Chap. 7. 



POLITICAL INSTITUTIOxNS. 



113 



CONSTITUTION OF VERMONT. 



FRAME OF GOVERNMENT, 



and is of a quiet and peaceable behavior, 

 and will take the following oath or af- 

 firmation, shall be entitled to all the priv- 

 ileges of a freeman of this state : 



" FoM solemnly swear (or affirm) that 

 whenever you give your vote or suffrage, 

 touching any matter that concerns the state 

 of Vermont, t/ou will do it so as in your 

 conscience you shall judge will most con- 

 duce to the best good of the same, as estab- 

 lished by the constitution, without fear or 

 favor of any man." 



Sect. 22. The inliabitantsof this state 

 shall be trained and armed lor its defence, 

 under such regulations, restrictions, and 

 exceptions, as Congress, agreeably to tlie 

 constitution of the United States, and the 

 legislature of this state, shall direct. The 

 several companies of militia shall, as often 

 as vacancies happen, elect their captain 

 and other officers, and tlie captains and 

 subalterns sliall nominate and recommend 

 the field officers, of their respective regi- 

 ments, who shall appoint their staffofficers. 

 Sect. 23. All commissions shall be in 

 the name of the freemen of the state of 

 Vermont, sealed with the state seal, signed 

 by the governor, and in his absence the 

 lieutenant governor, and attested by the 

 secretary : which seal shall be kept by 

 the governor. 



Sect. 24. Every officer of state, wheth- 

 er judicial or executive, shall be liable to 

 be impeached by the general assembly, 

 citlier when in office, or after his resig- 

 nation, or removal, for mal-administra- 

 tion. All impeacliments shall be before 

 the governor and council, who shall hear 

 and determine the same, and may award 

 costs ; and no trial or impeachment shall 

 be a bar to a prosecution at law. 



Sect. 25. As every freeman, to pre- 

 serve his independence, (if without a 

 sufficient estate) ought to have some pro- 

 fession, calling, trade, or farm, whereby 

 he may honestly subsist, there can be no 

 necessity for, nor use in, establishing 

 offices of profit, the usual effects of which 

 are dependence and servility, unbecoming 

 freemen, in the possessors, or expect- 

 ants, and faction, contention and discord 

 among the people. But if any man is 

 called into public service to the prejudice 

 of his private affairs, he has a right to a 

 reasonable compensation ; and whenever 

 an office, through increase of fees, or oth- 

 crwlse,becomesso profitable as to occasion 

 many to apply for it, the profits ought to 

 be lessened by the legislature. And if 

 any officer shall wittingly and wilfully 

 take greater fees than the law allows him, 

 it shall ever after disqualify him from 

 holding any office in this state, until he 

 flhall be restored by act of legislation. 

 Pt. II. 1.5 



Sect. 26. No person in this state shall 

 be capable of holding or exercising more 

 than one of the following offices at the 

 same time, viz : governor, lieutenant gov- 

 ernor, judge of the supreme court, treas- 

 urer of the state, member of tiie council, 

 member of the general assembly, surveyor 

 general, or sheriff". Nor shall any per- 

 son, holding any office of profit or trust 

 under the authority of Congress, be eligi- 

 ble to any appointment in the legislature, 

 or of holding any executive or judiciary 

 office under this state. 



Sect. 27. The treasurer of the state 

 shall, before the governor and council, 

 give sufficient security to the secretary of 

 the state, in behalf of the general assem- 

 bly, and each high sheriff", before the first 

 judge of tlie county court, to the treasurer 

 of tlieir respective counties, previous to 

 their respectively entering upon the ex- 

 ecution of their offices, in such manner 

 and in such suras, as shall be directed by 

 the legislature. 



Sect. 28. The treasurer's account 

 shall be annually audited, and a fair state- 

 ment thereof be laid before the general 

 assembly, at their session in October. 



Sect. 29. Every officer, whether ju- 

 dicial, executive, or military, in authority 

 under this state, before he enters upon 

 the execution of his office, shall take and 

 subscribe the following oath, or affirma- 

 tion, of allegiance to this state (unless he 

 shall produce evidence that he has before 

 taken the same) ; and also the following 

 oath or affirmation of office, except mili- 

 tary officers, and such as shall be exempt- 

 ed by the legislature : 



The oath, or affirmation, of allegiance % 



" You do solemnly swear (or 



affirm) that you will be true and. faithful 

 to the state of Vermont, and. that you loill 

 not directly or indirectly, do any act or 

 thing injurious to the constitution or gov- 

 ernment thereof, as established by conven- 

 tion. (If an oath) so help you God, (if aa 

 affirmation) under the fains and penalties 

 of perjury.'' 



The oath, or affirmation, of office : 



" YoiL do solemnly swear (or 



affirm) that you will faithfully execute the 

 office of for the of 



and inill therein do equal right and justice 

 to all men, to the best of your judgment 

 and abilities, according to law. (If an 

 oath) so help you God, (if an affirmation) 

 under the pains and penalties of perjury." 



Sect. 30. No person shall be eligible 

 to the office of governor, or lieutenant 

 governor, until he shall have resided in 

 this state four years next preceding the 

 da}' of his election. 



Sect. 31. Trials of issues ri'oper for 



