VERMONT. 



iuliabitants, together with the chief towns, exhibited in the 

 following 



Topographical ThMe. 



Cliief: 



242 217.89s 



* Laid out fince the cenfus was taken. 



The number of inhabitants returned in the fchedule of 

 Mr. J. WiUard, marflial, January 26th, A. D. 181 1, 

 »s 217,913. 



In each townfhip is a referve of two portions of land, 

 each of 350 acres, one for the fupport of public fchools, and 

 the other to be given in fee to the firil minifter who fettled 

 in the townfhip. An exteniive chain of high mountains 

 runs through the middle of this ftate, nearly S. and N., be- 

 tween Connefticut river and lake Champlain. The natural 

 produce of this chain of mountains is hemlock, pine, Ipruce, 

 and other evergreens ; and on this account, as it has always 

 a green appearance, it is denominated " Ver Mons," or 

 " Green Mountain." On fome high parts of it the fnow 

 lies till May or June. The country, on the E. fide of the 

 mountain, is watered by Paupanhoofak, Quechey, Welds, 

 Wliite, Black, and Weil rivers ; and on the W. fide by the 

 La Moille and Onion rivers, and Oiter creek, which dif- 

 charge themfelves by one mouth into lake Champlain, 20 

 or 30 miles S. of St. John's. The adjacent lands are ex- 

 cellent in quality, and annually enriched by the inundation 

 of the water, occafioned by the melting of the fnow on the 

 Green mountains. The general afpeft of the country is 

 hilly, but it has many rich valleys, which furnifh very good 

 pallurage for cattle, and which, contralled with the hills, 

 afford beautiful fcenery. Timber-trees of various kinds are 

 abundant ; wheat, rye, barley, oats, Indian corn, are culti- 

 vated by the inhabitants : though tiie corn on high grounds 

 is fometimcs liable to be damaged by the frofts. Flax and 

 hemp are raifed in confiderabfe quantities : and potatoes, 

 pumpkins, together with garden -roots and vegetables, are 

 plentiful. The fugar-maple affords a large fupply of ex- 

 cellent fugar. The metals and minerals of this country are 

 iron, lead, copperas, flint, marble, pipe-clay, and vitriol. 

 The trade of Vermont is principally carried on with Bofton, 

 Portland, Hartford, and New York ; whither the inhabit- 

 ants export horfes, beef, pork, biftter, cheefe, wlieat, flour, 

 iron, nails, pot and pearl afhes. The climate refemblcs that 

 of New Hampfhire, and is upon the whole very healthy : the 

 winters, however, are long and fevere, and the fummers hot. 

 The inhabitants are for the moft part emigrants from Con- 

 nefticut and Maffachufetta, and their dcfccndants. The 

 only foreigners are Scots, who have formed a fettlement. 

 A» to the character, manners, cuiloms, laws, policy, and 



religion of the people in Vermont, we need only fay thut 

 they are Ncw-Englandmen. 



B3fore the late war, this traft of country was claimed 

 both by New York and New Hampfhire ; but upon the 

 commencement of hoftilities between Great Britain and her 

 colonies, the inhabitants confidered themfelves as free from 

 any legal jurifdiftion, and affociating together, formed for 

 themfelves a conftitutional government ; and before it was 

 acknowledged by congrefs on the 4th of March, 1 79 1 , as the 

 fourteenth ftate; they commenced cheir political independent 

 exiflence as a feparate government in the year 1777. On 

 the 15th of December in this year, their reprefcntatives, in 

 convention at Windfor, declared that the territory called 

 Vermont, was and of right ought to be a free and inde- 

 pendent ftate ; and for the purpofe of maintaining reg\ilar 

 government in the fame, they made a folemn declaration of 

 their rights, and ratified a conftitution, of which the follow- 

 ing is an abftraft. 



Their declaration, which makes a part of their conftitu- 

 tion, afferts that all m.en are born equally free — with equal 

 rights, and ought to enjoy liberty of confcience — freedom of 

 the prefs — trial by jury — power to form new ftatesin vacant 

 countries, and to regulate their own internal police : that all 

 eleftions ought to be free : that all power is originally in the 

 people : that government ought to be inftituted for the 

 common benefit of the community, and that the com- 

 munity have a right to reform or abolifh government : that 

 every member of fociety hath a right to proteftion of life, 

 liberty, and property ; and in return is bound to contribute 

 his proportion of the expence of that proteftion, and yield 

 his perfonal fervice when neceffary : that he fhall not be 

 obliged to give evidence againft himfelf : that the people 

 have a right to bear arms, but no ftanding armies fhall be 

 maintained in time of peace : that the people have a light to 

 hold themfelves, their houfes, papers, and pofleffions free 

 from fearch or feizure ; and therefore warrants without 

 oaths firft made, affording fufficient foundation for them, r.re 

 contrary to that right, and ought not to be granted : that no 

 perfon fhall be liable to be tranfported oat of this ftate for 

 trial for any offence committed within this ftate, &c. 



By the frame of government, the fupreme legiflative 

 power is vcfted in a houfe of reprefcntatives of the freemen of 

 the ftate of Vermont, to be chofen annually by the freemen 

 on the flrft Tuefday in September, and to meet the fecond 

 Thurfday of the fucceeding Oftober : this body is vefted 

 with all the powers neceffary for the legiflature of a free 

 ftate : two-thirds of the whole number of reprefcntatives 

 elefted, make a quorum. 



Each inhabited town throughout the ftate has a right 10 

 fend one reprefcntative to the affembly. 



The fupreme executive power is vefted in a governor, 

 lieutenant-governor, and twelve counfcllors, to be chofen an- 

 nually in the fame manner, and vefted with the fame powers 

 as in Connefticut. 



Every perfon of the age of twenty-one years, who has re- 

 fided in the ftate one whole year next before the cleftion of 

 reprefcntatives, and is of a quiet, peaceable behaviour, a;id 

 will bind himfelf by his oath, to do what he fhall in con- 

 fcience judge to be moft conducive to the beft good of tlie 

 ftate, fhall be entitled to all the privileges of a freeman of 

 this ftate. 



Each member of the houfe of reprefcntatives, before he 

 takes his feat, muft declare his belief in one God, in future 

 rewards and punifhments, and in the divinity of the fcrip- 

 tures of the Old and New Teftament, and muft profefi the 

 Proteftant religion. 



H 2 Courts 



