306 NAl^RAL AND CIVIL 



* ness, which the constitution assigns to the 



* general assembly, at their annual sessionK Un- 



* fortunately for our country, this has become ^ 

 ' matter of discord and party contention in some 

 " parts of the union. It cannot be necessary, 

 ' and it cannot be expedient, to make that which 



* the constitution contemplates as a very seri- 



* ous and important duty, become a matter of 



* party contention or private interest. By a- 

 *' voiding every thing which has the appearance 



* of partiality, of intolerance and private interest, 



* and by aiming to appoint tliose men who are 



* the best fitted and qualified to discharge the 

 ^. public ofiices and services, we preserve to our- 

 'selves the apjirobation of our own minds, and 

 ' give to our fellow, citizens complete evidence, 

 - that the principles of republicanism are not the 



* principles of conteiitio?!^ of mtole7'ance^ of indi-' 



* vidual mterest., or of faction ; but those of 



* candor, of public .utility, and of national pros- 



* perity. ■'* With regard to the federal govern- 

 hient, the governor expressed his opinion in this 

 style, " Our duty to the federal government 



* does not depend on names, persons, or politi- 

 i cal distinctions ; least of nil, does it depend on 

 f having the other states uniting with us in the 

 ^■election of any particular person to be presi- 

 *. dent of the United States. Whoever holds 

 ^ that important ofiice by constitutional appoint- 



* ment and authority, is justly entitled to all the 

 ' lespect and obedience which the constitution 



* and the laws have attached to the ofiice ; and 

 ■ that which in the federal system is to be re>. 

 *,vered and obeyed, is not any particular name 



" ^ journal of the assembly of Vermont for i8oi, p. la 



