SI2 NATURAL AND CIVlLi 



When the house came to debate on the ad- 

 dress the different feelings and sentiments of the 

 parties were put in motion. The federalists 

 proposed an alteration of some particular para- 

 graphs and expressions, which they supposed 

 wereueither proper nor true. This was under- 

 stood to be a design to prevent any address be- 

 ing made. The debate about words and phra- 

 ses became angry, was mixed with jealousy, 

 and produced much imprudence and ill nature. 

 Three days did the assembly attend upon this 

 business of an address and ten times were their 

 votes taken by yeas and nays. The feeling^ 

 and zeal of parties were graduall}^ increased and 

 exasperated, till at last they rose to a fervor and 

 frenzy that scarcely. left room for consideration, 

 calmness, or discernment. A large party would 

 not hear any reasons for amendments, but imme- 

 diately decided all such proposals by votes ; 

 and such was the effect of zeal, heat, opposition,' 

 and repeated votings, that when a federal mem- 

 ber moved " to strike out the Vv^ord unanimous," 

 78 voted against it, thus virtual!}^ declaring that 

 they were perfectly unanimous : and 60 voted 

 for it, asserting that they were not perfectly u- 

 nanimous.* At the end of tvvo days, a leading 

 republican member foresaw the remarks and ri- 

 dicule that would attend the folly of voting 

 that they were unanimous, when every *one of 

 their votes expressed the most violent opposition?' 

 and contentions ; and moved the house to re- 

 consider their decision on that question ; 11? 

 now voted to reconsider the decision, and 



* p. soo. 



