The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-23
Chr Rntlana gaily Globe
THURSDAY, AUGUST 90, 1877.
AB0RTIvE ATTEMPTS TO AMEND THE
CONSTITUTION.


CONSTITUTION.
Since the adoption of the original con-
situation, and the admission of Vermont in
TO the Unon-V Vermont having ratified the
national constitution January 10, 1901, and
becoming a state March 4th, of the same
year-ffleen articles of amendment have
been attached thereto, to each one of which
Vermont gave her assent. The first ten
were ratified by this state November 3D.,
1891 and became part Of the constitution
in December the eleventh article was rat
flied by Vermont in October, 1904, and
was incorporated into the constitution jan
uary 8, 1903; the MISUNDERSTANDING
savery-was ratified by Vermont, at
special session of the legislature, March 0,
1866, aud became of force, December IS,
1866 the fourteenth was ratified by this
state, November 8, 1866, and took effect
July %. 1862 and the fifteenth was 4dopt-
ed on the part of Vermont October 81,
1869, and became a part of the constitu-
ton March so, 1870. From the time of the
admission of Vermont into the. Union down
to 1879, no less than thirteen other pro-
posed amendments were &C ed upon by the
legislature of this state, which the appear
ance of the fifteenth volume of the Rec
"ords of the Governor and Council" enables
us to summarize and give the action of
Vermont thereon.
With the first ten amendments, which
were submitted by resolution of con-
gress, September 90, 1880. aud which, as
we have seen, we're ratified and became
part of the constitution, were two others to
which Vermont, also, gave her assent No
vember s. 1901. The first of these propos-
ed I'm ,udments provided for the proper
tion Of representatives 10 the population
until the house should number two humid
red members, cfter which the number
should not exceed two hundred, nor should
there be more than one representative to
fifty thousand persons. 1t is. perhaps, as
fortunate tor Vermont as unfortunate for
the CO untry that our sister states did not
unite iu the ratification of this amendment,
as the result would have reduced the house
be nearly one hundred members, but, at the
same time, Vermont would have been en-
titled to only two-possibly only one-rep-
resentatives.
The st cond of these amendments provid-
ed that no law varying the compensation of
congressman should take effect until after
an election of representatives had inter-
vened. The effect would have been to
have saved large sums of money to the
treasury.
The third proposition originated in the
legislature of Massachusetts,, and provided
that no person should be eligible as presi-
dent or vice-president, or to seat in
either house of congress unless he was q
natural born citizen of the United States,
or had been a resident of the United States
at the time of the adoption of the declar-
alton Of independence. Strange as 1t may
seem, this proposition which was In the
form of request to congress to propose
such al smendment-was approved by the
legislature of Vermont, October 20, 1898
by a vote Of one hundred and ffly-two 10
five.
The fifth and sixth proposals of amend
ment originated with the legislature of
Maryland. The fifth required that presl-
dental electors should be chosen by dis
tricis, and differed from all subsequent
similar propositions in that, under 1t,
Vermont would elect her FIVE electors
from Ave distinct and separate districts,
Instead Of two at large and three from dis
tricts as has so often been suggested
The sixth required that representatives in
congress should be elected from sep
ara districts. 1t 10 proper to remark
that, at the time, representatives were
chosen in different ways, some on general
ticket and some, as now, by districts-and
it is needless to add that the object aimed
at has been attained without any change Of
the original law, Vermont assented to
both of these proposals, October 10, 1901,
although they passed the council by q
majority of only one vote.
The sixth proposal of amendment orig
mated with Massachusetts, and provided
that representatives in congress should b
apporiln med among the several states &C
cordiag to the number of their free inhabt
an.s-the object, of course, being TO ex
clude slaves from representation either ii
congress- or the electoral college. The pro
posal was rejected by the legislature o.
Vermont by vote OF one hun
bred aud six to seventy-six, th,
rep sentative from Rutland - Dooto
Ez .kel Porter-voting In favor of 1t
while such subsequent apostles OF abolition
ism as Titus Hutchinson and Amos Thomp
(, son voted against 1t. The result Of the re
bslllon has rendered such an smendmen