Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-03


10 his Eceeliency CHARLES PAINE.
Aitet receiving the appointment to investigate
the facts, and ascertain whether this state has u
Just claim upon the Government OF the United
States, for expenses incurred during the lie olu-
tionlry War; examined the journals OF the Coun-
Gil of Safety from the 18th OF August, A. -. l777,
to the l2tn March, A. y. l71S. There being no
pr,n.el journals of the General Assembly, or OF the
Council or acts of the Legislature, to be found in
the State department previous to the February scs-
sion, A. d. l7o1, therefore examined the manu-
script journals of the House and Council, and acts
of Assembly, where the printed documents could
not be fouiI, up to and including the session of the
Gene al Assembly, \. y. 1894. This being accom-
pushed, | commenced the examination OF the BOOKS
and manuscript plpcrs in the State and Treasurer's
departments for the purpose Of ascertaning wheth
er the several reports OF Auditors, Pay-Iable Com
mee, and reports OF committees on the part Of the
General Assembly, C0inmssary General, and Pay
Master General could he found. | have not been
abc T. iind ali the reports Of the Pay-Table Com
Inttec, nor the annual report Of the committee APP
pointed from time 10 time to settle with the Treas
urcr M documents can be found, connected with
the Auditors department. previous to A. ID. le0S.-
The CoHBisslIy Generals and Pay Master Gener-
ais books Pre- not yet discovered. No records o.
the Surveyor General are III the State department
| then commenced the examination Ct the files in
the IIea5urors department, separating the vouchers
for military expenditures from others. Such voucl-
by themselves. found the orders drawn on the
Treasurer, by proper authority for military services
and expenditures, including sums directed to be
paid by the House of Representatives, also by the
Governor ANA Council and Board OF War to be
equal t. FIVE hundred thousand dollars exclusive of
interest and exclusive of property destroyed by the
enemy.
Vermont being admitted into the Union March
9TH, A. d. 1901, the General Assembly Of this State
Nov. Sd, A. d. l79l, appointed Commissioners to
ascertain the expenses Of this State in the prosecu
ton Of the Revolutionary Wlr. Hon Isaac Tiche-
nor, Gen. Ira Allen, and benjamin Green, Esq. were
appointed Commissioners to collect and arrange ali
the amounts Of the said expenditures occasioned by
thc war. Gen. Ira Allen appointed Secretary
ard Treasurer, 9th of January, A. ID l776, by con
yentlon, and remained Treasurer until October ses-
sion, A. D. l7S6 1t appears from the journals Of
the General Assembly that no final settlement was
made with said Gen. Allen, until the 25th of Octo-
Der, A. D. 1852. The settlement not being made
is the probable cause of the Commissioners on the
part OF this State neglectng to make up the amour,
of the said expenditures. Therefore no accounts
for Revolutionary expenditures were presented to
Congress, December, A. ID. 1872, agreeable to the
act of Congress, passed 2;}d January, A. d. 1892
giving Vermont right so to Go. Congress there
fore found 1t necessary, for the purpose Of enabling
the Co nmissioners OH the part of the United States
to complete settlement between the several States
and the United States, to pass law, February 9th |
passed 23I January, A. d. 1892, giving Vermont
right to present her claim Ill December following.
Alter thus examining the documents and files IL !
the State and Trelsurcrs departments, also the fe !
Iort o, the Board Of Commissioners appointed to |
settle the accounts Of the several States with the
UnteI States, ontertlined serious doubts wheth |
er tttcT the vouchers being carefully eXamin
Q |, the sum eXpenled would amount to a sum sul |
cca; to make Vermont creditor State, had she |
presented her claim in December, A. b. 1892.
In making this examination, discovered many |
well authenticated manuscript papers, which go to |
make up the do!ngs Of the various conventions OF !
the people, well as the doings Of the Council OF |
Safety, previous u the 18th OF August, A. ID. M,
Of which we have record in State depart
lnent. | also discovered many copies Of letters
written in Council of Safety, to officers command
ing in the northern department. and to military Off
in this State, which ledm to believe that Yer
mont was entitled to the credit Of performing more
AMI greater military operations, in the northen de-
p0rment, than all the other military operations III
this department put together.
After making these various discoveries, as far as
practicable endeavored to ascertain wherein we
de- ,ci2nt, il onr State department, in proper
and necessary documents, IN order to make com !
pete history Of the proceedings Of the people il
this State in their several COW entions, ana the pro-
ceedngs Of tn various Councils Of Safety previous
t. the 18th March, A. d. l17c; which deficiencies
were rumerous,--yet from various sources, | had
TOO reason to DCiieVe these could be supplied.
therefore, after consulting with several distinguished
gentlemen, as to what best uader existing cir
cunlstances concluded to collect and arrange all
amounts Of the expenditures occasoned by and on
account Of the Revolutionary War. l have nearly
completed copying the pay rolls, md shall proceed
in copying each voucher as fast as practicable as
well as doings Of the General Assembly, Governor
and Council and Board of War, making appropria
tons for military services and expenditures. have
written 10 sixty town clerks, residing in towns which,
by the law of this State, passed at Westminster,
March Sth a. ID. 1880, were authorized to tax them
selves for the purpose of carrying on the war, and
Tor supplying town stock OF amrnun.tlon,-reques-
ting each town clerk to copy all warnings and pro-
ceedings of his town connected with the same.
considered it necessary to procure and arrange
as far as possible, the documentary history mme-
diately connected with the military operations Of
this State during the Revolutionary War. ] there
FORE on the first day of June last, proceeded to |
Concord, N II. At the Secretary of States office
found the manuscript papers, before and during
the war, well arranged, according TO dates, and
neatly bound into proper sized volumes On ma
king my business known, | was kindly received
and every facility gratuitously rendered, by which
means, III nine days examined SAID manuscript pa
pers, and completed an index of such documents
&C had an immediate reference to this State. | |
spent one day at Dunbarton with Major Caleb Stark,
grandson Of General Stark, examining one bound
volume of manuscript letters, written and received
by Gen. Stark during the war; particularly such let
tiers as were written and received during the time
he was on his way to Bennington August, A. ID. |
l777, as well as during the time he had command
in the northern department
From Concord proceeded to Boston At the
State department found the documents well ar
ranged, with an index to each volume The Rev.
Mr.. Felt has for several years been employed in
arranging and binding the manuscript papers in
The State department. Mr. Felt kindly aided me in
selecting the necessary docmeuns in relation to the
military operations in the northern department, so
far as Vermont was concerned At this office
completed an index of the documents in relation TO
taking Ticonderoga and st. Johns, amount of prop
erty taken, surrender of 1ioonderoga battles at
llubbardton and Bennington, surrender 'f Bur
goync, and all doings herewith connected. called