HISTORY OF ' VERMONT. 27S( 



fneasure which, in our opinion, will secure or 

 promote national prosperity."* 



On both sides, the business was conducted 

 with propriety and decorum. The spirit of 

 party was then in its infancy ; it had not assurn- 

 ed the boldness, the insolence, the acrimony, 

 intolerance, and fierceness, which time and op- 



Eosition generally produce. The customary 

 usiness of the session went on in the usual and 

 common course, without much of the bitterness 

 ©r wrangling of faction. The appointments to 

 civil offices seem to have been made, more with 

 a respect to abilities and virtues, than in conse- 

 quence of political opinions. The federalists 

 had a^ decided majority in the assembly ; but 

 both parties appeared to be suspicious ; anx- 

 ious about their numbers, and vigilant to pre- 

 serve and increase their own strength, populari- 

 ty and power. 



1798. The next session of the legislature 

 was at the city of Vergennes. Mr. Tieheno^' 

 had carried the election for governor by a great 

 iniijority ; and the whole country was in a state 

 ©f great irritation on account of the French pro- 

 ceedings. Their extravagant pretensions about 

 liberty and equality, their rapnciou^ and plun- 

 dering spirit, their insolence, duplicit}-, and con- 

 "temptofall civil rights and moral obligations, 

 were now at the height. They had plundered 

 the American commerce, refused to receive the' 

 American ambassadors, and under the name of 

 a loan had demanded a tribute. Mr. Adams 

 had resisted their demands with firmness, and 

 avowed to his country what he conceived to be 



• Joumal of the Rwembly of VcrnxQnt for 1797. page 57. 



