USA > Vermont > History of the state of Vermont; for the use of families and schools > Part 15
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ORIGIN OF PARTIES IN VERMONT.
ple to their old governor was so general, that the pol- iticians scarcely attempted to bring forward any other candidate for the first office in the gift of the people, and neither the honors, nor the emoluments of the other state offices, were such as to render them ob- jects of general contest or ambition. The legislature met annually in the beginning of October, and during the first week of the session they usually pro- ceeded to make the appointments of the civil offi- cers for the succeeding year, and this was done for several seasons without any considerable electioneer- ing or management. After this business was dispo- sed of, they proceeded to enact such laws, as were required by the exigencies of the people ; and they usually completed the whole business of legislation in about four weeks, affording to artful demagogues but little opportunity to acquire power, influence, or popularity.
4. During this period of tranquility and union the legislature of Vermont adopted a digested and judi- cious code of laws ; and for a while nothing seemed to mar the general harmony. But subsequent events proved this tranquility to he like those calms which precede the convulsions of nature. Causes were then in operation, which were destined to pro- duce fearful divisions and animosities among the people of the United States. The French nation, urged onward by their infidel philosophy, and by the example of America, had overthrown their establish- ed government, abolished the ancient restraints of law and religion ; and they vainly imagined that they were on the high road to a state of perfectibility, such as the world had never yet seen.
5. The American people, grateful for the aid which they had received from France, and anxious that the blessings of liberty should be more generally diffused, had watched the progress of the French revolution with deep interest, and for a while it was generally believed, that Francs would become a republic with 17
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a government much more perfect than that of the United States. But when she abandoned the princi- ples of common sense, and discarded morality and virtue, many of the people of the United States, became convinced that, instead of promoting rational liberty, they had opened the flood-gates of anarchy, to be closed only by a despotism more severe than that under which they had previously groaned. Thus while a part of the people wished to go forward and follow the French in pursuit of their chimerical scheme of perfectibility ; another party was fearful for the consequences, and chose rather to remain within the bounds of reason and experi- ence.
6. In this manner the people of the United States, ' and of Vermont as a portion of the Union, gradual- ly became divided into two distinct parties, both of which avowed their attachment to the constitution of the country and both desired alterations in that instru- ment. While one party wished to improve the consti- tution by increasing the powers of the government, the other wished to do it by rendering the government more democratic, and thus increasing the power of the people. These parties by degrees increased in strength and violence, but were for several years much restrained in their proceedings by the virtue and influence of Washington, and, in Vermont, by the judicious administration of Governor Chit- tenden.
7. The extreme simplicity which characterized the legislative proceedings of Vermont, during the administration of Governor Chittenden, left but little room for the intrigues of politicians, or for the pro- gress of party and faction. It was not then the cus- tom of the governor to make a speech at the opening of the legislature, and consequently the ditlerent parties had not then a bone of contention about which to wrangle, as they had, during subsequent administrations; and, previous to the resignation
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BIOGRAPHY OF GOY. CHITTENDEN.
and death of Governor Chittenden, in 1797, party spirit in Vermont cannot be said to have assumed a very serious aspect. As through the instrumentality of Governor Chittenden, Vermont was chiefly ena- bled to establish her independence as a state, and as he for many years held the first office in the gift of the people, we shall close this section with a short sketch of his biography.
8. It has so happened, that almost every age of the world has produced individuals, who seem to have been moulded,- by nature, particularly for the exigencies of the times in which they lived. There have always been some master spirits, who were peculiarly fitted to control the agitated waters of public opinion, and either to soothe them into a calm, or else to mount upon the wind and direct the waves ; and the results attained under their guidance have usually been happy to community, or other- wise, according as the ruling motives of the leaders have been patriotic or selfish. These results, it is true, are materially affected by the amount of virtue and intelligence among the people ; but virtue and intelligence do not, alone, fit an individual for becoming a popular and successful leader in trouble- some times. There is necessary, in addition to these, a certain indescribable tact and native energy, which few individuals have possessed, and which, perhaps, no one in our State, has manifested in a more emi- hent degree than Governor Chittenden.
9. Governor Thomas Chittenden was born at Guilford, in Connecticut, on the 6th day of January, in the year 1729. At the age of about 20 years, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Meigs, and soon after removed to Salisbury, where, by his industry, and economy, he acquired a handsome landed property. While he resided at Salisbury he represented that town seven years in the Connecticut assembly, be- came a civil magistrate, and a colonel of the militia of that state. Early in the spring of 1774, he re-
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moved with his family to the New Hampshire grante, as Vermont was then called, having purchased a tract of land on the Winooski, or Onion river, in the township of Williston. Here he arrived in the month of April or May, not knowing the spot on which he was to locate himself, and without having any habitation provided for the shelter of his family. At this time there were scarcely any inhabitants in Vermont to the northward of Rutland, and none within the limits of the County of Chittenden, ex- cepting those who had come on the present year. These were locating themselves at Burlington, Col- chester, and some other places.
