NAVAL FORCES ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

BATTLE AT PLATTSBURGH.

pecting an attack by land, and, after an General Macomb; the main northern araction of ten minutes, they surrendered my having marched to the westward. On themselves prisoners of war. The Amer- the 7th of September, the enemy appearican force engaged was 102, and the num-ed before Plattsburgh, and were employed ber of prisoners taken and sent to Bur-in getting on their battering train, erectlington, was 101. Nine of the enemy ing batteries, and in skirmishes with the were killed, and 14 wounded. The army Americans, but did not make a general under Gen. Hampton engaged with the assault till the arrival of their flotilla. enemy at Chateauguay, on the 26th of October, but being unsuccessful, and the season far advanced, he soon after returned into winter quarters, at Plattsburgh.

A brigade of Vermont militia, which had been drafted into the service of the United States, and marched to Plattsburgh, were on the 10th of November, discharged from service by a proclamation of Gov. Chittenden, and ordered to return home. To this order the officers of said brigade, refused obedience, and returned a written protest against it. The militia, however, returned before their time of service was expired, and no further notice was taken of the transaction. Commodore Macdonough went into winter quarters at Otter Creek, with his flotilla, on the 19th of December. Thus terminated the northern campaign, for 1813.

In the mean time every effort was made to call in the neighboring militia. Expresses were sent into Vermont, and the Green Mountain Boys,without distinction of party, shouldered their guns and hastened forward to repel the invasion; and in the part which they took in the subsequent conflict, they nobly sustained their high character for firmness and bravery. The American land force, however, continued much inferior to that of the British. The British force upon the lake was also superior to the American. It was commanded by Commodore Downie, and consisted of a frigate of 39 guns, a brig of 16, two sloops of 11 guns each, and 13 gun-boats, carrying 18 guns, amounting in the whole to 95 guns, and manned by 1050 men. The American force under Commodore Macdonough, consisted of the Saratoga, of 26 guns, the Eagle, of 20, Ticonderoga, of 17, the Preble, of 7, and 10 gun-boats, carrying 16 guns, amounting in the whole to 86, and manned by 820 men.

In the spring of 1814, the northern army, having been placed under General Wilkinson, advanced from Plattsburgh along the west side of the lake, and entered Canada. After an unsuccessful attack upon the stone mills at Lacole, and As it was generally understood to be some other skirmishes, in which the the intention of the British to make an Americans lost about 100 men in killed attack both by land and water, at the and wounded, they found it necessary to same time, Com. Macdonough determinretreat. In the mean time Commodore ed to await the approach of the enemy's Macdonough was making every effort to squadron, at anchor in Plattsburgh Bay. get in readiness in Otter Creek, a suffici- Early in the morning of the 11th of Sepent naval force to match that of the ene-tember, the lookout boat announced the my upon the lake. On the 14th of May, the enemy's fleet, consisting of a brig, 3 sloops, and 13 gallies, passed up the lake, and opened a spirited fire upon the battery, at the mouth of Otter Creek, with a view of forcing their way up the creek and destroying the American ship ping before it should be ready for service. But in this they were unsuccessful. They were repulsed by the garrison, and the Vermont militia, and soon after returned to the northward.

About the last of May, Commodore Macdonough entered the lake with his flotilla and proceeded to Plattsburgh, and afterwards advanced nearer the line, but nothing of consequence occurred on the lake till the latter part of the season. About the first of September, Governor Prevost entered the territory of the United States, at the head of 14,000 men and advanced towards Plattsburgh, which was garrisoned by only one brigade, under

approach of the enemy, and about 9 o'clock, they anchored in a line about 300 yards from the American squadron. In this situation the whole force on both sides became engaged. The conflict was exceedingly obstinate; the enemy fought with great bravery, but the superiority of the American gunnery prevailed over the enemy's superior force. After an action of two hours and 20 minutes, the fire of the enemy was silenced, and her frigate, brig and two sloops were surrendered to the Americans. Some of their gallies were sunk, and the others made their escape. The British lost in this action, 84 killed and, 116 wounded. Among the killed were Commodore Downie, and three lieutenants. The American loss was 52 killed, and 58 wounded. Among the former were lieutenants, Gamble and Stansbury.

