Senate to meet with the Governor
" and advise with him in granting pardons.
renting fines and laying cmbargoos" In
the proceedings of this Council. we for the
first time discover any intimation of the
IIoAiOuslN l.
and which finally resulted in its abolition
n None of these proposals however were adopt
ed by the Convention.
1 The third Council held its session at Wind
l. sor, in October, 1909. Moses Robinson was
/. President aud David Fay Secretary The
, Council proposed no amendments to the Con-
! stitution and called no convention. In their
d address however, they animadyertod severely
9. upon some Of the legislation of the proceed
e ing seven years, and ordered the impcach-
: ment before the Governor and Council, of
s. William Colby, the sheriff of Bennington
4 county, for taking illegal fees. 1t is worthy
U of notice. asshowing the jealousy of the House
of Representatives toward the Council that
+, instead Of presenting the case to that body,
e whore by the Constitution it should have been
tried, they proceeded to investigate the mat
e ter themselves and pronounced the charges
unsubstantiated.
The fourth Council held their session at
Woodstock, in October, lSO6. Moses Robin
son was President and Thomas soss Secretary.
c They proposed no amendments to the constitu-
ton and called no convention They repre-
IS hended, however, in their address, some Of
r the legislation which they were to review,
especially an act to provide for the support of
> the Gospel, which they declared to be contrary
to the third article of the bill of Rights.
The fifth Council held June and October
(lsl3) session at Montpelier, and a session in
, the following January at Middlebury Isaac
Tichenor was President, Robert Temple Secre-
tary, and Rev. Chester Wright Chaplain