Chap. 7. 



POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



107 



HISTORY OF THK CONSTITUTION. 



PREAMBLE TO THE FIRST CONSTITUTION. 



that the governor and executive council 

 sliould have power to advise, but should 

 have no power to negative the acts of 

 the representatives — and that all officers 

 should fall into the common mass of tjie 

 people every year. These recommenda- 

 tions so fully express the peculiar fea- 

 tures, which have, till recently, charac- 

 terized the constitution of Vermont, that 

 there can be no doubt that they originated 

 in the suggestions of Dr. Young.* 



*lt seems to have bfen generillly understood) tliat 

 the original draught of the Constitution of Vermont 

 w;is made by Dr. Young himself, andj^transmiited 

 by him to the Vermont council of safety, and it is 

 highly prohahlo that it was so , but we have met 

 with no evidence, which is decisive on this point. 

 Believing that our readers generally will be interest- 

 eil in any thing which reflects liglit upon the origin 

 of that instrument; and upon I he important period 

 in imr history when it was formed, we have trans- 

 cribed a few items from the accoimt hook of Uol. 

 Ira Allen, the first treasurer of the state. When 

 the lirst of those charges were made, the New 

 Hampsliire grants had not assumed the title of a 

 Etale, and llie government, which then existed, was 

 vested by a convention of the people, in a Council 

 of !^afety. 



1776. Nov. Siti. To 67 days by ap- 

 pointment of the CoHveiition at West- 

 minster to go tlirou2li Cumberland 

 and Gloucester counties, lo get asso- 

 ciations formed, and pelilions signed 

 and collected, and lo unite the people 

 {i)r a full coiivenlion, £33 jq 



To ex[)ense money, 24 7 



2777. Jaii'y 17ili. To 9 days, part at 

 AVeslmiuster, in assisting ro write a 

 declaration for a state, and other 

 pieces for tiie Hartford papers, £.1 10 



" April 20ih. To writing a pam- 

 plilet, Vindicating the Riijhts of the 

 people lo form a state and in answer 

 to a pamphlet published by the Con- 

 vention ofN.Y. dated Oct. 2d, 1776, 

 and sent to the county ofCutnberland, jt6 



To 3 days going to Hartford 

 to get s'd pamphlet printed, 110 



" August 10. To 14 days going 

 into the county of Cimiberland — lo 

 explain a Resolution of Congress — 

 to counteract the Policy of N. Y. — 

 to appoint some officers for Col.Sam- 

 uel Herricli's Regt. of Rangers, pay 

 bounty money, &c. ^"i q q 



" October 30. To writing a pam- 

 phlet in answer to a Resolution of 

 the Convention of N. Y. of May 10, 

 1777, with Remarks, &c. 3 10 



Nov. 2. To 3 days going to Hartford 



to get s'd Pamphlet Printed, a 10s. 1 10 



To 15 days going from Salis- 

 bury to Williamstown and there with 

 President Chittenden writing the 

 Preamble to the Constitution, &c. 

 from there to Bennington to conftr 

 with the Council respecting s'd Pre- 



In 1766 the constitution was revised 

 by the first council of censors, and again 

 in 171)2, and was adopted in its present 

 form by a convention, assembled at Wind- 

 sor, on the 4lh of July, 1793. From that 

 date, although the successive councils of 

 censors had recommended several amend- 

 ments, none were adopted till 1828, when 

 the first article of amendment was added 

 by a convention at Montpelier, on the 

 26th day of June of that year. The sub- 

 sequent articles of amendiTient, from 2 to 

 13 inclusive, were adopted by a conven- 

 tion at Montpelier, on the 6th day of Jan- 

 uary, 1836. The present council of cen- 

 sors liave proposed some further amend- 

 ments of the constitution, an account of 

 which may be found in the fifth section 

 of this chapter. 



Believing that most persons will be bet- 

 ter satisfied with the constitution itself, 

 than with any abstract, or summary of its 

 provisions, and for the purpose of pla- 

 cing that important instrument within the 

 reach of all, we shall here insert it, with 

 the amendments, entire, prefacing it with 

 the original preamble of the first constitu- 

 tion, adopted in 1777. 



Preamble. 



Whereas, all government ought to be institu- 

 ted and supported, for the security and protection 

 of the community, as such, and lo enable the in- 

 dividuals who compose it, to enjoy their natural 

 rights, and the other blessings which the Author of 

 existence has bestowed upon man ; and whenever 

 those great ends of government are not obtained, 

 the people have a right, by common consent, to 

 change it, and take such measures as to them may 

 appear necessary to promote tlieir safety and hap- 

 piness. 



And whereas, the inhabitants of this state have, 

 (in consideration of protection only) heretofore ac- 



amble — assisting Incomplete compil- 

 ina from manusct ipt, the Constitution 

 of the state, £7 10 



Expense money 3 2 8 



1777 Nov. 20. To Cash Paid John 

 Knickerbacor for copying tho Con- 

 stitution for the Press 18 



" Nov. 26. To 3 days going from 

 Salisbury lo Hartford to get the Con- 

 stitution Printed 1 10 



1778 Aug. 8. To 7 Havs in going to 

 Hartford to gel Col. E.' Allen's Ani- 

 madversary Address &c printed 13 9 2 

 (Note. This Pamphlet was distrib- 

 uted the last of the month.) 



" Oct. 26. To 2 days at Windsor 

 drawing a plan for a state seal and 

 getlingMr. R. Dean tomake it 10s 10 



Dec. 25. To 18 days assisting to 

 revise Vt. Appeal wrote by S. R. 

 Bradley Esq. &c. 9 16 



