army of fourteen thousand men, was about making a descent upon Plattsburgh. The American forces at that place, under Gen. Macomb, had been reduced to one thousand men.

When the intelligence of this invasion was received in Vermont, the militia were called out, and a large number of volunteers crossed the lake to support their friends. On the arrival of Provost the Americans occupied the fortifications on the southwest bank of the Saranac.*

At this time both the British and Americans had a respectable naval force on Lake Champlain. The former had the superiority in number of guns and men. On the 11th, while the American fleet under Macdonough was lying off Plattsburgh, the British squadron was observed bearing down upon them in order of battle.

An obstinate engagement ensued, which continued for two hours and twenty minutes. The enemy were completely defeated, and most of their vessels were either destroyed or fell into the hands of the Americans.

This contest between the rival squadrons was fought in sight of both armies, and served as a signal for an engagement by land. The American force was now considerably augmented by the arrival of reinforcements of Vermont and New-York militia and volunteers.

Gen. Prevost led on his troops and commenced an attack upon the batteries, and was received by a destructive fire from the Americans. He made several attempts to cross the Saranac, but was effectually repulsed; and before sunset his temporary batteries were completely silenced.

At 9 o'clock, Gen. Prevost, finding himself unable to effect his object, hastily drew off his forces and left the field, after a loss of two thousand five hundred men, killed, woun、 ded, and deserted.

By the events of this day, large quantities of stores fell into the hands of the Americans, and their flag was permitted to wave in triumph over the waters of Lake Champlain.

Several splendid actions were also fought in various parts

*Plattsburgh is situated at the mouth and on the northeast side of the river Saranac. The American works were directly opposite.

of the Union; the military operations were finally closed by the triumphant defence of New-Orleans, and the defeat of the British.

About the close of this year the war was terminated by the signing of a treaty of peace at Ghent.*

SEC. 13. The opinions of the people of Vermont, in common with those of the other States, were much at variance as to the justice and expediency of this war. It was strongly supported by the republicans, and violently opposed by the federalists.

Their measures were carried on with considerable animosity, and high hopes were entertained by the British of a more serious division. They found, however, on their invasion of the country, that both parties were ready to unite for defence against the common enemy.

Party feeling in Vermont attained its greatest violence at the commencement of the war, and continued to rage till its termination. The measures of the general government and the appointment of civil officers, formed the principal subjects of dispute. When one party gained the ascendancy, those of the other were generally excluded from office. The parties were nearly equal in 1806, and continued so, the republican usually predominating, until the close of the

war.

From that period the violence of party feeling rapidly declined. In a short time the terms, federal and republican, were forgotten, and all old controversies appeared to be entirely buried in oblivion.

SEC. 14. 1827. A Council of Censors was appointed to revise the constitution of the State. They held their session in June, and made a report suggesting several important amendments. A Convention of

13. Were the people unanimous in their opinions relative to the war? Did the federalists or republicans support it.

14.

What did the Council of Censors report in 1827.

*This treaty was signed December 24, 1814, and ratified by Congress the 14th of February following.

delegates from all the towns was according ly called to consider and act upon it.

CHAPTER X.

Constitution, Government, Judiciary, Punishment of Crimes, Manufactures and Trade, Military Establishment, Science and Literature, Religion, Population, Character.

The inhabitants of Vermont by their representatives, at a Convention held at Windsor, July 4, 1793, adopted the following declaration of rights, and constitution: DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

ARTICLE 1. That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety;therefore, no male person born in this country, or brought from over sea, ought to be holden by law to serve any person as a servant, slave or apprentice, after he arrives to the age of twenty-one years, nor female in like manner after she arrives to the age of eighteen years, unless they are bound by their own consent after they arrive to such age, or bound by law for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like.

ART. 2. That private property ought to be subservient to publick uses when necessity requires it; nevertheless, whenever a person's property is taken for the use of the publick, the owner ought to receive an equivalent in money.

ART. 3. That all men have a natural and inalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences and understandings, as in their opinion shall be regulated by the word of God; and that no

man ought to, or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of his conscience; nor can any man be justly deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments, or peculiar mode of religious worship; and that no authority can, or ought to be vested in, or assumed by, any power whatever, that shall in any case interfere with, or in any manner control the rights of conscience, in the free exercise of religious worship; nevertheless, every sect or denomination of christians ought to observe the Sabbath or Lord's day, and keep up some sort of religious worship, which to them shall seem most agreeable to the revealed will of God.

ART. 4. Every person within this state ought to find a certain remedy, by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, property, or character: he ought to obtain right and justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it; completely, and without any denial; promptly, and without delay, conformnably to the laws.

ART. 5. That the people of this state by their legal representatives, have the sole, inherent, and exclusive right of governing and regulating the internal police of the same. ART. 6. That all power being originally inherent in, and Consequently derived from, the people; therefore all officers of the government, whether legislative or executive, are their trustees and servants, and at all times, in a legal way, accountable to them.

ART. 7. That government is or ought to be instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people, nation, or community, and not for the particular emolument or advantage of any single man, family, or set of men, who are a part only of that community; and that the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform or alter government, in such a manner as shall be by that community judged most conducive to the publick weal.

ART. 8. That all elections ought to be free and without corruption, and that all freemen, having a sufficient evident common interest with, and attachment to, the community, have a right to elect and be elected into office, agreeably to the regulations made in this constitution.

ART. 9. That every member of society hath a right to

be protected in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and therefore is bound to contribute his proportion towards the expense of that protection, and yield his personal service when necessary, or an equivalent thereto; but no part of any person's property can be justly taken from him, or applied to publick uses, without his own consent, or that of the representative body of freemen; nor can any man who is conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, be justly compelled thereto, if he will pay such equivalent; nor are the people bound by any law but such as they have in like manner assented to, for their common good. And, previ ous to any law being made to raise a tax, the purpose for which it is to be raised ought to appear evident to the legislature to be of more service to the community, than the money would be if not collected.

ART. 10. That in all prosecutions for criminal offences a person hath a right to be heard, by himself and his counsel; to demand the cause and nature of his accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses; to call for evidence in his favour, and a speedy publick trial, by an impartial jury of the country, without the unanimous consent of which jury he cannot be found guilty; nor can he be compelled to give evidence against himself; nor can any person be justly deprived of his liberty, except by the laws of the land, or the judgment of his peers.

ART. 11. That the people have a right to hold themselves, their houses, papers and possessions, free from search or seizure, and therefore warrants without oath or affirmation first made, affording sufficient foundation for them, and whereby any officer or messenger may be commanded or required to search suspected places, or to seize any person or persons, bis, her, or their property, not particularly de scribed, are contrary to that right, and ought not to be granted.

ART. 12. That when any issue in fact proper for the cognizance of a jury, is joined in a court of law, the parties have a right to trial by jury, which ought to be held sacred.

ART. 13. That the people have a right to freedom of speech, and of writing and publishing their sentiments concerning the transactions of government, and therefore the freedom of the press ought not to be restrained.

ART. 14. The freedom of deliberation, speech and debate, in the legislature, is so essential to the rights of the