310 NATUllAL AND CIVIL 



'^vho, you do not suspect, will be influenced In 



* his administration, by a predilection for foreign 



* principles, or for the government of any foreign 



* nation. For sure we are, did not your opin- 



* ion coincide with ours, on this happy occasion, 



* the same parental care, which so much alarm- 



* ed your fears, when the evil was only in pros- 



* pect, must have induced you to have Wi.rned 

 .* us of our danger, with redoubled animation, 



* when that evil had actually taken place."* 

 Some of the members moved to have some of 

 the most exceptionable expressions and passages, 

 cither expunged or altered. The attempt to 

 correct the language and sentiments, was viewed 

 as a struggle of the federalists to regain their 

 numbers and influence. Four times did the as- 

 sembly vote by )'eas and nays on this address ; 

 and after some alterations, by rejecting some of 

 the most obnoxious passages, it was carried by 

 a majority of 34 votes.f 



From the violence with which the federalists- 

 had conducted in 1798 at Vergennes, it was 

 expected that the republicans would now pur- 

 sue the same measures, and avail themselves of 

 their majority to displace their opposers. They 

 saw and avoided the error, in their appointment 

 of civil officers. Three new judges were ap- 

 pointed for the supreme court ; but their ap- 

 pointment was not founded on their politi-cal 

 opinions, but on their supposed qualifications 

 for the office : And in their other appointments 

 they followed the customar}^ method of regard- 

 ing the nofuiftations of the particular counties, 



* Piije 96, 97. 



+ Page loi. ioj. Iio, 



