house, and there beaten in a shocking manner; a Grand Juror of St. Albans was one of these rioters. This mob declared their determination to "give Georgia a scouring and root out the highway robbers," as they called the custom house officers. They took a Mr. Anthony a long with them as a prisoner; they halted at a Mr. Blodget's of Georgia, awoke him from sleep and informed him that the smugglers had come and his assistance was wanted in capturing them. Blodget and his sons had no sooner arrived at the place where they were gathered than he was levelled to the ground by clubs. One of his arms was broken and badly wounded in various places. The windows of his house were broken in and a Mr. Conger also taken prisoner. They proceeded to the south part of Georgia and called on a Mrs. Hubbell and gave her notice to leave her house, for on their return they should destroy it. An officer of the custom house department, supposed they had smuggled goods, requested them to stop, when suddenly the mob surrounded Messers. Lee, Baker and Robinson, took them, and tied their arms behind with cords, and took them, with their other prisoners three miles to a Mrs. Hyde's in Georgia. Here a large number of armed citizens soon collected to oppose them. The mob discovering their danger immediately dispersed.

CHAPTER IX.

WAR OF 1812-1814-CONTINUED.

The non-intercourse and embargo Acts of Congress, and the State legislative regulations, which were opposed by the Federal party, proved unpopular, especially with the people in Northern Vermont, and many of the supporters of the war abandoned the then Republican ranks and went over to the opposition. As the State election in 1813, approached, both parties put forth their utmost efforts, the one to gain and the other to preserve the ascendency-the one to re-elect Jonas Galusha and the other to elect Martin Chittenden Governor, but with all their exertion and industry no election was made by the people. When the Assembly came together in October the parties were found to be exactly equally divided, but after much maneuvering and several trials, Martin Chittenden, the Federal candidate, was elected by a small majority; William Chamberlain the Lieutenant-governor, the Secretary of State and Council then elected, were of the same party.

The Governor's speech and the answer to it had a strong Federal tone and consequently in direct opposition to the war and the measures of the general government, but the minority, seventy-five in number, protested against these sentiments and

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entered their reasons upon the journal of the House. Nearly all the appointments were made from the Federal party, and the Legislature proceeded to repeal the laws that had been enacted that were obnoxious to the Federalists. The party spirit was now wrought up to the highest pitch, and the parties did not hesitate to brand each other, with the names of tories, traitors, and enemies to their country. This spirit ran so high, that it, in many cases, destroyed the peace and intercourse of families and neighbors.

Governor Martin Chittenden was subjected to a great deal of sharp criticism by the administration party because of his luke-warm support of the war which he regarded as unnecessary and that should have been avoided, but it must be remembered he was but carrying out the sentiment of a large part of the party that elected him during the progress of the war. The criticism, to a large extent, grew out of the purpose and action of the Governor to keep the militia of the State within its borders and for the protection of her jurisdiction and people.

The Governor said in his first speech to the Legislature, that "the importance of the subject of the militia will not fail to claim your deliberate consideration. I have always considered this force peculiarly adapted and exclusively assigned for the service and protection of the respective States; excepting in cases provided for by the National Constitution: viz, to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions."

"It never could have been contemplated by the framers of our excellent constitution, who, it ap

pears, in the most cautious manner, guarded the sovereignty of the States, or by the States, who adopted it, that the whole body of the militia were, by any kind of magic, at once to be transformed into a regular army for the purpose of foreign conquest; and it is to be regretted, that a construction should have been given to the constitution, so peculiarly burdensome and oppressive to that important class of our fellow citizens.

"The war, in which we are engaged, would require the united wisdom and energy of the nation to sustain. It was delcared under circumstances which forcibly induced a great proportion of the people to consider it at least doubtful, as to its necessity, expedience, or justice. And its continuance has become still more so, since the removal of the Orders in Council, the principal alleged cause of it. The subject of impressment never having been considered a sufficient cause of war by either of the preceding administrations, and having been once adjusted by two of the present cabinet, Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney, ministers on our part, is such a manner as was by them stated to be both safe and honorable to our country, it would seem that it ought not now to be considered an insuperable obstacle to a fair and honorable peace, or an adequate cause for a protracted, expensive and destructive war. The conquest of the Canadas, of which so much has been said, if desirable under any circumstances, must be considered a poor compensation for the sacrifices, which are and must necessarily be made."

The report of the majority of the committee

appointed to draft an answer to the speech, approved of the speech, and was adopted by the House by a vote of 96 to 89. A minority report of 79 members condemned the political portion of the speech and answer.

Pending the abortive movements of Wilkinson and Hampton in Nov. 1813, in Northeastern New York and on the Canadian border, a portion of the militia of the third brigade and the third division of Vermont militia, under Lieut. Colonel Luther Dixon, crossed the lake into New York, and put themselves under the command of Hampton. This was contrary to the views of Governor Chittenden as already referred to. The said third brigade had been called out by Gen. Elias Fassett from the district of his command in October, in view of the removal of Hampton's army to the Cognawaga to join Wilkinson, which left the Champlain defenceless. When Hampton returned from his advanced position as heretofore stated, and brought his army to Chazy, the necessity of retaining the Vermont militia at Plattsburgh had passed; Vermont was exposed and there was much discontent at the absence of the militia from the State. Under these circumstances Gov. Chittenden on Nov. 10, 1813, issued the following proclamation.

"A PROCLAMATION.

"Whereas, it appears that the Third Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of this State has been ordered from our frontiers to the defence of a neighboring State: And whereas it further appears, to the extreme regret of the Captain General,