gainſt them. No alternative was preſented but
reſiſtance, or unconditional ſubmiſſion. Between
theſe could be no heſitation. They cloſed in the
appeal to arms. They declared themſelves
independent ſtates. They confederated together into
one great republic; thus ſecuring to every ſtate
the benefit of an union of their whole force. In
each ſtate ſeparately a new form of government
was eſtabliſhed. Of ours particularly the following
are the outlines. The executive powers are
lodged in the hands of a governor, choſen
annually, and incapable of acting more than three
years in ſeven. He is aſſiſted by a council of
eight members. The judiciary powers are
divided among ſeveral courts, as will be hereafter
explained. Legiſlation is exerciſed by two houſſes
of aſſembly, the one called the houſe of
delegates, compoſed of two members from each county,
choſen annually by the citizens poſſeſſing an
eſtate for life in 100 acres of uninhabited land, or
25 acres with a houſe on it, or in a houſe or lot in
ſome town: the other called the ſenate, conſiſting
of 24 members, choſen quadrenially by the
ſame electors, who for this purpoſe are diſtributed
into 24 diſtricts. The concurrence of both houſes
is neceſſary to the paſſage of a law. They have
the appointment of the governor and council, the
judges of the ſuperior courts, auditors, attorney-general,
treaſurer, regiſter of the land office, and
delegates to congreſs. As the diſmemberment
of the ſtate had never had its confirmation, but, on
the contrary, had always been the ſubject of
proteſtation and complaint, that it might never be in
our power to raiſe ſcruples on that ſubject, or to
diſturb the harmony of our new confederacy, the
W
