396 VERMONT. 



by the state. In 18QO, a college was founded at Middlebury, which 

 is chiefly supported by private donations. Academies and grammar 

 schools are established in the different counties, and most of them 

 are amply endowed with lands. A right of land in each town, amount- 

 ing in the whole to upwards of 80,000 acres, has been reserved for 

 the support of common schools. In no country does common educa- 

 tion receive more assiduous attention. 



Religion. ...The great body of the people of Vermont are Congre- 

 gationalists and Baptists. The other denominations are Presbyterians, 

 Methodists, Episcopalians, Universalists, and Friends. In each 

 township, among the grants nude by New-Hampshire, there are 

 three rights reserved for religious purposes : one to the society for 

 propagating the gospel ; one for the episcopal clergy ; and one for 

 the first settled minister, of any denomination. 



Militaby strength... This is composed of all the able bodied 

 males, from 18 to 45 years of age, which amounted in 1792 to 

 18,500. According to the returns of the adjutant-general, in Octo- 

 ber, 1803, the militia amounted only to 17,574. In 18u9, the military 

 strength was as follows. 



Infantry, ■ 4 15,543 



Artillery, .... ... 303 



Cavalry, . . . . . . . 1,035 



Riflemen, &c. ...... 3,392 



20,273 



The state was at the same time in the possession of 11,503 muskets, 

 6 pieces of cannon, 1041 pair of pistols, and 1099 swords. This mili- 

 tia forms a body of hardy, robust, and intrepid men. During the re- 

 volutionary war, the bravery and enterprise of the Green-mountain 

 Boys became proverbial, nor did this character suffer during the late 

 contest. 



Revenue. ...The revenue of this state arises from rates and taxes 

 granted from time to time by the legislature, and assessed in propor- 

 tion to the polls and rateable estate. 



Government and Laws. ...The government of Vermont is a re- 

 presentative republic, in which the principles of democracy predomi- 

 nate. To the constitution a declaration, or bill of rights, affirmed to 

 be a part of the constitution, is prefixed, embracing the usual topics 

 of the equality, independence and inherent rights of man. By the 

 constitution, revised in 1792, the supreme legislative power is vest- 

 ed in a house of representatives of the freemen ; styled The General 

 Assembly of the State of Vermont. Every town has a right to choose 

 a representative on the first Tuesday of September, annually. The 

 supreme executive power is vested in a governor, or lieutenant go- 

 vernor, and a council of twelve persons, chosen annually, by f he free- 

 men, at the same time they elect their representatives. They may 

 give advice, but they have no other power in making- laws, except, in 

 some cases, of suspending their operation till the next session of the 

 legislature. Amongst the powers granted to them, is that of pardon- 

 ing criminals, except in cases of treason and murder. The qualifi- 

 cations necessary to constitute a freeman or elector, are, that he shall 

 be twenty-one years of age, of good moral character, have resided 

 one year in the state, and take an oath that he will give his vote, as 



