Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

ANSWER. To the Legislature of the State of Vermont

GENTLEMEN,

YOUR address of the twenty fourth of October, has been forwarded to me, as you desired, by his Excellency Isaac Tichenor, your worthy Governor. Among all the addresses, which have been presented to me from communities, corporations, towns, cities and legislatures, there has been none more acceptable to me, or which has affected my sensibility or commanded my gratitude more, than this very sentimental compliment from the Legislature of Vermont; a state, which, within my memory, has been converted from a wilderness to a fruitful field. Knowing. as I do, your origin and progress, the brave, hardy, industrious and temperate character of the people, the approbation of their representatives, their attachment to the constitution and determination to support the government, are the more to be esteemed.

While we truly consider government, as the association of the honest, the pious and the peaceable, to protect themselves from the wickedness of the dishonest, the impious and unruly, we should never forget, that government, at the same time, ought to protect the dishonest, the impious and unruly, not only from the fraud and the fury of each other, but from the errors, mistakes and weakness of the honest and pious. There is too much truth in your observation, that the most excellent governments have had their archives disgraced with impediments of opposition and frequent insurrections. The true cause of it is, that while the honest and pious are always disposed to submit to good government, and choose the mildest, the dishonest and impious take advantage of the feeble restraint, to commit mischief, because it can be done with impunity. This in course introduces the necessity of severer curbs for the wicked, and then the sordid animal becomes too tame under the curb, the lash, and the spur. While a tenderness of blood and a respect for human life is preserved among the people, however, there is not much danger, even from tumults. This maxim preserved the Romans, who, for four hundred years, never shed the blood of a man in a sedition. An example worthy the contemplation and imitation of all other republics.

The French have rendered it impossible for us to follow them in their notions and projects of government, or to submit to their arbitrary conduct and extravagant expectations to us; we must therefore defend ourselves against all they can attempt. It is not possible for my fellow-citizens to say any thing more glorious or delightful to me, than that they regard me, because they love their country.

JOHN ADAMS.
Philadelphia, November 30th, 1798.