HISTORY OF VERMONT. 27i 



hecttd with any part of Europe, could be in any 

 danger of having thtir tranquility disturbed by 

 any contests that could arise in any part of the 

 European monarchies ; or by any of their quar- 

 rels about their kings or princes, • Least of all 

 could it have been suspected that ah atternpt to 

 set up the American form of government in the 

 eastern hemisphere, could have occasioned dis- 

 turbance among the most remote western re- 

 publics. 



And yet this seems to have been the first vi- 

 sible political cause that infected the constitu- 

 tions and feelings of the American people^ 'In 

 their zeal to effect a compieat and perfect revo- 

 lution, the French nation had not only put down 

 their monarch, nobility, royal army and episco-- 

 pal church ; but they supposed they shoul4 

 give refinement and perfection to the genius of 

 Republicanism, by setting it free from the 

 shackles of temples and altars, of public worship 

 and matrimonial obligations. They commend- 

 ed the American people for their great achieve-- 

 ments, in discovering and establishing the first 

 principles of true liberty and republicanism ; 

 but boasted that it was reserved for them to 

 carry freedom, a republic, and man, to a state 

 of perfectibiUty. To accomplish these grand 

 objects, they supposed the surest way was to 

 destro}^ in the minds of the people, all their for- 

 mer attachments to their ancient customs, opin- 

 ions, and habits; To destroy superstition, they 

 derided the existence and perfection of the 

 Deity. To put an end to the influence and of- 

 fices of the clergy, they shut up the temples^ 

 •md endeavored to put an end to all public wor- 



