Hitherto, we have viewed the people of Vermont, only in their relation to the government of New-York; and, from a feeble infancy, have seen them gradually advance to the maturity of manhood, and commence a career in the character of an independent State.

The declaration of their independence, however, furnished occasion for new difficulties.

The original territory of New-Hampshire, consisted of sundry grants from the Council of New-England* to John Mason, made between the years 1621 and 1635; and was bounded on the west, by a line sixty miles from the sea. The territory between the Mason grant, as it was called, and Connecticut river, was, subsequently, granted, in virtue of royal commissions to the governors of New-Hampshire.

VERMONT had no sooner organized a government, than a strong disposition was manifested by many of the inhabitants, on the territory last mentioned, to dissolve their connexion with New-Hampshire, and unite with the people of Vermont. To justify the separation, it was contended" that all the lands, west of the Mason line, being royal grants, had been held in subjection to the government of New-Hampshire by force of the royal commissions, which were vacated by the assumed independence of the American Colonies; and, therefore, the inhabitants of those grants had reverted to a state of nature," and were at liberty to form a separate government, or connect themselves with such as would consent to a union.t

Accordingly, on the 12th of March, 1778, a petition from sixteen towns on the east side of Connecticut river, was presented to the Legislature of Vermont, praying to be admitted into its union.

The Legislature was greatly embarrassed by this application; and, finally, referred the decision of the question to the people; as appears by the following extract from the journals.

"Wednesday March 18th 1778.

Voted that the proposals and preliminaries exhibited to this house, by a committee, representing a number of towns on the New Hampshire grants, east of Connecticut river, relative to forming a union between said grants and this State, be laid before the people of this State, at large, for their consideration and determination."

*Several of the principal nobility of Great Britain; to whom, by the name of the Council of New England, had been granted "all the land in America, lying between the degree of 40 and 48. north latitude," by the name of New England.-1 Belknap, 301. + Belknap's history, of N. H.

Cornish,

Orford,

Lyman,

Lebanon

Piermont,

Apthorp,

Dresden,

Haverhill,

Eofield,

Line,

At the following session, in June, it appeared that a majority of the towns had voted for the union. Accordingly, the General Assembly admitted into union, the sixteen towns, as appears by the following extract from the journals.

"Thursday June 11th, 1778. Voted that the union take place-thirty seven in the affirmative, and twelve in the negative."

"Having thus effected their purpose, the sixteen towns announced to the government of New-Hampshire, that they had withdrawn from their jurisdiction, and wished to have a divisional line established, and a friendly correspondence kept up."*

Justly alarmed and incensed at these proceedings, the government of New-Hampshire made the following communications on the subject, to the delegates of that state, in Congress, and to the Governor of Vermont.

From President WEARE, to the New-Hampshire Delegates at Congress, EXETER, AUGUST 19, 1778.

GENTLEMEN,

By order of the council and assembly of this state, I am to inform you, that the pretended state of Vermont, not content with the limits of the New-Hampshire grants (so called) on the western side of Connecticut river, have extended their pretended jurisdiction over the river, and taken into union (as they phrase it) sixteen towns on the east side of Connecticut river, part of this state, and who can have no more pretence for their defection than any other towns in this state; the circumstances of which you are well acquainted with; and great pains are taking to persuade other towns to follow their example.

By the best information I have from that country, nearly one half of the people, in the revolted towns, are averse to the proceedings of the majority, who threaten to confiscate their estates, if they do not join with them; and I am very much afraid that the affair will end in the shedding of blood. Justices of the peace have been appointed and sworn into office in those towns, under the pretended authority of said Vermont; and persons sent to represent them there. I must not omit to let you know, that Col. Timothy Bedel, who has received great sums of money from congress, and their generals, under pretence of keeping some companies, last winter, and now a regiment, for the defence of that northern frontier, or to be in readiness for marching into Canada, (though very little service has been done, as I am informed) by influence of the money and his command, has occasioned a great share in the disorders in those towns. 'Tis wished by the more sober, solid people in that quarter, he could be removed for some other command, if he must be kept in pay and employed.

* Williams.

I am directed to desire you, on the receipt of this, to advise with some of the members of congress on this affair, and proceed, as you may judge expedient; and, after advising as aforesaid, to endeavour to obtain aid of congress, if you think they can, with propriety, take up the matter. Indeed, unless congress interfere, (whose adnionitions, I believe, will be obeyed) I know not what consequences will follow. It is very probable the sword will decide it, as the minority, in those towns, are claiming protection from this state, and they think themselves bound, by every tie, to afford it; and you know that every condescending measure has been used from the beginning of the schism, and rejected.

From President WEARE, to Governor CHITTENDEN. SIR, EXETER, AUGUST 22, 1778. Although I have had information that the people, settled on the NewHampshire grants, (so called) west of Connecticut river, had formed a plan for their future government, and elected you their first magistrate; yet, as they have not been admitted into the confederacy of the United States, as a separate, distinct body, I have omitted to address you, in your magistratical style, and not out of disrespect to you, or the people over whom you preside; which, in these circumstances, I doubt not, your candour will excuse, and that you will attend to the important subject of this address.

A paper has been laid before the general assembly, attested by Thomas Chandler, jun. as secretary of the state of Vermont, dated June 11, 1778, purporting a resolution of the general assembly of the state of Vermont, to receive into union with said state, sixteen towns on the east side of Connecticut river; and leave, or rather an invitation, to any towns, contiguous to those sixteen, to enter into the same union.

On which I am directed to represent to you, and to desire it may be laid before the representatives of your people, the intimation in said resolve, that the said sixteen towns are not connected with any state, with respect to their internal police,' is an idle phantom, a mere chimera, without the least shadow of reason for its support.

