•64 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



states. Thus, by one of those sudden transL 

 iions which are common to human affairs, from 

 the most distressed and peiplexed state, the con- 

 dition and prospect of the people of Vermont, 

 became at once more easy and flattering than 

 those of their neighbors. Encouraged by the 

 raildness of the government, the smallness of 

 the taxes, the fertiHty and cheapness of the lands, 

 large additions were annually made to their 

 numbers and property, by the accession of in- 

 habitants from other states. There was nothing 

 therefore in the public affairs of the United 

 States, or in those of Vermont, that could lead 

 the inhabitants any longer to wish for an ad- 

 mission into the confederation. The body of 

 the people felt that they were in a better situa- 

 tion, than the people in the neighboring states ; 

 Ajid it was the general inclination and desire 

 not to be connected with the union, if it could 

 be decently avoided. 



In thjs situation, things remained, until sever- 

 al of the leading men in the United States, be- 

 came alarmed with the operation and tendency 

 of public affiiirs. Statesmen of ability and in- 

 formation saw that the powers invested in Con- 

 gress, v.erc in effect, only the powers of a di-. 

 plomatic body ; and wholly inadequate to the 

 purposes of federal government : And that the 

 liberties, the safety, and the union of America, 

 could not be preserved, unless an adequate and, 

 efficient government could be established in the 

 United States. \^irginia had the honor to lead 

 ^n the first avowed opposition to the British king 

 imd parliament : And she was the first that at- 

 tempted to call ^ couveation of tiie states, tq 



