HISTORY OF VERMONT. 409 



ty six thousand persons, defrayed in the year 

 1792. ir this be compared with the expense 

 (3^ government in Europe, the difference will be 

 fojimd to be infinite : The babe of a monarch, 

 will cost a nation there, thirty or forty times the 

 sum. 



It oui^ht also to be recorded,. for the benefit 

 and- P^niembrance of the people of America, 

 For tliis is the place, where a corrufltion in gov- 

 ernment, always makes its first appearance. 

 Reasons and causes are easily found, to increase 

 the number of public places and offices .• And 

 t]v>se who^ are in power, and derive their liv- 

 ing from the public, will compute the honor 

 and dignity of the government, by the sums of 

 public money which are allowed to them. The 

 progress has ever been certain, gradual, and 

 regular ;- from small beginnings, to the utmost 

 extreme of luxury, and dissipation, that the na- 

 tional wealth could supply. It would be almost 

 a miracle, if public affairs should not assume 

 ihe same aspect and course, in America. If it 

 is prevented, it will not be by government : It 

 can alone be done by the virtue, the knowledge, 

 the economy, and the public sentiment of the 

 people. 



In examining the annual expense and reve- 

 nue of the government at this period, 1806, the 

 tesult is favorable to the peopte, and evidential 

 af tile economy and virtue of republican gov- 

 ernment. The several articles of expense^ as 

 stated iu the treasurers report to the assembly, 

 "Were these : ^• 



+. Journal of the asicmbly. for the year i8c6. p. 68, 60. 



toL. II Q 3 