The town of Boston, in Massachusetts, or Hartford, in Connecticut, (if disposed) might, as rationally, evince their being unconnected with their respective states, as those sixteen towns their not being connected with New-Hampshire.

Were not those towns settled and cultivated, under the grant of the governor of New-Hampshire? Are they not within the lines thereof, as settled by the King of Great-Britain, prior to the present æra? Is there any ascertaining the boundaries between any of the United States of America, but by the lines formerly established by the authority of Great Britain? I am sure there is not. Did not the most of those towns send delegates to the convention of this state, in the year 1775? Have they not, from the commencement of the present war, applied to the state of New-Hampshire, for assistance and protection? It is well known, they did-and that New-Hampshire, at their own expence, hath supplied them with arms, ammunition, &c. to a very great amount, as well as paid soldiers for their particular defence; and all at their request, as members

of this state-Whence then, could this new doctrine, that they were not connected with us, originate? I earnestly desire that this matter may be seriously attended to; and I am persuaded the tendency thereof, will be to anarchy and confusion.

When I consider the circumstances of the people, west of Connecticut river, the difficulties they encountered in their first settlement, their late endeavours to organize government among themselves, and the uncertainty of their being admitted, as a separate state, into the confederacy of the United States, I am astonished that they should supply their enemies with arguments against them, by their connecting themselves with people, whose circumstances are wholly different from their own, and who are actually members of the state of New Hampshire.-A considerable number of inhabitants of those sixteeen towns (I am well informed) are entirely averse to a disunion with the state of New-Hampshire, and are about to apply to this state for protection; indeed, some have already applied. And are not the people in this state under every obligation, civil and sacred, to grant their brethren the needed defence?

I beseech you, Sir, for the sake of the people you preside over, and the said people, for the sake of their future peace and tranquility, to relinquish every connection, as a political body, with the towns on the east side of Connecticut river, who are members of the state of New-Hampshire, entitled to the same privileges as the other people of said state, from which there has never been any attempt to restrict them.

I am, Sir, with due respect,
Your obedient humble servant,

MESHECH WEARE,

President of the Council of the state of N. H.

Hon. THOMAS CHITTENDEN, Esq.

On the receipt of this letter, Governor Chittenden convened the Council; and Gen. Ethan Allen was requested to repair to Philadelphia, to ascertain, in what light the proceedings of Vermont were viewed by Congress.

On his return, Gen. Allen made the following report.

"To his Excellency the Governor, the Honourable the Council, and to the Representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly, met.*

GENTLEMEN,

The subscriber hereto, begs leave to make the following report, viz. By the desire of his Excellency, and at the request of several of the Members of the honourable the Council, to me made in September last, I have taken a journey to Philadelphia, in order to gain knowledge how the political situation of the State of Vermont stood, in the view of Congress; which I here exhibit.

On the 16th day of September last, I am informed by members of congress, that the delegates from the state of New-Hampshire exhibited to

* At this session of the Legislature, representatives from ten of the sixteen towns on the east side of Connecticut river, took their seats in the General Assembly.-Williams.

congress a remonstrance (which they had, previously, received from the council and assembly of said state) against the proceedings of the state of Vermont, with respect to their taking into union a number of towns, on the east side of Connecticut river, and in their inviting other towns to revolt from New-Hampshire; a copy of which I, herewith, exhibit: a matter which, they alledge, was incompatible with the right of NewHampshire, and an infringement on the confederacy of the United States of America; and, therefore, desired the congress to take the matter under consideration, and grant some order thereon, to prevent the effusion of blood, and the confusion and disorders which would, otherwise, inevitably ensue.

The delegates from New-York, at the same time, exhibited to congress sundry papers, containing allegations against the state of Vermont, which, after some altercations, were admitted; and it was agreed that the same, together with the remonstrance from the state of New-Hampshire, should be taken under consideration, on the afternoon of the 18th, by a committee of the whole house at which time it was moved to be brought for ward, but urgent business occasioned its being deferred to the 19th ; at which time I arrived at Philadelphia, and being, immediately, informed of the business by some of the members of congress, I used my influence against its being hastily determined ex parte; and particularly objected to the complaints from the states of New-Hampshire and New-York, their being both considered at the same time, alledging that they were of a very different nature. And, in consequence of this, together with my earnest request and application, I obtained assurance that the matter should not be brought to a decision, before I could have an opportunity to lay the matter before this people; as I had, previously, let the members of congress know, that the assembly of this state was to sit at this time; and I engaged to transmit the proceedings of this assembly to congress, as soon as they transpired, at their request.

The allegations, thrown by New-York, received a most severe shock on the perusal of my late pamphlet in answer to his Excellency Governor Clinton's proclamation, dated in February last, containing certain overtures to the inhabitants of this state; as well as from my large treatise on the nature and merit of the New-York claim, and their treatment to the inhabitants of this now state of Vermont. In fine, the New-York complaints will never prove of sufficient force in congress, to prevent the establishment of this state. But, from what I have heard and seen of the disapprobation, at congress, of the union with sundry towns, east of Connecticut river, I am sufficiently authorised to offer it as my opinion, that, except this state recede from such union, immediately, the whole power of the confederacy of the United States of America will join to annihilate the state of Vermont, and to vindicate the right of New-Hampshire, and to maintain, inviolate, the articles of confederation, which guarantee to each state their privileges and immunities.

Thus, gentlemen, I have given you a short representation of the political situation of this state, as it now stands in the general congress of the United-States of America, upon which I stake my honour.

Given under my hand, at Windsor, this 10th day of Oct. A. D. 1778. ETHAN ALLEN.”