Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-11-24

But IL done fairly, of which we hive doubts we
know thai Allen published the work snon after the
war, in London, where hs had interests at stake
with The Brush Cover nment and, being man OF
expedency, 1t would he not at all unlikely that
he should deem it best not 10 tell the British TO
Their teeth, when he hud interests depending, that
he had made dupes OF them in the affair in which
he was principal negocntor but rather to let It
resi- MS no had conrived 10 make them understand
IL. But however all this may be, we know that
Ira Allen, after his return, repubished the sab.
stance of his history in Philadelphia, in numbers,
under the title of the Olive Branch, IN which he
explains the secret Of the intention of The YER
mont leaders to he, as far us regarded the British,
only TO procrastnate and keep off an invasion,
WINE lie gives not the least ininaiion that they
ever had the remotest idea Of forming the alIi-
unce which Col. Stone has charged them with
Wishing 10 form. Now, it Aliens testimony ut
tered III London, under his inducements to with
ho'd explanations, Is authority on this point it is
certainly as good authority when uttered in Amer
tea, when he had no inducements to keep back
any part Of the truth. To say the least, il CON-
peteIy neuirazes Col. Stones best evidence,
which, therefore, like his other testimony, leaves
wholly unsupported the charge OF toryism, conspi-
rncy aud treason, with which, in the lace of the
opinion OF every Other writer, he has attempted to
brand The untarnished names of the venerable
Governor Chittenden and his patriotic associates
II Gov Chlitenden was traitor, then was Gen.
Washington traitor and this leads us TO the
only other evidence we propose to introduce,
which, though abundance more could be adduced
will, we believe, be of itself amply sufficient to
place the matter at rest in the mind of every I'M
lpreJudlced person, whatever doubts and perplexi.
lies he may haye hitherto entertained on the sub.
Iject.
We repeat it boldly; for we here make the asser-
ton, tlut General Washington was ,conidenlially
and fully made acquainted, by these very men
themselves, from first to last, with the whole of
mat aedged reasonable negotiation ; that, keep
ing their secret, he acquesced, by his SILENCE ill
the object was answered., in their proceedings,
and even made his military dispositions, as we be-.
lieve it will be found, accordingly. The proof of
this is to he found in Wushugton's own hand
confirmed by his own signature in the secret cor.
respondence between him and Chittenden on the
very subject, which hitherto unpublished and I'm.
noticed on The catalogue, has recently been dis
covered IN The archives at Washington. This
Tact the several confidential letters from Chilten-
den to Washington, while the negotiation was go
ing on, fully made known. And this fact, the
long, Interesting, and contiding reply of Washing
ION, toward the close of the war, as folly acknow.
lodges. And IN this very familiar aud friendly
letter. though he raises doubts about the policy of
such movements as tending to raise false hopes
~ the enemy, and thereby induce them to pro-
long the contest, yet he repeatedly expresses his
entire confidence in the stead iastness of the YER
mont leaders in the cause OF freedom and wholly
eSonerules them from any hut the purest and
most patriotic motives. If Col. Stone will read
ms correspondence, copy Of which is in the
collection Of the Vermont Historical Society. he
VIII he convinced Of his error, unless, as we fear.
he is a man who