HISTORY OF VERiMONT. 325 



two new judges were appointed in the county 

 of Windsor ; the sheriff of Chittenden comity 

 was displaced, iind several other alterations of 

 a similar niilurc were made : i\nd all the vacan- 

 cies were filled up, witli what were esteemed 

 high republican characters. In the nature and 

 extent of the destruction, and in the appearance 

 and effects of party zeal, this assembly manifest- 

 ly exceeded the federal zeal and folly at Ver- 

 gennes in 1798, And it plainly appeared that 

 the republican party was governed, by the same 

 vievvs and motives ; to intimidate and silence 

 their opposers, and to encourage and increase 

 the number of their adherents, s:itelliles, and 

 supporters. 



The customary and annual business of the 

 state did not admit, of much party consideration, 

 and was carried on in the usual and customary 

 form. With regard to the intended alteration 

 of the federal constitution, it was thought best 

 to ascertain what the strength of the parties 

 would be on such a proposal. It was probably 

 with this view that the following resolution was 

 brought forv/ard b}^ one of the republican mem- 

 bers : " Whereas dissentions of the most seri- 

 ' ous nature have already arisen, and incalculable 



* evils may further arise, from the mode pointed 



* out in the second article of the constitution of 

 ' the United States, for choosing of president 



* and vice president of the United States. Thcre- 



* fore, Resolved^ as the sense of this legislature, 

 '■ that it is highly important tliat an alteration 



* should take place in the above article of the 



* constitution of the United States, by which the 



* future electors of president and vice president 



