Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-16


tober, A. D. 1870.
Sec. 2. The Governor, Lieutenant Gov.
ernor, Treasurer of the State, Senators,
town representatives, assistant judges Of
the county court, sheriffs, high baliffs
States attorneys, judges of probate and
justices OF the peace, shall be elected
biennially, on the first Tuesday of Sep
TENDER, in the manner prescribed by the
Constitution of the State.
Sec. 3. The term of office of the Cover
nor, Lieutenant Governor and Treasurer
OF the State, respectively, shall commence
when they shall be chosen and qualified
and shall continue for the term OF two
years, or until their successors shall be
chosen and qualified, or to the adjourn
ment of the session of the Legislature al
which, by the constitution and laws, thei,
successors are required TO be chosen, and
not after such adjournment.
Sec. 4. The term of the office of sena
tors and town representatives shall be
two years, commencing on the first Wed
nesday of October following their election
Sec. 5. The term of Office OF the assist
ant Judges of the county court, sheriffs
high bailiffs, States attorneys, judges Of
probate and justices of the peace, shall be
two years, and shall commence on the
first day of December next after theil
election.
Mr.. Lyford of Warren moved that the
Convention take up and consider the first
section of the article, and after considers
BILE discussion as to the propriety of con-
sidering part only of the article, separ'
ate from the whole,
Mr.. Carpenter of Readsboro offered the
following resolution
ReSol0ed, That the committee recon-.
mends to the Convention, that,it is expe.
dent to adopt the second article of amend
ment as proposed by the Council of Cen
sors.
Mr.. Dillingham; of Waterbury, opposed
the amendment, saying that eternal
vigilance is the price of hberty-annual
election and annual session of the Legis-
latures and short terms will always pro-
tect best the rights of the people. Our
Supreme Court is better and purer
Court because its Judges are elected. an
nually. Our Legislatures, elected annu-
ally, have on the whole given us a body
of laws, more sensible, and better adapted
to our needs than is the case in any other
State. 1t is case where well enough
should be let alone. Where is the demand
from the people of Vermont for this
change? Are not our best citizens still
willing to come up here annually Are
the annual freemen's meetings any burden
to the people? No, they are the freemen's
holiday.
The advantages of the annual gather
ings or representatives from each town,
and the increase of brotherly feeling,
harmony and intelligence
among the people, arising therefrom were
forcibly urged. Doing away with our an
nual elections, our annual State Conven-
tons, our annual sessions, we should be-
come almost like strangers to each other.
The speaker believed that there would be
no saving of expense with biennial SEES
sion. The representatives having no ex-
pectation of reelection, for the old rule
changing the representatives once in two
years would still hold, would be less care
full concerning expense, would feel less
to their constituents With
sessions extending as they would from
October to January and February. would
come pest from which the Legislature.
was now free, the lobby and corrupting
would be multiplied, and we
should be in danger of following in the
wake of New York and other States,
whose legislatures have become by-words
for corruption, in which every member is
to have his price, and legislation
made matter of bargain and sale.
Mr.. Fletcher of Cavendish had been in
,tructed to favor the amendment and did
80 also from conviction. The intelligent
people he represented believed there
would be great saving of expense from
his change, and that there would be a
gain in the lessened amount and increased
stability of our legislation. That state is
he best governed which has the fewest
and simplest laws. Too many laws are
made. A biennial session will give us
enough.
Mr.. Hubbard of Rochester thought
hat though annual sessions were time
lonored custom, breach of it is now de-
handed by the people. We will not re-
nit our eternal vigilence" by biennial
sessions. There is too much piling up of
avs. No one but an astute lawyer can
tell what the law is at any time. Every
year some lawyer comes here to alter the
aw for some special case. Biennial ses-
lions will greatly remedy this evil. There
will be as much disinclination to proiong
he session as now. 1t will be but little
onger if any than at present. He was
lot afraid to trust the members. They
ire pure and he feared not corruption.
1t is said that our growing interests de-
nand annual sessions. This is a great
We don't grow very fast
Ind need no greater list of acts than for
nerly.
There is 10 argument but custom to-
sustain the present system. We would
ave from $4,000 to $4,000 annually by
his change.
Mr.. Reynolds of Alburgh entertained
l high respect for the Council of Censors.
he read from paper of the State "a reli-
glous journaD an extract charaCterizing
these amendments as "stuff," and protest
I'd against the course taken by papers in
opposition to the amendment. He be-
ieved that three out of four of the people
If the State would sustain this amend
nent if allowed to express their opinion
upon it at the ballot box: He referred to
Arguments that had been used in opposi-
ion to this amendment, and could but re-
member the change that had come over
some members of this Convention since
hey sat with him ia former Conventions
They were not then 80 fearful of tinker
ng with the Constitution" or 'meddling
with the ship of State He favored the
proposed amendment.
On motion of Mr.. Carpenter of Reads
'oro the committee arose and reported
progress, and asked leave to sit again,
which request was granted.
On motion of Mr.. Slade of Middlebury, |
he Convention adjourned to tomorrow
FRIDAY. June 10, 1870
Prayer by Rev. w. j. Harris of Mont
,elier. a.s.
The Journal of yesterday was read and
pproved. .....
Mr.. Upper of Montgomery presented
he petition of Mrs. Hattie M. Clapp and |
Il others, ladies of Montgomery, asking
or the adoption of the amendment pro-
riding for woman suffrage; also of Mrs |
Nary Gates and 170 others of the same
own, against the adoption of said amend
nent; laid on the table.
Mr.. Gorham of Wilmington, the protest
# Mrs. A. Goodwin and SO others, pro-
esting against the adoption of the amend
nent providing for woman suffrage laid