Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-06-17
]. L. BUTTERFIELD.
J. M. TYLER,
JOHN ROBERTSON, County Commit
J. L. PIERCE.
Letter from Montpelier.
. Il. PIERRE.
/ Il STETSAN
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

MONTPELIER, June Is, 1870.
Mr.. EDITOR Pro TEM:--Well, l have
had my first legislative experience. I
have seen good many things, and there
are doubtless many l have not SEEM
My impressions of legislative bodies are
not improved by the brief experience
have had here. We organized the
Constitutional Convention promptly and
with loud and liberal promises apparent
ly commenced work in good earnest
Everybody was bursting with "econo-
my" and retrenchment, and on the first
day Of the session, they would not even
vote newspaper to the benighted men,
bers during their stay. Of course such ex-
cessive virtue did not last. Soon there
was shower of resolutions, and honor
able members began to feel the great
dignity and weight Of their position.
On Friday there was great and real
ly able debate on Biennial Sessions
Mr.. Walton of Montpelier and Gov.
Dillingham; Of Waterbury, were the
leading opposers, and Mr.. Slade Of Mid
dlebury, Gov. Fletcher, of Cavendish,
Mr.. Phelps Of Burlington, and Powers
of Morristown led the friends Of that
measure. Mr.. Field of Brattleboro,
Dunton of Rutland and many others al
SO participated in this ever to be remem-
bered discussion which will stand in
the front rank Of any Of the great de-
bates Of Vermont. On calling the yeas
and nays it was found the Convention
was split just about square in the middle
on that question, the first vote being yeas
lis, nays lis. To reconsider this Mr.
Walton changed his vote, and Saturday
was therefore regular field day in the
Convention. All that day the discus
sion was kept up. At noon it was pro-
posed to adjourn, but the Convention re-
fused and demanded the yeas and nays
to reconsider, which was carried 118 to
1l5and which was received with'applause.
The Convention then adjourned.
On reassembling, the yeas and nays
were called again on the main question,
and to the surprise Of all, Biennial Ses-
sion was carried by vote of 11S to 115.
1t was now the turn of the friends of the
amendment to applaud and many of
them did SO. And thus in brief ended
this great contest-making very radi-
cal change in our Constitution.
With the adoption Of this amendment
some seem to have lost all further sight
Of economy" for which they SO brave
ly stood in the outset, and turned to and
opposed the amendment abolishing the
Council Of Censors, while others perform.
ed as if they would willingly sit here all
summer and draw their three dollars a
day. They forgot about the dear peo-
pie" Under these circumstances have
not so great expectations as some on the
adoption Of Biennial Sessions. We may
safely say however, that our expense.
will not be enlarged by it, and probabl,
will be considerably less.
The Convention refused to adopt by q
great majority (6S to 1859 the first arti
Gle, preventing 90 much special and pri
vate legislation. and yet it was showr
that in the last Eve years our legislature
had passed some 500 private acts to onl,
about 400 public acts. The third articl
providing for the filing of vacancies
was also rejected (4S to 1852 The adop
ton Of this article Was more needed an,