HISTORY OF VERMONT, SOI 



The common business of the state was trans- 

 acted without the violence of party spirit, the 

 members that had been displaced from civil of- 

 iices at Vt^Tgennes in 1798, were now replaced 

 in their offices, and no more penal discrimina- 

 tions were made on account of political opin- 

 ions. It was however understood that in the 

 general course of appointments and measures, 

 in the election of a senator to Congress, and in 

 the choice of the electors of a president, the 

 federal interest would prevail ; and the majority 

 meant to support Mr. Adams's administration, 

 and measures of policy. 



Another election of a president and vice 

 president of the United States was soon to take 

 place. It was known that if the appointment of 

 electors for the state of Vermont should be 

 made in the customary manner by the legisla- 

 ture, they would all be in favor of Mr. Adams. 

 To prevent such an event the republicans ob- 

 tained leave to bring in a bill to have the state 

 divided into districts, and the choice of the 

 electors made by the people. It was hoped 

 that this measure would prove more favorable 

 to the interest of Mr. Jefferson, than to have the 

 appointments made by the council and assem- 

 bly. On this question the strength and views 

 of the two parties were fully discovered. After 

 repeated discussions the bill was rejected by 95, 

 and advocated by 73 votes.* The republican 

 inembers had therefore increased in the course 

 of the last year, and the majority on the side of 

 the federalists did not now amount to more 

 than twenty two. The measures of Congrcsii 



* ?3ge lit. 



