upon which their action was thus unexpectedly required. At length,
nowever, low murmurs of doubt or disapproval began to be heard; and
soon the expressions, "_unprecedented step!_"--"_doubtful policy!_"
and "_injury to the cause_" became distinguishable among the
over-prudent in different parts of the room when Matthew Lyon sprang
to his feet, and, bringing his broad palms together with a loud slap,
exultingly exclaimed,--

"The child is born, Mr, President! My head has been in a continual
fog, every hour since we convened, till the present moment; and I
could see no way by which we could even begin to do all that the
exigency required, without running against law, or distressing the
people. But now, thank God, I can see my way out. I can now see, at a
glance, how all can be speedily and righteously accomplished. I can
already see a regiment of our brave mountaineers in arms before me, as
the certain fruits of this bold, bright thought of our sagacious and
intrepid young colleague. Unprecedented step is it? It may be so with
us timid republicans but is it so with our enemies, who are this
moment threatening to crush us, because we object to receive their law
and precedent? How were they to obtain the lands of the half of
Vermont, which, it is said, they recently offered the lion-hearted
Ethan Allen, if he would join them, but by confiscating _our_ estates?
What has become of the estates of those in their own country, who,
like ourselves, have rebelled against their government? From time
immemorial they have been confiscated. Can they complain then, at our
following a precedent of their own setting? Can they complain because
_we_ adopt a measure, which, in case we are vanquished, they will not
be slow to visit on _our_ estates, to say nothing of our necks? Can
these recreant rascals themselves, who have left their property among
us, and gone off to help fasten this very government upon us, complain