10. Seated upon the beautiful and fertile banks of the Winooski, labor, well directed in the cultivation · of his new farm, had procured to Mr Chittenden the necessary provisions for the comfortable sustenance of his family, and had opened to him the prospect of many of the conveniences of life; and nothing could be more flattering than the prospect of rural wealth, abundance and independence, as the natural and certain consequence of the labor of his hands and the fertility of the soil. It was in the midst of these improvements, and pleasing anticipations, that the war of the Revolution commenced, and the frontier settlements became exposed to the depreda- tions of the enemy-to the merciless inroads of theic savage allies. In this state of things, in 1775, Mr Chit- tenden was employed, with four others, as a commit- tec to repair to Philadelphia, and procure intelligence with regard to the measures which Congress was pursuing, and to receive advice respecting the politi- cal measures proper to be adopted by the people of the New Hampshire grants.
11. The retreat of the American army from Cana- da, in the spring of 1776, and the advance of the British upon Lake Champlain, rendering it unsafe for the few settlers, scattered along the western bor- der of Vermont, to remain upon their lands, this
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BIOGRAPHY OF GOV. CHITTENDEN.
section of the country was wholy abondoned by the inhabitants, who retired into the southern part of the district, or into Massachusetts and Connecticut. Mr Chittenden removed his family to Arlington, in June of this year, was appointed President of the Council of Safety and soon became a leading man in the consultations of the inhabitants. Entering with deep interest into the controversy with New York res- pecting the titles of the lands in the New Hampshire grants, and being more acquainted with public busi- ness than any of the settlers, in consequence of the offices, which he had held in his native state, he was universally regarded as the man most suitable to be placed at the head of their operations. Mr Chit- tenden perceived that the general struggle for inde- pendence, in which the colonies were now engaged, presented a favorable opportunity for terminating the controversy with New York, by erecting the disputed territory into a new state, and establishing a separate government ; and having adopted this decisive plan of sound policy, he steadily pursued it, till he saw the independence of Vermont acknowledged by the neighboring states and by the general goverment.
12. He was a member of the first convention of delegates from the several townships, which met at Dorset, September 25, 1776, for the purpose of tak- ing into consideration the expediency of declaring Vermont an independent state, and at the subsequent meeting of the convention at Westminster, January 15, 1777, he was one of the commeitter, who draught- ed the declaration of independence, which was there adopted, and also a member of another com- mittee, who, at that time, petitioned Congress, pray- ing that body to acknowledge Vermont, a free and independent state. He assisted in forming the first Constitution of Vermont, which was adopted by a Convention, July 2d, 1777, and in 1778 he was elected the first governor of Vermont, which office he held with the exception of one year till his death He 17*
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was one of the eight persons who secretly managed the negotiations with the British in Canada in 1780, and the three following years, with such consummate adroitness and skill as to deceive alike the British and the people of the United States, and effectually to secure Vermont from the hostilities of the enemy, whose forces were all this time in possession of Lake Champlain, and "ermont 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 ac- tive and useful life. Advanced in years and declining in health, in the summer of 1797 he resigned the office of governor, which he had held for IS years and died the same season, August the 25th, in the 69th year of his age, beloved by his family and friends and sincerely esteemed and lamented by the people of Vermont.
13. As already remarked, Governor Chittenden possessed in an eminent deerre, 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 educa- tion, but his want of education was amply compen- sated by the possession of a strong and active mind, which, at the time he emigrated 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, and dress, and he cared little for the luxuries, the blandishments or the etiquette of refined society. In short, though he was destitute of many 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 independent, dauntless and hardy, but uncultivated
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LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
settlers of Vermont, than would have been a man of more theoretic knowledge, or polite accomplish- ments.
SECTION II.
Legislative proceedings in Vermont from the year 1797 to 1812
1. The popularity of Governor Chittenden and the certainty of his re-election, had hitherto prevented any serions efforts being made to bring forward oth- er candidates for that office. But by his resignation and death the political parties in Vermont were re- lieved from the restraints of his influence and new motives were laid before them to arouse their activi- ty and exertions. The two great parties had already adopted the terms federal and republican as the mot- tos of their respective standard:, and from this period no means were left unemployed which were sup- posed to be calculated to increase their respective influence and numbers.
