Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-15

same in every town. and the several towns should
stand ON precisely the same level as to repre- cu-
tation-equal and independent.
Mr. Dunton of Rutland claimed that the large
towns had no desire to abridgc the rights Of the
small towns. The large towns find no fault with
Legislation they are satisfied have received all
they have asked.
Mr.. Powers, Of Morristown, had the same view
of this amendment MS he had in the late Council.
This Convention had moro power than any iegis-
laturc. lie was opposed 10 the proposal otamcnd-
ncnt Tho Senate which under this amendment
would have the sole power 10 propose luturo
amendments, is not popular branch 10 is made
up of representatives from large towns prnci-
paly not being fair representation Of the poo
pie it may happen that the Senate Will refuse
10 propose articles which the people may demand
Ii is very dangerous depository Ol the amend
ing power Nor is the house OF representatives
q fair democratic body to pass upon amendments.
lie was in favor of the peoples having direct
vote ON amendments, and caIdcd that this amend
ment was opposed to this end 10 is folly 90 say that
the people will have n direct vote, when the Sen
ate and House can prevent nm amendment s be
ing proposed to the people, though most urgently
demanded. This proposal OF amendment has de-
Ccived the members from small towns. Ihc ar
tcle Of the Constitution has acquired all the age
of the instrument itself, and Is the direct expires
sion of the free spirit of Vermont. IL IS dictated
hy the desire % keep watch over the liberties ot
]
ctymology Of the word, is meant 10 keep %
" watch 80 over the Legislature and Executive,
and is too sacred an influence 10 the abolished.
| By giving it the power OF impeachment the Fathers
showed how highly they priced its influence and
powers lie was not to be controlled by the plea
of economy. lie would not dispense with or
abolish a useful thing, merely because il co,t
money 10 support il. But he denied that thus
proposed amendment would save money. Tie
two Houses Of the Legislature would spend more
time in merely proposing amendments than we
are now in deciding them. Corruption, TOO,
which follows the Legislature. will tuint the Com
stitutiOn For two years, too, the Legislature
must spend its expensive time in discussing
amendments. The principle OF economy is most
clearly opposed 20 this change The old custom
now in force is the true one.
Mr.. Drake of Royalton, wished the powers ol
government kept as near the people as possible
and claimed that this amendment was opposed 81
{ that end and he should vote against il.
Mr. Slade Of Middlehury moved that the com
mttee rise, report progress and ask leave 90 sii
again, which was agreed 10, and the leave asked
was thereupon granted.
On molten Of Mr. Omstead Of Dorset ad
i1urned
AFTERNOON.
Mr. Kellogg Of Benson offered the following
resolution
, Rcsoic,d, That a committee of three be appoint
. ed toprcparc and report the form and manner o
/ authcnticating the evidence of the adoption D.,
, the convention Of the several articles OF amend
, ment to the constitution, which have been or may
I be adopted by the conventions
T. Which resolution was agreed TO-
- The Convention having gone into committee %
the whole, the question REQUIRED on the adoption
of the sixth article of amendment.
