HISTORY OF VERMONT. 269 



him such a gov( mor as the circumstances of a 

 new state required. Nothing seemed requisite 

 to the security and advancement of their inter- 

 ests, but a peaceable and steady improvement of 

 those natural and civil advantages which they 

 already possessed. 



Fo n several years an uninterrupted enjoyment 

 of increasing prosp^erity and tranquility continu- 

 ed. The attachment of the people to their old 

 governor was so general, that the politicians 

 scarcely attempted to bring forward another can- 

 didate. Neither the honor nor the emolument 

 annexed to the office of a councillor, was suffi- 

 cient to render it a matter of general contest, or 

 nmch ambition. The general assembly met on 

 the beginning of October : The only object of 

 interested ambition, intrigue, mid contest, was 

 the appointment of civil officers ; but as this 

 was generally decided in a few hours, there was 

 not much time or room for a long course of 

 electioneering, management, intrigue, and con- 

 test. These matters were generally decided the 

 first week of the*" session ; and the public busi- 

 ness then assumed a customary form, arrange- 

 ment, and course. The greater part of 

 the business of the legislature was to 

 grant new townships, lay out roads, grant a 

 small tax for the annual charges of government 

 and to enact such laws as the local circumstan- 

 ces or particular situations of individuals, towns, 

 or the whole state might require. This busi- 

 ness was generally completed in the course of 

 four weeks ; and in affairs so simple, common, 

 and customary, as those which came before the 

 •assembly, it was difficult to find occasions and; 



