The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-10-31
Constitutional Amendments.

when a lifting send off is desired from
the "Pole Star OF republcanism"
If some shepherd statesman, seeing
the star of this model republic in the
North, and seeking for his people II
model of republican government,
should follow its rays TO the natural
source of their light, the republics
Constitution, he might become pos
sessed with the impression that he had
been pursuing some sort of an ignis
tdtuus. Chapter of that instrument,
ga declaration of the rights OF the in
habitants Of the State of Vermont"
would save him from complete disap
pointment, but the information derived
from Chapter ii as to the exact form OF
government prevailing in the model re-
public would be matter of speculation
rather than of positive knowledge. For
confirmation of this impression let any
person turn to the Constitution for in-
formation on the fundamental points
on which he would expect to find light
from that instrument. Many of its i'm.
portant sections are mangled by an.
notations and brscketed references to
amendments to be found in sub-e-
quent part of the document which in
turn presents its difficulties to The
seeker after the real facts OF the or
ganic law of the State. For example, a
lawyer of high standing, member of
the Stale Senate, was recently asked as
to the constitutional provision respect
ing the way Of electing the judges OF the
Supreme Court. He took down a copy
of the Constitution of the State to
show the il quirer how readily he could
turn 10 the section in that instrument re-
gulatne the election in question, but
could not find there what the document,
to his surprise, does not contain. Pro-
vision is made in Article XIV of the
amendments tor the election Of the assis-
tant judges OF the county court by the
freemen OF their respective counties, but
the manner Of choosing the judges is
not o matter of constitutional regula-
ton of various State officere, other
than the Governor and Lieutenant
Governor, and reference to their duties
made in various sections, but the Off
GERS themselves are not the subject of
constitutional creation. Chapter III of
the Constitution constitutes an ill-ar-
ranged mass of what might be bylaws
in the organization of societies or
corporations. A convention for the
revision of the Constitution with view
to bringing order, system and COM
pleteness out OF what is now chaos,
would seem to be necessary and a
wise measure, if wisdom on Capitol
Hill is sufficient to evolve authority for
such convention from law-constitu-
tional, common or statutory.
The searcher into the constitutional
law of this model republic would find
therein one provision which would
seem to betray doubt in the minds of
the trainers as to the capacity of this
people for government, and fear
on the part Of the people themselves
that in a moment of delirium they
might themselves turn upon the
shekinah of their liberties and profane
or destroy it. This is Article XVI
of the amendments which stipulates
that proposals of amendment shall be
made only at intervals of ten years.
In the other States of the Union a
proposition to amend the Constitution
may be made at any regular session OF
the L, gislature, and tie Constitution
of the United States, also, had 80 much
couideLce in the abiding sanity of the
people that no time limitation was
made in the matter of proposals OF
amendment. A proposal of amend
ment, however, is not an amendment
itself. Before such proposal can be
come a part of the fundamental law O.
the State or Nation, it must pass th'
ordeal of adoption by a Legislator,
succeeding the body which made th
proposal and finally must be submitte,
to the people themselve and by then
accepted. Place high the safeguard
upon the final adoption of amendment
to the Constitution, but in govern
ment by the people proposals of amend
ment, for the wholesome purpose Q
public consideration and discussion
and in the event of an emergency re
curing Immediate action, should b
O. 4 to the people at reasonably frt
- intervals, and this intervt
ought TO be ut the regular biennial sci
sion Of tn, Legislature.
Under the existing law, a propose
of an amendment rejected by the Ser
ate at this session of the Legislator
cannot again be made for ten years
The subject matter of the amendmer
NAV have inherent merit, and NAV b