HISTORY OF VERMONT. 32S 



the legislature of Vermont came together, in the 

 beginning of October. The governor opened 

 the business of the session as usual, with a 

 speech ; carefully avoiding political questions, 

 recommending the customs and practices of 

 their ancestors, and calling their attention to the 

 state of their own laws, treasury, militia, and 

 other concerns of Vermont.* The assembly 

 chose a committee of three, two of whom were 

 reputed federalists, to report an answer to the 

 speech. The answer was short, confined to 

 state matters, and announced that they would 

 attend to the interests of their constituents, and 

 endeavor to discharge their own duty with can- 

 dor and fidelity. It was unanimously adopted, 

 and without any debate ; and the same mem- 

 bers that had prepared, wevG appointed to pre- 

 sent it to his excellency. As the address on 

 this occasion served to prevent the debates, con- 

 tentions, and delays of business, to which former 

 assemblies had been exposed, it may be of use 

 to note a production, that seems to have pre- 

 vented the like difficulties now. The whole of 

 it is contained in the following quotation : 

 '* Sir, The General Assembly received with 



* great satisfaction your excellency's communi- 



* cation. 



* Your recurrence to the infant state of our 



* republic, to the wisdom, the virtue and firm^ 



* nes5 of our ancestors, excites in our bosoms 



* the liveliest emotions of gratitude for the rank 

 ^ we hold among our sister states, and the prir 



* vileges we enjoy as an independent people. 



* We enter on the business of the present 



* I'oiinjal pf the assembly for J803, p. i^. 