The commencement of the naval action seemed to be the signal for a general

assault by land. The enemy opened | timents of his excellency with regard to

COLD SEASON.

pective plenipotentiaries. The tumults of war now ceased-the gloom which overhung our land was dispersed, and all were rejoiced to see our soldiers re-converted into citizens-our implements of war into instruments of husbandry, and to hear the peaceful hum of business instead of the roar of cannon and the trum-sumed much time, and often given rise to pet of war.

AVAILS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS.

GOV. VAN NESS.

GEN. LAFAYETTE.

man blood, and instructing their senators | legislature to the immediate concerns of and representatives in Congress, to exert their influence and use all legal measures to prevent it.

the state, but was not sensible that any material alteration in the laws were at that time demanded. He discouraged all change which was not particularly necessary, as producing uncertainty in law, and thereby occasioning perplexing and expensive law suits. An act was passed at this session prohibiting horse-racing, under a penalty of the forfeiture of the horses and money staked; but few alterations were made in the existing laws.

In 1821, Mr Skinner was again elected governor. In his speech, the governor informed the assembly that he had received communications from Maryland and New Hampshire, respecting the appropriation of the public lands belonging to the United States, to the several states for the benefit of education, and said that the people of Vermont "could feel no deli- In 1824 Mr. Van Ness was re-elected cacy in making a claim of this kind, for governor without opposition. In complino one of the United States, in proportion ance with the recommendation of the to their ability, contributed more to the governor, an act was passed at this session, acquisition of those rights, which were giving the choice of electors of president purchased by the toil, distresses and sac- and vice president to the people by a genrifices of the revolutionary war. Situa-eral ticket. General La Fayette having ted on the frontier, they constituted the barrier between the enemy and the confederated states. Not having been acknowledged as a member of the confederation, no part of the expense they incurred in the war has been assumed by the general government, while they have participated in the burden of the public debt." In conformity with these suggestions, resolutions were passed declaring the right of each of the states to a participation in the benefits of the public lands and requesting our delegation in Congress to use their endeavors to procure the passage of an act appropriating to the use of the state of Vermont, for the purposes of education, such portion of the public lands as should be equitable and just.

Mr. Skinner was again elected governor in 1822. In his speech he called the attention of the legislature particularly to the subject of manufactures. The committee on manufactures to whom this part of his excellency's speech was referred, made a report, in which they say, "Vermont can raise as fine wool as any quarter of the globe, and her mountains roll down their thousand streams to aid us in its manufacture. It also abounds in ores, and minerals, and forests upon which the industry and ingenuity of our citizens might operate with great advantage, could sufficient capital be allured to these objects by the patronage of our laws." In compliance with a recommendation of the governor an act was passed declaring all contracts void where interest should be taken, or secured, at a higher rate than six per cent. per annum.

Mr. Skinner having signified his wish no longer to be considered a candidate for the office of governor, at the meeting of the legislature in 1823, Mr. Van Ness was found to be elected in his stead. In his speech he invited the attention of the

arrived in this country on the 17th of August, a committee of the legislature reported that "as a nation we owed to him a debt of gratitude, and that Vermont, in common with her sister states, would rejoice in an opportunity of manifesting it." A resolution was accordingly passed requesting the governor, in behalf of the people of this state, to invite General La Fayette to extend his tour into Vermont, and honor its citizens with his presence. On the 28th of June 1825, La Fayette entered Vermont for the first time at Windsor, where he was joyfully received by the governor, and a numerous body of citizens assembled to welcome the early benefactor of their country. From Windsor he proceeded by the way of Montpelier to Burlington, and was every where received with the warmest affection and gratitude, and with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of admiration and applause.

