Year: 1862

llut, anu kiitN stS IL hui NtlNdllk
have all discharged their duties for the last
seven years and if they think II requires it,
call convention TO amend or alter the Consti-
tuition and when all this has been done by
them they may be discharged and WE, the
people will see what re think about it


Now, sir, no man can read this last provis-
ion Of the Constitution in connection with all
the other provisions which guarantee to the
people their rights without being convinced of
this one thing, viz; that our fathers were so
Jealous of the rights that their prowess and per-
severance had won, that they were fully de-
termined that by no possible process Of leger-
demain or trickery--by no mistakes, even, of
those entrusted with the administration of pub
lie aflairs-should their dear-bought rights
and liberties be sacrificed nor endangered
Popular liberty was on trial and they deter
mined TO submit il to the severest ordeal to test
its virtue and its value.


Well, Mr.. President, it has been long tried
and tested, and believe we shall all agree that
a!better andlpurer government than that which
has exercised its sway over the Green Noun
tain State, from its infancy to the present hour
of its manhood and maturity has not existed
anywhere beneath the folds of the banner of
our Union.


1t commends itself TO us for its economy, its
simplicity, Its purity and Its security. Our
people have prospered in all the elements
which constitute the true greatness of any
community. Our educational interests have
been placed on basis that secures to all those
advantages which lie at the foundation of sue
cess IN all the varied pursuits of life. Our
agriculture has developed itself into power,
that even beyond the limits of our own State
is felt and acknowledged as source of wealth
to other communities and States. Our mer-
camille interests, though not as magnificent as
in States of commercial character, have had
a sure and steady progress, in healthy keeping
with such other interests as are connected with
it and are mutually dependent on each other.
While then | respect the reasons which in
duced our fathers to throw around the admin
istration of their government all the safeguards
in their power, feel that can without refec-
ton upon them, say as believe, that the trial
hour of our State Government has passed, and
in the maturity of its age and development, in
this era of progress in all the elements of civ
| ilization and advancement, some of the re-
strctions which the constitution imposes ON the
people, or rather which the people impose on
| themselves by virtue of their Constitution, can
now well be dispensed with. And among
these would include first the very power un-
der which we have assembled. In my ludg-
ment the powers of the Council of Censors,
can with safety be invested, under certain re-
strctions and regulations, in one or the other
| branch of the Legislature of the st tie. If |
should speak my own preferences, | should
say in the House of Representatives. This
| has the largest and most direct popular repre-
sentation, and know can be trusted with its
exercise, subject to the approval of the people.
This change would have these advantages
to recommend it:-lst, on the score of its
economy I'd, because the Constitution could
| be reached at each session of the Legislature,
if anything should arise which would make
amendments necessary or desirable. OF course
no argument is necessary to show that the alb
ohtion of the Council of Censors would cheap
| en- much the changes that may be found nec-
| essary to be made IN the organic law.


In the infancy of our State there were rea-
sons why annual sessions of the Legislature
| were necessary and proper TO be held. We
were experimenting in the operations of new
invention in political machinery, and in the





Improvements to perfect its operations. But as
| | said before the trial hour is passed so far as
our State is concerned. The machinery of our
| government is in perfect running order. The
habits, lives and occupations of our people are
such, that with our natural progress all things
move along in well beaten track. In my
| judgement annual sessions of the Legislature
are not necessary, and if we should recon-
| mend Biennial sessions and change the tenure
of all State officers to correspond with this.
and make the Legislature subject to the call
of the Governor in extra Sessions when deem
ed necessary by him, think the people are
| prepared to adopt at once our suggestions.


Here, then, Mr.. President, you have my
views of what should be our action. These
changes it seems to me are desirable and nee
essary, and if we so recommend | have nc
doubt that this would be the last Council oi
Censors ever assembled in our State, and the
next the last annual session of the Legislature
of Vermont, unless made otherwise by the
call of the Governor. On these propositions
| doubt not the conflicting views of the peo-
pie would harmonic.


As | have before said, there does not appear
to me to be any real difference among our con
stltuents on these, points, while | know thai
some are asking us to adjourn acithoat action
and others to adjourn after action in calling q
convention to remodel the Constitution. Now
Sir, if we will but confne our action to these
two points of amendment and call a cenyen-


tion for this purpose alone think all will bt
satisfied @ a


The true reason for the different conclusions
of men apprehend is this. Those opposed tt
convention are fearful that If we undertake
the amendment of the Organic Law, we vii


attempt to do SO much as to involve the Stat,
largely in our own expenditures, and much
more largely in the expenses incident to con
stitutional convention to consider our PROPOSE
4 tons. 1t will be enough for us to propose
these changes to which have referred, and i
we do only this, the convention need not oc-
cupy more than twenty-four hours in its ses-
sion upon them. They are so plain-so man


ifestly what the people. require, that in m!
judgment they will be considered and adopted
at once, and the convention at once adjourn


If this should be So and the power of amend
ing the constitution be transferred to another