30Q NATURAL AND CIVIL 



1800. In the year 1800 the legislature con- 

 vened at Middlebury, in the month of October, 

 The members came together in apparent good 

 humor, and without the prospect of any thing 

 to produce a fermentation in the public feeling 

 or sentiment. In his 'speech^ the governor 

 urged the attention of the assembly to the par- 

 ticular nffairs of the state ; but mentioned 

 Washington's and Adams's administration, in 

 terms of the highest approbation ; as founded 

 on principles, and containing the measures of 

 policy, which 3^et ought to be pursued. Refer- 

 ring to the administration of Mr. Adams, and 

 the election of a president which was soon to 

 take place, " Should our first magistrate," says 

 he, " be other than an independent American, 

 the most injurious consequences to us and our 

 posterity, are ju§tly to be apprehended."* The 

 answer which the house returned was mild, 

 mora! and sentimental ; expressive of the difE- 

 culties of legislation, the danger of being guided 

 by corrupt passions and interests, and the im- 

 portance of sober, moral, and religious princi- 

 ples ; become more important and impressive 

 by the e^ils v;hich had attended the violation of 

 them in Europe. What was called federalism, 

 xvas still the favorite plan of policy. Their feel- 

 ings on this subject were thus expressed : 

 *' Thankful to heaven for the blessings we have 

 enjoyed under the administration of a Washing- 

 ton and an Adams, we devoutly implore the 

 same wisdom, goodness, and power, to direct 

 our elections and our governments, and to ban- 

 ish from us forever calumny and detraction."! 



* Joirrnal for 1800, p. 13. 

 + Pa-e 138. 



