270 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



objects, in which artful and tJesigning dema- 

 i^ogues could expect to obtain very distinguish- 

 ing popularit}^, power, or influence. 

 • During this period oftranquihty and reason, 

 the legislature accomplislied one of the wisest 

 and most useful of all civil regulations, a code 

 of laws adaptefl to their own situation and state 

 of society. The work was ^referred to a com- 

 xnittee, appointed with much circumspection 

 and judgment. Neither faction, intrigue, or 

 folly, had at that time risen so high, as to at- 

 tempt to commit ehe formation of a body of civ- 

 il laws to any other set of men, than those, 

 whom the assembl}- believed were best qualified 

 by their abilities and virtues, to accomplish so 

 important an object. The business was pursued 

 with much care, attention, and impartiality ; a 

 wise and judicious code was compiled, and es- 

 tiiblished ; and it was the happiness and honor 

 of the state of Vermont, to have her civil laws 

 reduced to as well digested and judicious a sys- 

 tem, as any of the states in the union. Particu- 

 lar and local interests have since produced alter- 

 ations and additions, under the name of im- 

 provements, Avhich have pot rendered the sys- 

 tem more uniform, equitable, or consistent. 



No political phenomena had yet appeared, 

 from which it could have been concluded that 

 there were any latent errors or causes in the 

 state or federal constitutions, which would es- 

 sentially distuib the tranquilitv, or entail, per- 

 manent faction upon tlie people of V^erniont. 

 it could not have been thought that a people 

 situated in an inland country, by profession far- 

 mers, and in every respect apparently uncon- 



