Chap. 6. 



LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. 



87 



CHARACTER OF GOV. CHITTENDEN. 



HI.S LAST SPEECH. 



was one of the eight persons who secretly 

 managed the nefjotiations with the British 

 ill Canada in 17r^0, and the three follow- 

 ing years, with such consummate adroit- 

 ness and skill as to deceive alike the Brit- 

 ish and the people of the United States, 

 and effectuall}' to secure Vermont from 

 the hostilities of the enemy, whose forces 

 were all this time in possession of lake 

 Champlain, and Vermont without any 

 other means of defence. After the close 

 of the war, Governor Chittenden again 

 removed his family to Williston, where 

 he spent the remainder of his active and 

 useful life. Advanced in years and de- 

 clining in health, in the summer of 1797 

 lie resigned the otfice of governor, which 

 lie had held for 18 years, and died the 

 same season, August the 25th, in theG'Jth 

 year of his age, beloved by his family and 

 friends and sincerely esteemed and la- 

 mented by the people of V'ermont. 



As already remarked, Governor Chit- 

 tenden possessed in an eminent degree, 

 precisely those qualifications, which fitted 

 him for the sphere in which he was called 

 upon to act. He had not, indeed, enjoyed 

 many of the advantages of education, but 

 his want of education was amply com- 

 pensated by the possession of a strong and 

 active mind, which at the time he emi- 

 grated to Vermont, was matured by age, 

 practised to business, and enriched by a 

 careful observance of men and things. 

 His knowledge was practical rather than 

 theoretic. He was regular in his habits — 

 plain and simple in his manners — averse 

 to ostentation of equipage or dress, and 

 he cared little for the luxuries, the blan- 

 dishments or the etiquette of refined so- 

 ciety. In short, though he was destitute 

 of man}' of the qualifications now deemed 

 essential in a statesman, he possessed all 

 that were necessary, and none that were 

 superfluous, in the times in which he 

 lived, and was probably far better fitted 

 to be the leader and governor of the in- 

 dependent, dauntless and hardy, but un- 

 cultivated settlers of Vermont, than would 

 have been a manof niore theoretic knowl- 

 edge, or polite accomplishments. 



upon this occr.!iii)ii, rcijiiost your Honor to accept, 

 for your past .services, all that a noble and generous 

 mind can give, or wish to receive, — their gratUnde 

 and marmetsl thanks : and it is their earnest wish 

 that, in your advanced a^e, and retircmont from the 

 arduou.s task of public life, you may enjoy all the 

 blessings of domestic ease. I am, may it please 

 your Honor, (hy order and in behalf of the House,) 

 W'ith the greatest respect, your most obedient, 

 hurnble servant. Gideon Olin, Speaker." — Journal 

 of the Legislature for 1789, page 29. 



The next year Mr. Chittenden was elected gov- 

 ernor hy the people, and continued to hold the 

 oflice till his resignation, a little before his death, 

 as above stated. 



Gov. Chittenden met the legislature of 

 Vermont, for the last time, at the October 

 session in 1796, and the following speech, 

 w'lich is alike characterized by simplicity, 

 sound sense, and a paternal regard for the 

 welfare of the people, was the last which 

 he ever delivered before that body. His 

 advice with regard to the moral character 

 of those who are candidates for ofiice, 

 would not be amiss at the present period. 

 " Gentlemen of the Council and Assembly : — 



So well known to you are the manifold 

 favors and blessings, bestowed on us as a 

 people, by the Great Ruler of the uni- 

 verse, that it would be unnecessary for 

 me to recapitulate them. I would, there- 

 fore, only observe, that, but a i'ew years 

 since, we were without constitution, law, 

 or government; — in a state of anarchy 

 and confusion ; at war with a potent for- 

 eign power; opposed by a powerful 

 neighboring state ; discountenanced by 

 the Congress ; distressed by internal dis- 

 sentions ; — all our landed property in im- 

 minent danger and without the means of 

 defence. 



Now your eyes behold the happy day, 

 when we are in the full and uninterrupt- 

 ed enjoyment of a well regulated gov- 

 ernment, suited to the situation and o-e- 

 nius of the people, acknowledged by all 

 the powers of the earth, supported by 

 the Congress, — at peace with our sister 

 states, among ourselves and with the 

 world. 



From whence did these great blessings 

 come.'' From God. Are they not worth 

 enjoying .= They surely are. Does it not 

 become us as a people to improve them, 

 that we may have reason to hope that 

 they may be continued to us and trans- 

 mitted to posterity.'' It certainly does. 



What are the most likely means, to be 

 taken by us as a people, to obtain this 

 great end .-" — To be a faithful, virtuous 

 and industrious and moral people. Dores 

 it not become us a legislature, to take 

 every method in our power, to encourage 

 virtue, industry, morality, religion and 

 learning .= — I think it does. Is there any 

 better method, that can be taken by us, 

 to answer this purpose, than by our own 

 example ; and having a sacred regard to 

 virtue, industry, integrity and morality, 

 in all our appointments of executive arid 

 judicial oflicers .' 



This is the day we have appointed to 

 nominate all our subordinate executive 

 and judicial officers, throughout the state 

 for the present year. The people by free 

 suffrages, have given us the power, and 

 in us they have placed their confidence ; 

 — and to God, to them, and to our own 

 consciences we are answerable. Suffer 