2. The republican party were believed to favor the principles of the French revolution, and to be desir- ous of rendering the government of the Union more democratic, while the federalists were accused of partiality to Great Britain and of a wish to make the government of the United States more independent of the people and monarchi al in its principles. The great mass of both these political parties undoubted- ly had the good of their country at heart and differed but little in their views of the proper means of pro- motirg it. But, by the influence and arts of design- ing politicians and demagogues these slight differ- ences were in time so magnified and distorted as to produce the most violent animosities among friends and neighbors.
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3. At the meeting of the Vermont assembly in October 1797, it was found that no governor had been elected by the people, but that Isaac Tichenor, theu chief justice of the state had received the lar- gest number of votes. The choice then devolving upon the general assembly, Mr Tichenor was elect- ed by a large majority. He entered upon the duties of his office by making a speech to the legislature, and thus introducing into Vermont the custom of the other states. In his speech he applauded the state and federal constitutions, fully approved of the measures of Washington's administration, and ex- pressed his entire confidence in the abilities and in- tegrity of Mr Adams, who was then President of the United States. The sentiments of the speech were decidedly what was called federalism.
4. To this speech the legislature returned a re- spectful answer in which they say "we are not dis- posed to call in question the wisdom or integrity of those, who have been concerned in the administra- tion of the general government, nor to withhold con- fidence where it ought to be inspired ; but give sup- port and energy to every measure, which, in our opinion, will secure, or promote the national pros- perity." The two political parties were distinctly formed, but they had not yet reached that state of insolence and acrimony, which they were afterwards to exhibit, and in the transaction of the public busi- ness, the public good was yet obviously paramount to the promotion of party influence and power.
5. In October, 1998, the legislature met at Ver- gennes. Mr Tichenor was re-elected governor by a large majority. The country was now much agitated on account of the insolent and lawless proceed- ing of the French-their refusal to receive American embassadors and their demand of tribute under the name of a loan, and the governor, in his speech, expressed the strongest disapprobation of their policy and proceedings. The house returned an answer,
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imbued with the same spirit of hostility to the French ; and both were in the highest tone of what was called federalism.
6. Early in the session a committee was appointed to draw up an address to the President of the United States, which was soon after adopted by a vote of yeas 129, and nays 23. In this address the principles and proceedings of the French were treated with much asperity. It expressed the entire confidence of the legislature in the president, and the fullest ap- probation of the measures of his administration, and declared the willingness of Vermont to take up arms, if necessary, for the defence of the country against the rapacity of the French. To this address, Mr Adams afterwards returned a very polite and respect- ful answer, in which he complimented the people of Vermont for their patriotism and virtues, and express- ed the high satisfaction derived from the assurance of their approbation.
7. It was during this session, that proscription, on account of political opinion, was first practised in the distribution of the civil offices in Vermont. Isra- el Smith, who had held the office of chief justice of the state, and who was a man of uncorrupted integ- rity and virtue, was dropped on account of his attachment to the republican party, and another per- son chosen chief justice in his stead. For all the important offices, the selections were made from those who were of the most decided federal princi- ples, and with the avowed design of encouraging the supporters of Mr Adams, and of checking the progress of democracy.
8. After the appointment of the various officers for the current year, the political inflamation sub- sided, and the assembly proceeded in the remaining business of the session with their usual industry and good sense. It was during this session that applica- tion was made by some Indian chiefs in Canada, for compensation for lands which they claimed in Ver-
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
mont. Their claim embraced nearly the whole of the present counties of Addison, Chittenden, Frank- lin and Grand Isle. The subject was referred to a committee, who reported that the lands claimed had, in their opinion, formerly belonged to said Indians, but whether their title had ever been extinguished by purchase, conquest, dereliction of occupancy, or in any other way they could not ascertain. The legislature supported the Indian agents during their attendance, gave them a hundred dollars in token of friendship, and they returned to their tribes well pleased with their present success and hoping to succeed still better another season.
9. A proposal came before the legislature at this session from the state of Massachusetts for an amendment of the constitution of the United States, providing that no person, who was not a. natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the declaration of independe ce, should be eligible to the office of president, or vice president, or of senator or representative in Congress. This proposal was perfectly agreeable to the sentiments of the assembly, and was adopted by a vote of 152 y eas, and only five in thenegative.
10. In October, 1799, the legislature met at Wind- sor. The spirit of opposition to French principles and measures, continued to run high. The speech of Governor Tichenor highly applauded the energetic measures of Mr. Adams for putting a stop to the aggressions of the French upon our commerce, and expressed the fullest approbation of the measures of his administration. The assembly in their answer to this speech, reciprocated the same sentiments, and congratulated his excellency on account of the pros- perity and felicity of the state under his administra- tion. In the appointment of civil officers, the as- sembly proceeded with more moderation than they had done the preceding year ; they did not however see fit to replace those, who had been dropped on
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account of their attachment to the republican party.
