HISTORY OF VERMONT. 309 



\Gr opinion, but national and constitutional au- 

 ' thorify. 'fiiiere cannot therefore be a doubt, 

 ' but that it is our duty to support the federal 

 ' unioRv'to obey the. federal laws, and to do all 



* in our power to support and preserve the con- 



* stitution and government of the United 

 'States."^ 



In the house of representatives there was now 

 a majority of eighteen or twenty members, of 

 the party that was called republicans. The as- 

 sembly chose a committee of. three members, 

 to prepare and report a respectful address to his 

 excellency ; of this committee two were warm 

 republicans, and the other a reputed federalist. 

 Unhappily the drauglitsman was but poorly 

 qualified to write an address. His answer was 

 rude, rough, and offensive ; in some parts full 

 of awkward compliments^ in others abounding 

 with disgusting sneers ; and every where re- 

 plete with incorrectness, sarcasm, a blundering 

 ostentation of afiected republicanism, and un- 

 bounded joy that it had gained the ascendency,, 

 " Permit us, sir, in the sincerity of our hearts,^ 

 ' to congratulate you, with an almost unbounded 

 ' fervor, on the spirit of true republicanism hav- 

 ' ing so far regained its well merited ascendency, 



* that you are not under the disagreeable neces- 



* sity, as yoy was in 1798, of warning us against 

 ' the dangers which might arise from a few ig- 



* norant, designing and deluded men amongst 

 ^ us. Permit us farther to congratulate your 

 *. excellQncy, 6n the election of president of the 

 ' United States, who is not destitute of the sen- 

 ' timents of " an independent American," aixq 



« Page 14. 



