HISTORY OF VERMONT. 287 



ably be imitated by all succeeding parties ; it 

 might admit of the greatest abuse and corrup* 

 tion ; serve to distinguish the victciles, inso- 

 lence, and triumphs of the most powerful ir,c.. 

 tion ; but could seldom be of any advantage to 

 an inland and agricultviral state, like that of 

 Vermont. 



But whatever may be thought respecting tlie 

 policy of the measure, Mr. Adams viewed the 

 address in a very favorable light, and returned 

 a very polite and respectful answer. " Among 



* all the addresses," says he, " which have been 



* presented to me from communities, corpora- 

 ' tions, towns, cities, and legislatures, there has 



* been none more acceptable to me, or Avhich 



* has affected my sensibility, or commanded my 



* gratitude, tlian this very sentimental compli- 



* ment from the legislature of the state of Ver- 



* rnont ; a state, which within my memory, has 



* been converted from a wilderness to a fruitful 

 ' field. Knowing, as I do, your original aild 

 '^ progress, and the brave, hardy, industrious and 

 ' temperate character of the people, the appro- 

 ' bation of their representatives, their attachment 



* to the constitution, and determination to sup- 



* port the government, are the more to be es- 

 ^ teemed. . 



'It is not possible for my fellow citizens to 

 ' say any thing more glorious or delightful to 

 " me, than that they regard me, because they 

 ' love their countr\\"*"" 



1799. The next session of the legislature 

 was at Windsor, in October 1799. The spirit 

 and feeling's of the countrv were vet strons^Iv 



* Jourual of the as";imbly of Vermont for I'oq, page 4J. 



