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That the territory called Vermont, as defined and limited in the resolutions of Congress, of the 20th and 21st of August, 1781, be, and it is hereby recognized, and acknowledged by the name of the state of Vermont, as free, sovereign, and independent, and that a committee be appointed, to treat and confer with the agents and delegates from said state, upon the terms, and mode of the admission' of said state, into the Federal Union."

When this report was read in Congress, the minds of the house were taken upon a motion, that the first Tuesday in October next be assigned for the consideration of the report, and the motion was negatived. It was then moved that the third Tuesday in June be assigned-negatived. Monday next was then named, and negatived.

These negatives upon the report of the committee, shewed to the delegates from Vermont, what they had to expect from Congress; they felt the embarrassments they had laid themselve under, by breaking off their connection with Canada, and abandoning their acquisitions on the part of New-Hampshire and New-York. They addressed a letter to the President of Congress; stated their disappoint, ment; requested to be informed when their attendance would be necessary; and departed for Vermont. The indignation of Vermont was kindled at this disappointment; they appointed other agents at their October session of assembly, with full powers, to be ready to obey the call of Congress; at the same time resolved to make no further applications to Congress; but to maintain and defend their own independence.

This double game which Congress had played, served to strengthen that union in Vermont, which had hitherto been, in some measure, divided by the interests and intrigues of the parties. There had been some instances of internal disaffection to the government, and these instances had

been severely censured; but the legislature, confident of their own strength, and desirous of promoting universal harmony, passed a general act of amnesty at their February session, 1781, which obliterated all remembrance of division, and united all parties in the common cause.

Vermont saw herself not only duped, but abandoned also by Congress, by the removal of all the continental troops; and thus left to herself to guard her extensive frontier. This she resolved to do, and voted that troops should be raised from the several towns, directly, in proportion to the number of inhabitants, per order of the legislature, at their February session; but this order was opposed by some of the southeasterly towns, who felt themselves secure from invasion: this opposition was encouraged, and supported by the governor of New-York, and several persons of influence defied the resolution of the assembly. The government of Vermont, firm to her purposes, and full of energy, sent a military force into this county, to enforce the laws, and protect the courts. This faction was suppressed, several were banished, others fined severely, and the laws were obeyed without the effusion of blood. The insurgents submitted to the laws, and at the same time preferred their complaints to Congress. Congress listened to their complaints, and referred them to a special committee; this committee reported, "that the measures complained of, were probably occasioned by the state of New-York, having granted commissions, both civil and military, to persons resident in Vermont, and that it be recommended to New-York, to revoke all the commissions which they have issued since the, month of May; and that it be recommended to the inhabitants, to make full satisfaction to the persons who had suffered damages; and that it be recommended to New-York, and to the people exercising government in Vermont, to adhere to the resolutions of Congress, of September 24th until a decision should be made upon their affairs."

. This report was lost; and on the 5th of December, Congress entered with spirit upon the subject of the complaint, and passed sundry resolves, in which they charge the people inhabiting the New-Hampshire Grants, with open violation of the acts of Congress, of the 24th of September, 1779, and June 2d, 1780, and with contempt to the government, and ordered them to recall the persons banished, and to make full, and ample restitution to the persons fined, and restore both, to the quiet possession of their liberty and property. They also threatened to, enforce a compliance with this resolve, in case of resistance. The government of Vermont returned as spirited a remonstrance against these resolves, reminded Congress of their subtle, evasive, and contradictory policy; (as before stated ;) asserted their own rights, as independent of Congress, and assured that honourable body, that the cause of America was the cause of Vermont, that the liberty and independence of both were equally dear; that both were equally determined to oppose all arbitrary power, from whatever source it may arise; that they were firm friends to the cause of the United States; and as firmly resolved to support the cause of Vermont.

parties continued to viThis peace guaranteed United States; and with

In this state of controversy the brate down to the peace of 1783. the liberty and independence of the that, Vermont considered her own liberty and independence fully guaranteed; she now felt herself in full possession of her great object, without being burthened with any part of that heavy debt the United States had incurred in support of the war.

The government of Vermont had at all times evinced to the world, that their talents and integrity were equal to the high trust and responsibility reposed in them, and thus commanded the full strength and confidence of the people. Free from debt, free from the perplexing calls and

embarrassments of Congress, to raise money to discharge the public debt, and support the public credit; mild in her government, and equally mild in her taxes, Vermont offered an assylum to all the oppressed; and the cheapness, as well as the excellent quality of her lands, invited settlers from all the Northern States. Thus situated, with such government and such a policy, Vermont increased in her wealth and population, in an unparalleled degree, and soon rose to a pitch of eminence, which was highly respected throughout the nation. In this state of eminence and respectability, she now shunned that connection with the Federal Government she had hitherto so anxiously sought, and became a spectator to those untried scenes, through which this feeble, this imbecile government of the nation had to pass. Disregarding the subject of a national impost; disregarding the Massachusetts insurrection' under Shays, she rejoiced in the rapid increase of her population, which flowed from these troubles, and waited the issue.

These embarrassments of the nation, called up their attention to the subject of a more efficient government, and their united efforts, produced that distinguished monument of national wisdom and virtue, the present Federal Constitution. Early under this new government, and even in the administration of the immortal Washington, a divided national interest, called for a firm and decided balance of national power, and this call was keenly felt when the question was agitated in Congress, whether it was expedient to remove the government from New-York to Philadelphia. New-York now saw the want of the votes of Vermont, to support her cause, and she felt herself constrained to yield to Vermont, from motives of interest, those claims she had hitherto 'refused upon principles of justice. New-York passed an act in July, 1789, appointing commissioners, with full powers, to settle all controversy with Vermont. The legislature of Vermont at their next October session,

met this overture of New-York, by appointing commissioners on her part, with equal powers: after several meetings of this joint commission, this unhappy controversy was amicably settled, and on the 7th of October, 1790, the commissioners of New-York, with proper authority, declared the consent of New-York, that Vermont should be admitted into the Federal Union, and that upon such admission, she would withdraw all her claims upon the territory, or jurisdiction of Vermont, as defined by resolve of Congress, August 21st, 1781; and that New-York will relinquish all right, claim, or title to such lands as she has heretofore granted, in Vermont, upon condition that the legislature of Vermont shall declare in 1792, that they will pay to New-York the sum of thirty thousand dollars, on or before the 1st day of January, 1794. The legislature of Vermont, on the 28th promptly met this demand, and voted that the treasurer be ordered to pay the sum of thirty thousand dollars, out of the treasury of the state, at the time before specified. They also declared all grants, charters, or patents of lands lying within the limits of Vermont, made by order of the late colony of New-York, to be null and void, excepting such as had confirmed the NewHampshire Grants.

The way being thus prepared, Vermont next called a convention to meet at Bennington, on the 6th of January, 1791, to take into consideration, the expediency of being connected in union with the thirteen United States. Peace was restored to the nation, and New-York had relinquished her claims; but the spirit of Vermont had not yet softened down to the standard of union: great was the opposition . at first, in this convention; but after the united efforts and labours of her first statesmen and orators, for three days, 'the convention became convinced, that the honour, the interest, and happiness of Vermont, demanded the union; VOE. F -51.