- Mr. Kellogg of Benson had always been in il
7, vor Of the abrogntion of the i3d section OF the
80 al, tl Iiouupil o
b, Cens0rs But he could not support this amend
J. ment, because he believed it more ohectiOnabl,
4 than the article of the constitution as it nov
d stands. If the question was simply on the ad0p
ton of the fourth section Of this article he shoul,
! favor il, and cited precedents for dividing thu
Il several propositions of amendment But Inc die
j. not propose To ask that this question be divided
for he simply wanted to abolish the Council %
= Cens0rs His objection tO the Council is thatanl
T. frs men of the Council can prevent any amend
!, ment that may be proposed. The amendmen
I. now under consideration is equally Objectionable
!, in that eiercH members OF the senate may at al
9 times prevent any amendments, and II Is not YER
(, likely that any amendments will ever be mad
in our Constitution lie then said that if W
adopt this amendment we completely tie on
20 hands for the next ten years, and even then "
MI must have any proposition filtered through
minority Of cicrcR members Of the Senate. II
IL, wanted the toWHS to have the right Of lnitn
see the time when any town shall be deprived %
the right of representation on the Hoor OF tia
popular branch Of the General Assembly, and j
was perfectly safe to trust the people with the de
fence and maintanance Of their rights HI
il wished he might strike out of the Constitution
h every thing pertaining to the Council of Censor
but not by substituting therefor this provision
II wach he regarded rs much more ohiectionabl
a than the Council of CensOrs. Let us hesitat
n before we adopt worse thing than we alread
, have
y Mr.. Phelps, of Burlington, favored the amend
L ment The institution Of the Council of Censor
has sigually failed all admit 1t. Though hayln
. great personal regard for the members Of the la,
Council, still its session was in great measure
n failure. Looking at its formation it is elected b
n a ridiculously small vote. Now or sometime "
IS must get rid of this bungling Council. The onl
l. question is what shall he the substitute for il
Members wish quite different substitutes. Their
is no more danger Of the small towns losing the
q representation than of thc-destructi0n Of tl
.e Christian religion. The process through whic
10 a proposal Of amendment must pass can be check
IA ed at any time by the representatives from tn
n small towns This talk about hostility betwcc
large and small towns is q great eXnggeUt0n an
" mere mischief making 10 influence votes. n
Is one can really wish to take away the representa-
J. ton Of small towns ID is the great safeguard d
our liberties and pure legislation. Coming from tn
l. rural towns the representatives, are unapproacl
d able bribery. IL saves us from the corruption o
l. large Legislatures. The substitute proposed j
this article meets his views exactly. Some
l. does not suit But this is as fair ground as W
& could expect 1t is acceptable any could be
/ 1t is no objection to this article that it allow
n bare majority Of the House to propose an amend
ment, for back of that is required a two third
It vote ID the Senate. lie denied Judge Kellogg
n position that we could divide the article and vote
It first on the rejection of the Council and second
N on the substitute proposed. lie claimed that
lie was opposed to the clear logical deduction fror
: the section of the Constitution relating 10 amend
h ments. But the danger would be that nayin
= abolished the Council we nigh not agree on an
IS mode Of amending the Constitution. Let us a
> unite on this fair compromise proposed by Tia
IF Council. This substitute is no entering wedge
70 to deprive small towns Of their representation
p Mr.. Churchill, Of Goshen, said that we shoul
l. take rights from the people, if we adopt this ar
20 ticle of amendment. The Council of Censors i
e composed of 10 members, and the people hav
J, the right to vote for each of them, but if thi
y amendment is adopted we are 10 put it in tn
l. power Of the Senate TO propose the amendments
e "A body of men elected by the treemen of eac
d county, and not by general ticket by the peopl
= Of he whole State He thought this would b
d unjNst to the people, and abridge their rights
n lie hoped the good sense OF this Convention woul
If reject the amendment
n Mr.. Walton, of Montpelier. said he gave IN
If gentleman from Burlington credit for the adroit
II ness with which he had avoided the real question
h and attempted to answer arguments by sarcasm
n Under the present system, the delegates in tn
5. Conventions to consider the articles of amend
e, ment are elected by the people for the expires
l. purpose Of considering the amendments and 10
:. no Other purpose there can be no log-rollng-n
ID mixing up OF matters of amending the Constitu
t. ton with the general Legislation of the State
j. The right Of equal representation was a com
$, pact entered into at the adoption Of the Constu
e ton, and was to be enjoyedby the towns forcuer
a The iorty-third section was put in as a guaran
is ty that this right shall be preserved The at
;, tempt IS now made 10 abrOgte that guaranty
/ We should not put it in the power of the larg
+ towns to violate that compact II the Counei
IF had proposed To substitute the Senate for tn
a Council, as the proper tribunal 70 propose amend
ments to besuhmittei to the delegates the town
e in Constitutional Convention. he would have nc
J. guessed in that change but he protested agnins
> this attempt 10 Interfere with the rights of In
. EFnW 10 lss.sl Al a