HISTORY OF VERMONT. 599 



drawn up, would not be adequate to the afiairsr 

 of government, wheii the stiite of the people 

 should become different, but must necessarily 

 vr.ry with it : And they wisely made provision 

 to have the whole examined and revised, at the 

 end of every seven years. The provision they 

 made for this purpose was a Council of Censors^ 

 to consist of thirteen persons, to be elected by 

 the people every seventh year, on the last 

 Wednesday in March ; and to assemble on the 

 first Wednesday in June. The duty assigned 

 to them, is to inquire whether the constitution 

 has been preserved inviolate in every part ; 

 whether the legislative and executive branches 

 of government have performed their duty, as 

 guardians of the people ; or assumed to them- 

 selves, or exercised other or greater powers, 

 than they are entitled to by the constitution ; 

 tvhether the public taxes have been justly laid, 

 and collected ; in what manner the public mon- 

 ies have been disposed of ; and ^vhether the 

 laws have been duly executed. Powers fully 

 competent to these purposes, are committed to 

 them. They may send for persons, papers and 

 records : They have authority to pass public 

 censures, to orv ^er impeachments, and to recom- 

 mend to the legislature the repealing such laws, 

 as shall appear to them to have been enacted 

 contrary to the principles of the constitution. 

 These pov/ers they may exercise during the 

 space of one year, from the time of their election ; 

 and they may call a con\-ention to meet within 

 two years after their sitting, if they judge it 

 necessary. 

 Jn examining a constitution of governmentj- 



