400 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



the most capital circumstance to be taken into 

 consideration, is, the condition and circumstan- 

 ces of the people, or the state of society among 

 th'^m. At the first assumption of government 

 in Vermont, the form of it differed but little 

 from the democracy of the ancients. From that 

 period, it has been constantly tending to give 

 more poner to the house of representatives. 

 But it is found by experience, that in so popu- 

 lar a government, nothing is more necessary 

 than some provision, like that of the council of 

 censors, to have all the public proceedings re- 

 vised at certain periods of time ; and such al- 

 terations made in the constitution, as time, 

 events, or the circumstances of the people may 

 require. As the state of society is progressivcj 

 there is no way to have the government adapted 

 to the state of society, but to have the govern- 

 ment also progressive ; that both m:ay admit of 

 the improvements, that are gradually made in 

 human affairs. Vv'"ith this provision, a consti- 

 tution of government which contains many faults; 

 will gradually mend and improve itself, without 

 being forced to the dangers and convulsions of 

 a revolution : And it seeiws to be the only pro- 

 vision which human wisdom has yet found, to 

 prevent the interposition of such calamities. 

 [I8O63 The benefits which were expected from 

 a council of censors, have not taken place ; and 

 impartiality requires us to acknowledge, that 

 from the experience of thirty years it does not 

 appear that the plan is adequate to the object; 

 The council of censors is not, and probably 

 cannot be elected, with the information and wis- 

 dom, which the plan supposes. They arc 



