Vermont: A Study of IndependenceRobinson, Rowland Evans
History
Vermont: A Study of Independence
Robinson, Rowland Evans
Vermont -- History
Most of the leaders of the
opposition to Vermont in the county, and the principal officers of the
New York regiment, were arrested, taken to Westminster, where the court
was in session, and tried as rioters. Most of them were fined, and upon
payment of the fines, which were light, and satisfying the costs, were
soon discharged.
Complaint was, of course, made to Governor Clinton, and he in turned
complained to Congress; and while New York was pressing upon that body
its grievances, and its claims to the Grants, New Hampshire presented a
counter-claim to the same region. Congress appointed a committee of five
to visit the district, to confer with the people and learn their reasons
for refusing to submit to the claiming States, and to promote an
amicable adjustment of the dispute. Only two of the committee visited
Vermont, and though they conferred with Governor Chittenden, and exerted
themselves to bring about a reconciliation, their report to Congress was
not acted upon, as they did not constitute a quorum of the committee.
Massachusetts now set up a claim to the southern portion of Vermont,
founded on an ancient grant of the Plymouth Company. Congress urged the
three contesting States to submit the matter to itself for adjustment,
though Vermont, whose very life was at stake, was to have a hearing, but
no voice in the settlement of the difficulty. Its unacknowledged
government was enjoined to make no more grants of unoccupied lands, and
to exercise no authority over those inhabitants who did not recognize
it, while it patiently and silently awaited such dismemberment of its
territory as Congress should decree. New Hampshire and New York
promptly passed acts submitting the matter to Congress, but
Massachusetts failed to take such action.
Vermont refused to submit to the jurisdiction of the three claiming
States, and to an arbitrament that ignored her existence, but resolved
to "Support their right to independence at Congress and to all the
world," and to make grants of her unappropriated lands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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