The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-27
vEwuoNT AND CONNECTICUT.

If we turn to the early legislation of Yer
mont we shall find laws, relating to vari-
GUS subjects definitely and clearly expressed,
not by recital Of their provisions, but, for
example, in these words "Passed an act
= for the Furnishing high treasons and other
atrocious crimes, as said act stands IN the
Connecticut la1 hook" This is only a
single instance several other of our early
laws were passed and recorded in the same
way. Our latter day legislators have fol-
lowed the example OF Connecticut, not
ony in expressing the full provisions of
their enactments in the text of the law, but,
also, in the haste with which legislation is
accomplished, and in the loosencss with
which laws, or pretended laws, are made
to conform with the requirements of the
organic law. Connecticut is Just now in
terrible puttcr over an alleged conflict be-
tween the provisions relative TO the cleo
ton of governor, as laid down in the re-
vsed statutes and in the constitution OF the
state The revised statutes declare that in
all elections of public officers, a plurality
Of votes shall be sufficient to elect, unless
otherwise expressly provided. The statute
is silent in reference to the election Of gov
ernor, but expressly provides that for the
| lieutenant governor and other state Off
GERS majority of all the votes cast shall
be requisite for an election Under this
provision, the claim is made that only a
plurality, not majority, of votes is re-
quired to elect governor. The state con-
stitution, however, contains this provision:
'If no person shall have a majority of the
whole number of said votes, then said as
sembly on the second day of the session, by
joint ballot of both houses, shall proceed
without debate to choose governor from
the two highest, or those two having equal
and highest number of votes.
Laws are without force when they con-
flict with the constitution, but the trouble
is, that all laws are presumed to be in
harmony with the organic law until the
contrary is held by court of competent
jurisdiction. 1t is claimed in Connecticut
that the constitution does not expressly,
only by implication, declare that MAORI
ty of votes shall be necessary to elect O
governors and that, this being go, the
election law must and will be sustained by
the courts We must confess that the con-
stituton seems plain enough; and that ii
seems equally plain that the Legislature
must elect in case no person receives a
majority of the votes, but there is a slight
shade of doubt. This shade Of doubt, this
presumption in favor of the validity of the
law, is enough to throw the good people OF
Connecticut in flutter of anxiety. They
can console themselves, however, with thu
reflection that if the election is not decided
by ma GRITTY vote, and if the candidate
receiving the highest number of votes
differs politically with the majority of The
legislature, it will make a good case fol-
interference and recognition" Their
they can see how they like it themselves
Vermont would not be true to herself
unless she followed in the wake of Con
necticut We, too, have an election law
and by that law it is provided that mem
bers of congress shall be elected on tn,
. 'lirst Tuesday of September. A law o
+ congress provides that all members of con
y, gress shall be elected son the Tuesda,
> next after the first Monday in November.
a That almost forgotten and well nigh obso
h lete instrument, formerly known as In
constitution of the United States, says tina
=. "ihe constitution, and the laws of th
United States shall be the supreme law O
q the land, anything in the constitution o
=, laws of any state to the contrary notwitli
standing" The law makers of Connect
= cut erred through haste and carelessness
q Vermont legislators sinned against light
q and erred through stupidity and obstina
# cy. 1t may be difficult to predict no,
d Connecticut will come out of her conflict
:. because state constitutions, in these days
n are not Of much account anyway. Ho,
# Vermont will come out, it easy enough
n see The constitution oi the United State
q may be obsolete in the eyes of congress
N but it is great stickler for the enforce
ment of ITS own laws.
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Is The Ice Gorge.
m The rivers on the ramnaoa In Al