11. At this session the governor communica- ted to the assembly the result of his inquiries respecting the claims of the Indians to lands in Vermont ; which was that said claims have been fully extinguished. A resolution to that effect was accordingly adopted by the assembly and communi- cated to the chiefs of the six nations of Indians in- habiting Lower Canada. The questions which occasioned the most excitement and debate, related to sundry resolutions,-which had been passed by the assemblies of Virginia and Kentucky, condemning the proceedings of Congress in passing the alien and sedition laws, and declaring individual states to be the legal judges of the constitutionality of the acts of Congress, and of the obligation of the state to yield obedience to them.
12. Resolutions were passed by the assembly of Vermont, expressing the most decided disapproba- tion of the sentiments contained in the resolutions from Virginia and Kentucky. They declared that " it belongs not to state legislatures to decide on the constitutionality of the laws, made by the general government ; this power being exclusively vested in the judiciary courts of the union." On the passage of these resolutions the yeas were 104, and nays 52, which clearly shows the strength of the two political parties in Vermont, the federalists all being in favor of their adoption, and the republicans all in the opposition. The minority on this occasion entered a formal protest upon the journals of the assembly, assigning twelve reasons for their dissent from the majority. This protest was signed by thirty-three of those who had voted in the negative.
13. In October, 1800, the legislature met at Mid- dlebury. The political excitement had apparently much subsided. In huis speech. Governor Tichenor urged the attention of the assembly to the particular affairs of the state, but alluded to the administrations
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of Washington and Adams, in terms of the highest approbation. The answer which the assembly re- turned was mild, moral and sentimental; expressive of the difficulties of legislation, and the danger of being governed by passion or prejudice. The com- mon business of the state was transacted without the violence of party spirit, and several of the officers who were displaced on account of their republican- ism in 1798, were now reappointed.
14. Another election of president of the United States was soon to take place. It was known that a considerable majority of the Vermont assembly were in favor of the re-election of Mr Adams; the republican members therefore introduced a bill provid- ing for the choice of electors by districts, thinking that method might prove more favorable to Mr Jefferson, the republican candidate, than their ap- pointment in the usual way by the council and assembly, or by any general ticket. After a long discussion this bill was finally rejected by a vote of 95 to 73. By this vote it appeared that the republi- can party had considerably increased during the past year and that the majority on the side of the feder- alists amounted to only twenty two.
15. The Indiaus, having been so well supported and paid at their former attendance upon the legis- lature, again attended and urged their claims to lands in Vermont. The governor informed them that the assembly had decided that they had no title or just claim to any lands in Vermont-that the assembly had voted to give them $ 50 to defray their expenses on their return to their own nations -- but that no more money would be given them either to purchase their claims, or to defray their cxpenses. These decided measures brought the affair with the Indians to a close. During this session was also passed an act incorporating and establishing a college at Middlebury by a vote of 117 to 51.
16. The events of 1801, gave a nsw aspect to
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political affairs. Mr Adams lost the election, and after repeated trials, Mr Jefferson was elected presi- dent of the United States, by a majority of one vote. He entered upon the duties of the office on the 4th of March, and in his inaugural address, he disclaimed the principles of political intolerance, urged those of candor and magnanimity, and de- clared that the difference of political opinions was not a difference of principles. Notwithstanding the apparent diversity of sentiment with regard to the federal constitution and government " we are," said he, " all federalists, we are all republicans."
17. By so frank an avowal of his political opinions and intentions, the candid of all parties were led to believe that party factions and animosities were about to come to an end, and that all would now unite in support of the federal government. This was the case in Vermont. But a short time how- ever, elapsed before the United States attorney and marshall, for the district of Vermont, were removed from office, and their places filled by persons of de- cided republican sentiments. Similar changes were made in other states, and it was now believed that Mr Jefferson, notwithstanding his professions, would make his own political sentiments a necessary qualification for office.
18. In this state of public affairs the legislature of Vermont met at Newbury in October, 1801. In the house of representatives, the republican party now had a majority of about twenty, and it was now generally supposed that they would adopt the same course pursued by the federalists in 1798, and make all the appointments to office from their own politi- cal party. But this was not the case. Three new judges were appointed for the supreme court ; but they were not selected on account of their political opinions, but on account of their supposed qualifica- tions for the office. In the other appointments they followed the customary method of regarding the
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