Mr. Van Ness was again chosen governor in 1825, and in his communication to the assembly he invited their attention particularly to the subject of internal improvements. A board of canal commissioners was appointed and five hundred dollars were appropriated to defray their expenses. It was made the duty of these commissioners to assist any engineers, who might be employed by the general government to ascertain the most practicable routes for canals within this state. The great objects contemplated were, the improvement of the navigation of Con-. necticut river and the connexion of that river with lake Champlain and lake Memphremagog by means of canals. The law setting forth the principles upon which the grand list for the assessment of taxes in this state, should be made out, was repealed at this session, and a new law upon this subject enacted. By this act it was

PLAN OF EDUCATION.

provided that there should be an appraisal of real estate once in five years and that it should be set in the list at the rate of four per cent for buildings and village lots, and six per cent for other real estate, on its appraised value, and to this the rates of personal property are calculated to correspond.

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ORIGIN OF ANTI-MASONRY.

In 1829, Mr. Crafts was again chosen governor by the votes of the freemen. Among the subjects which came before the assembly was a resolution of the legislature of South Corolina, declaring that Congress had no constitutional power to lay duties on imports for the encouragement of domestic manufactures, or for internal improvements; and also communications from Georgia, Virginia and Missouri, sanctioning the same principles. The legislature disposed of this matter by resolving that they would not concur with the South Carolina resolution.

Mr Van Ness having signified his wish no longer to receive the suffrages of his fellow citizens, Mr. Butler was, in 1826, elected governor of the state. In his speech he called the attention of the assembly to the subject of lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets in this state; in consideration of which, an act was passed, prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets without a licence under the penalty of a heavy fine. Mr. Butler was again elected governor in 1827. He now invited the attention of the legislature to the existing laws on the subject of education, and recommended the appointment, in each town or county, of commissioners for the examination of teachers and for the general superintendence of schools. In consequence of these suggestions,a general plan of education was adopted, designed for the improvement of schools, and for producing uniformity in the methods of instruction. It provided that a superintending committee should be appointed annually in each town, and that no teachers should be employed in the public schools, who had not been examined by said committee, and who had not received from them a certificate of their qualifications for teaching. It also provided for the appointment of five school commissioners, whose business it should be to have a general supervision of the business of education in the state, procure and cir-year 1829. culate information on the subject, recommend suitable books to be used in schools, ascertain if any alteration in the law be necessary, and make an annual report to the legislature.

nor.

As already observed, on the return of peace in 1815, party spirit rapidly subsided, and for several years a remarkable unanimity of sentiment with regard to men and measures prevailed. After the election of Mr. Adams to the presidency, in 1825, an organized opposition was formed to his administration by the friends of the rival candidates, who succeeded in 1829, in elevating General Jackson to that office, in opposition to the incumbent. These two great divisions of the people were founded chiefly in a preference of particular men, and not in a difference of political principles. The abduction of William Morgan, in 1826, for divulging the secrets of masonry, gave rise to another party, founded in opposition to the principles of masonry, and which is hence called the anti-masonic party. And thinking it to be the most effectual way to put down an institution which they believed to be dangerous to the community, they made it a part of their political creed that no adhering mason should receive their support for office. This party was not distinctly organized in Vermont till the

The year 1830 was distinguished for an unusual quantity of rain, and the month of July, of this year, for one of the most general and destructive freshets ever known in the state. By this freshet many lives were lost, and property, consisting of mills, bridges, buildings and crops, was destroyed, almost beyond calculation.*

In 1828, Mr. Crafts was elected goverIn his speech he congratulated his fellow citizens upon the unrivalled prosperity of the country-declared their advance in population and resources to be When the legislature came together in unprecedented in the history of man- October, it was found that three candiand the means of happiness within their dates for governor had been supported, power to be more abundant than ever fell and that no election had been made by the to the lot of any other people. The leg-people. Mr. Crafts, the national repubislature this year passed a resolution re- lican and masonic candidate, received quiring their senators and representatives 13,486 votes; Mr. Palmer, the anti-main Congress to use all justifiable means to procure the passage of an act granting pensions to all American citizens, without regard to their present circumstances, who served during the war of the

revolution.

sonic candidate, had 10,925, and Mr. Meech, the administration candidate, had 6,285. The choice devolving upon the

first, Chap. 1., and in part third, article New Ha* Some account of this freshet may be seen in part

ven.