Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-10

as this State hold their charter of liberty from
Heaven and not of man or the will Of man. have
upon full and candid examination and consde-
ration, determined not to submit Heaven.born free
dom to the arbitrament Of any tribunal below the
stars" This Republic took from the enemy q large
amount OF military stores, and expended more than
five hundred thousand dollars in defence of the u
nited Colonies, for which we have received no
compensation. Our fathers expended this money
more for the protection and benefit of the thirteen
American Colonies than for their own protection or
interest. Various acts of the Provincial Congress
go to show that they considered the New Hump
shire Grants separate, distinct and independent
Republic. Numerous are the instances in which the
Provincial Congress asked of this Republic asss-
lance to fight their enemy. 1t is also fact that
the Provincial Congress, through their President
and the commanding General of the American army,
did from time to time, ask from the Executive Cab
met of this State the performance of various i'm
portant trusts. They did ask permission of the Ex-
ecutve of this State TO arrest deserters from the
Continental army within our territory. Permission
was granted upon the condition that no deserter,
after being apprehended, should be taken out of
our territory, without fair hearing before prop
tribunal. They did refuse to lend their influence
to redeem our citizens who were prisoners in the
hands of their enemy. They did refuse to loan us
seven OF their prisoners in order to enable us to
make an exchange with their enemy for an equal
number OF our citizens after we had furnished
them with more than one thousand one hundred and
fifteen prisoners taken of their enemy, in order to
enable them to make an exchange with the enemy.
They did resolve TO move the cannon and other
military stores captured by the patriots of this
State, to the south end of Lake George, when in
our possession; and that the south end o. Lake
George should be the northern line of defence
Allen, the commander Of the Green Mountain
Boys, virtually refused to comply with said dishon-
orable arbitrary and tyTannical resolves. He sent
bis agent to the Provincial Congress with his SOL
emn protest against the removal of said cannon and
military stores to the south end of Lake George,
and against said place being established as the
northern line of defence. The Provincial Congress
thereupon reconsidered their former unjust resolve.
They virtually asked permission to move portion
Of the cannon from Tconderoga and Crown Point,
in order TO enable the commanding General to
drive their enemy from the town of Boston. II was
our cannon, placed at New Haven New London,
Groton, and Stonington, that bid defiance to the
rule of tyrants, 1t was our cannon that drove the
British from the town of Boston. 1t is fact that
Gen. Washington placed the most unbounded con-
hdence in the Cabinet and leading men in Vermont.
1t Is fact, that the commanding General of the A
merlcan army was made acquainted with the nee
essity Of the Cabinet Council of this State adopting
policy instead of power, and that he virtually APP
proved of the same. Approving of this policy, he
withdrew many regiments of Continental troops
from the northern department in order to aid the
southern army IN the capture OF Lord COrnW0IllS,
well knowing that the enemy, from seven to ten
thousand, were in Canada and at Crown Point and
Ticonderoga ready to lay waste the northern from
tier and believing that the Cabinet Council of the
Green Mountain Boys were capable of using de-
ceptlon to obtain Justice from the hands OF tyrants
for the benefit of the suffering American Colonies.
Yes on the receipt of the news of the surrender of
Lord CORVALLIS, the commanding General Of the
northern department issued general order for the
discharge of fourteen cannon, for each of the
thirteen Colonies and one in honor of the free and
Independent State of Vermont.
Whatever fathers expended on account of
the Revolutionary War, done an independ-
ent Republic, and in Independent manner us
that of France or Holland Therefore | am Of the
opinion that this State ought not to ask of the IN
tied States any remuneration other than in that
character. | do believe that the accompanying
documents will sustain every important fact al
luded to in the foregoing, and that we have an
equitable, Just and well founded claim against
the United States for a sum exceeding five hun
dred thousand dollars exclusive of interest excus-
! i've Of property destroyed by their enemy, excus-
! i've of military stores, more than three hundred
cannon, tons of balls, barrels of flints tons of
! powder, two hundred batteaux, and one sloop con-
tanning provisions and military stores, delivered
for the benefit of the Colonies. Again. for all these
services we have received no compensation, and
| been honored with only one gun.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
! am sir, your EXcellency's obedient servant,
HENRY STEVENS.
Barnet, Sept 81, 1912.