Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-22
Town Representation.

| Mr. Editor: Your journal has noticed propo
sitions to reduce the number OF members of the
house Of representatives to one hundred and fifty
and even to one hundred, thus deprving ninety.
one or one hundred and forty-one towns of their
constitutional right of corporate representation
| beg leave to enter a protest against both
| propositions.
First protest because the right Of representa-.
ton is now precisely in accordance with the prin.
ciple OF representation under the constitution OF
the United States-to wit; one legislative branch
to be constituted OF representatives OF corporations
and the other of representatives OF population.
The only difference is that in congress the senate
| represents corporations, while in Vermont 1t is
the house of representatives. believe the Yer
mont system is the best, for the tolons matter
| whether great or small, have equal corporate
rights and interests, which equally entitled to
consideration and protection. The argument
based on the disparity OF population in the towns,
II carried out to its legitimate result would de-
prive Vermont Of Its equal representation in the
United States senate, where now she has the same
power as New York, Delaware the same as
Pennsylvania, and Rhode island the same as
Massachusetts The disparity there in respect
polulutiuu, Is illtlb ltcs between the
town Of st. George and the city OF Burlington.
Vermont has occasion To thank God that her right
to equal representation in the United States senate
is secured by compromise in the constitution
of the United States.
SecoHd-I protest because the right of every
town Ia Vermont to equal representation In the
house OF representatives is guaranteed by a COM
promise in the constitution, which is in terms
perpetual, quote from an article In the consti-
tuition Of i777, which has been preserved until
this day in full force, to wit:
SECTION LIN order that the freemen of this state
might enjoy The benefit OF election Ms equally may be-
eighty taxable Inhabitants, within -epen,ry or seven
ed ge seI ,b es sS es Sf mt constitution
ves, and each other Inhabited town In this may In
IN general assembly during he septenafy or seven years
And after that each inhabited To an in like manner.
hereafter"
Third protest because think the legislature
has not right, morally, to agree to the proposed
amendment siuce 1t IL violative Of the foregoing
perpetual constitutional compact, and also of the
oath which every member OF the senate and
house has taken. That oath is so pat to the
question that give the part of it relating thereto
You 10 soemnly or anlrnl that a. member of
this asenbly ycu will moi propose or assent 10 any nm
vote resolution which shall appear to YOU mi TSus 10
The l~ope nor do consent To thing
that shan have tendency 10 lessen fJs their rfghs
or prtre0es as declared ~ ne constitution " fss Sdfs
Tue equal right Of the towns to representation
is guaranteed by the constitution. How can any
body, under that oath, deny that right? The
large towns have had all they bargained for;
how can they honordbly break the bargain now,
and sacrifice very large number of small towns9
T.. L WALTON.