^344 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



and their designs. " We shall endeavor to 

 ' avail ourselves, of the advantages by your ex- 



* cellency pointed out, to promote harmony in 



* our councils, as flir as is consistent with that 



* spirit of free cnquirj', which constitutes the 



* basis of a republican government. But we 



* cannot try to avoid those" changes which are 



* conformable to our constitution."* The 

 governor had endeavored to fix their attention 

 on the lands which belonged to Vermont, but 

 la}'- within the reputed bounds of Canada ; their 

 right to which was now known, by the measures 

 which had been taken to ascertain the latitude 

 of the north line of the state. The result of the 

 enquiry had been much in favor of his judgment 

 and exertions, and the benefit of the state. 

 Vexed that any thing should be announced to 

 the people that might tend to increase the repu- 

 tation of the governor, party zeal and folly went 

 so flir as to give a political direction to a mathe- 

 matical line. " We learn from your excellency's 

 ' communications, that measures have been ta- 



* ken, pursuant to the direction of the legislature 



* at their last session, to ascertain the northern 



* boundary line of this state, and that it can be 



* established only through the medium of the 



* national government ; and from the appearance 



* of the error to be rectified, we are led to be- 



* lieve, that the interest of our sister state of 



* New York, may be so far affected by the 



* measure, as to require the co-operation of that 



* state. Whether we would urge the enlarge- 

 ' ment of this state, at the risque of lessening 



* the state of New York, and perhaps of the 



• Journal of the afTcmbly for 1806, p. 39. 



