Year: 1862

These powers they shall continue to have for and dur
ing the space ofone year from the day Of their election
and no longer The SAID Council Of Censors shall also
have power 10 call Convention 10 meet within two
years after their sitting, If there appears 10 them an ab-
solute necessity of amending any article Of this Const-
tunon which may be so defective, explaining such as
may be thought not clearly expressed and OF adding
such necessary for the preservation OF the rights
and happiness oithe people. But the articles 10 be
amended, and the amendments proposed and such ar


cles as are proposed TO be added abolished shall DO
promulgated at least six months before the day ay-
pointed Lor the election of such Convention for the
previous consideration Of the people, that they may
have an opportunity Of instruetng their delegates
the subject"


We cannot shun these duties, nor divest
ourselves of the responsibilities thus imposed
upon us.


Ought the Constitution TO be amended 3
This is question which presume every gen.
tleman Of the Council has asked himself per-
haps many times, before taking his seat in this
chamber. On the nature of his answer to this
query, of course depends his action in this
body.


And now, Mr.. President, will be frank
with my colleagues, not because expect by
the expression Of my own opinions to influence
others, but because shall be most happy to
hear from all, in the most full and frank ex-
preston of their views. And gentlemen will
believe me when say that have not made con-
c,usions that | cannot alter, nor taken positions
from which cannot be persuaded. We should
be less than what might be expected of a
Council of Censors Of Vermont, if any individ-
ual member should be beyond the reach of the
counsels and arguments Of his colleagues.


AS before indicated, have, in common with
all of you, asked myself this question: Does
the Constitution require amendment or addi-
ton 2" In my reflections upon and investi-
cations OF the question, | have been able to
make but one answer and that answer is in
the affirmative the Constitution does require
amendment. And so answering, | cannot do
less than submit to my colleagues such views
as ! entertain. But because | would alter or
amend Constitution, it will not be considered
that hold them in less estimation, or do not
entertain for them and their trainers respect
and veneratlon. Our whole history as a ma
ton has impressed upon Us the importance OF
maintaining and defending our organic law
against either open or covert foes
The Revolution itself was fought on the
ground of constitutional right or liberty, or
rather the unconstitutional wrongs of Great
Britain against her infant colonies and when
the fathers of the Revolution made Constitu-
tion that was to bind in one indissoluble bond
of brotherhood the family of States, they made
it to endure the surges of maddened opposition,
the blows of stormy malcontents, or the secret
thursts of assassns, who would pull down the
most stupendous fabric of political greatness
and liberty, to build on its ruins. And they
were not mistaken in its powers Of endurance
1t stands to-day, a monument of their virtue
their wisdom, their patriotism, and may add
the horror of traitors In its beautiful SYM
metry, its harmony of proportions, and its in
destructability, it is still the admiration Of
men who love liberty and hate oppression the
wide world over. 1t is not strange that, sur
rounded by these influences and examples, men
should cling with the tenacity of life itself to
Constitution which in our whole history has
been regarded as the palladium of the liber-
ties of a free people.


To the Constitution of our own State, there
are stronger reasons why the people should if
anything be more attached. We all love the
Union. Better blood never flowed from the
pulsations of hearts than was offered bv the
hardy Green Mountain boys TO stay the march
of oppression in the infant colonies of Ameri-
ca. Vermont fought for the cause that was
nearest all hearts, in the early and dark hours
of American liberty, and that contest ended
in the achievement of national independence
she had on her hands, SOLITARY and alone" a
struggle for her own existence and indepen-
dence, which was perhaps to her trial hour
darker and more gloomy than her first. Hers
was the double struggle for the liberty and in
dependence of the colonies and her own sepa-
rate existence and freedom


When, then | read this Constitution in the
light of her history-when | think of her sons
rushing nobly into the contest for original lib
erty-staying the march of the oppressor Oh
her frontiers, and driving back to the haunt:
of tyranny the flushed and frowning soldiers
of Britain, | can but reverence that instrll
ment made and acknowledged as her 'smagna
charts" in which she reposed the freedom o
the commonwealth forever, and under which
she was admitted into the Union and becam,
assured of her State Independence


IF there is one thing more than another fol
which our people are distinguished, it is thei
jealousy of their individual rights and hber
ties Our Constitution shows that this char
acterlstic developed itself, and prevailed in the
convention that framed our first Constitution
Andin the light of our history we can plainly
discern why some provisions that are strang
ers to other State Constitutions were incorpo
rated into our own. Every town shall have it
representative coming directly from the peo
pie. The pulsations of the popular hear
were thus secured to be felt in House @
Representatives which should annually assem-
BILE to enact the laws for the commonwealth
A Senate is chosen by counties that no combi
nations of towns should infringe upon tn,
rights of any others-a Governor by ALI
with limited veto upon hasty, improvident o
unwise legislation.


But this was not enough. Those self edu
Gated men-educated in the severest school O
discipline to which human rights were eve
subjected and graduating with the honors of ;
liberty achieved alone, called for further guar
rantees. 1t is not enough that we select fo
ourselves man after our own hearts-that W
choose our own Senators as a branch of tb,
law making power-that we elect our Cover
nor, and make all accountable TO us at the en-,
of each year for the faithful discharge of thei
duties.


Itwih do no harm to have one further guar
rantee said these solid men of the olden time