414 NA.TURAL AND CIVIL 



service, transform them at once, into a body of 

 excellent troops. In the American war, there 

 were no better troops collected from any part of 

 Europe, or America, than the regiments raised 

 in Vermont. The most brave, hardy, and ro« 

 bust militia, will always be found among the 

 inhabitants of new countries. 



Popularity of the Government. From 

 the experience the people have had, of the in- 

 fluence and operation of the ii!;overnment, they 

 are not only satisfied with it, but they are very 

 strongly attached to it. This is the surest way 

 to judge of all theories, forms, and constitutions 

 of government. What is written upon paper 

 respecting government, is no otherwise good or 

 bad, than as it is applicable to mankind, and 

 Yivay be beneficial, "or disadvantageous to them. 

 While government serves to promote the bent fit 

 and prosperity of the people, the people will be 

 attached to it. But when the body of the peo- 

 ple become discontented, and uneasy, it may be 

 presumed, there'is some capital error or vice in . 

 the government. During a century and a half, 

 e^sTry part of America, was under the control of 

 the kings of Europe. The ministers of the Eu- 

 ropean courts were perpetually interfering in the 

 affairs of the colonies, and were persuaded that 

 the colonists had not wisdom enough to govern 

 themselves. Through the whole of this period, 

 ail those parts of America flourished the most, 

 in which the European monarchs intermeddled 

 the least : And there was not one spot on the 

 continent, where the inhabitants were not better 

 qualified to govern themselves, than the wisest 

 minister of btute iiv Europe.. The one, perfectly 



