Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-06
The Right of Revolution.


The conservative people of Vermont
will not be betrayed by harsh epitheis or Jon.
putations into q surrender of their control
at oil times and in their own way, over their
government We say in their own way.
meaning by it, armed revolution if that shall
ever become absolutely necessary and muc0
better than that, if it will accomplish ha
desired purpose, peaceful revolution, through
delegates or representatives regularly elected
and instructed for the purpose. These pow.
crs were reserved by the people when le
Constitution was formed aud Of course can
be righuully used if cxgoncic- demand and
Justify the use Of them It is true that DO
the original Constitution mode Of amend
ment was provided, and another mode Do.
now been provided but this docs not pre-.
cule the people from resortng to other
modes If they choose for the reason Hai
neither in the beginning nor since was therrc-
scrbed mode exclusive of every other. OF o
surrender Of the reserved rights and power
Of the people On thi, subject we cite. 6r,'.
the Preamble to the original Constitution.
which has never been abrogated by any com.
pcteut authority. although since 1891 it ha.
been omitted in the statute books Il
still 10 force as much as it ever was.
1t :. absolutely necessary for the welfare
and safety of the inhabitants Of this State that
it should be, hencefor,h, o free and Iula.
pendent State and that q just permanent
and proper form of government should exist
! in it, dvirH troDi, amt foluded oH he u.
/ n0rHy Of tte pcopie oaiy agreeable to %.
direction Of the honorable American C0nsre..
We, toe representative of the frecmen oil
I Vermont, in General Convention met ior he
/ express purpose Of forming such gogerumcut
do, by virtue of authority
vested in Us, by our constituents, ofdain, DEE
clare and establish, tle folowag deciaa-
tim Of rights, and frame Of government TO
be the Constitution of this commonwealth
and to remain ia force therein, forever uual.
tered, except in such articles as shall, hercai-
ter, on experience be found to require jon.
proyemont and which shall, BIZ me same qr
tborRy Of ME peopie, fairly delegated, o,
this frame Of government directs, be amended
or improved, for the more eficctual obtaining
and securing the great end and design Of OIL
government, herein before mentioned"
The words, as this frame Of government
directs" evidently refer to the old ABA see.
ton, and specially to the right of the people
to elect and instruct delegates to the Cousiiiu
tional Convention That these word. are
not to be construed a- forhilding amendment.
in any other mode than that prescribed TO
sec 43, appear, from the right Of cbnugIn,
10 any mode they choose, which was and .til
( is reserved to the people in Art. VII Of the
Declaration Of Rights. We repeat this eta.
ton to wit
The community hath an iaduJitolle DI.
aiieajie, anil idefeaable right 10 rCtorm0r
alter government, ~ sUcn MANNER As SHALL
uE, BY ruAr COMMUNITY, judged most cou
duciye to the public veal
Finally, to show that this article of ihe
Declaration of Rights Is still in force. We
give sec. - of the existing Frame of Gov.
ernment
SEC. -. The Declaration Of the polit.
cal rights and privileges of the inhabitants o..
/ this State, is hereby declared to be part Of
the Constitution y this commonwealth, and
ought not TO be violated on any pretence
whatsoever"
This is The right Of rero1utioa but itis
not to be stigmatizcd by giving to the word
revolution bad sense, as opposed to true
conservatism. On the other hand, the de-
clared and sole purpose of it is for securing
the great end aud design Of all government
as the Preamble asserts; or it is to be so used
and only so used, as to be conducive to The
public veal, as the Declaration Of Rights
asserts. 1t is really conservative power, re-
served for the purpose of preserving the lib
critics and privileges Of the people. 1t is to
be used only when required for such a pur
pose, and then it may be rigLtfAy used.