The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-02-26

sices,ior the ingenuity OF her degenerate sons
the vulgar artifcers Of the East, in fabricat
ing brogans, Kentucky jeans, negro cloths
cotton glnsand bagging, wooden clocks ant
wire mousetraps, as well as for their ponc
tuality in paying Southern gentlemen for thei
cotton and tobacco. As it is, however, Massa
chusetts must be content TO wear sackcloth
and sit in darkness, consoling herself as she
may,by dreaming ofthe gentleman's unspoken
eulogy, until some more suspicious and lOngeI
houi shallenable him to bestow upon her the
cheering encouragement of suchjust measure
of commentator as, upon strict and impair
tial scrutiny, he shall adjudge her to merit.
| regret, sir, that instead of indulging in a
course ofremark calculated neither TO con-
vince nor persuade, the gentleman had not
thought proper to give us the assistance of
his eminent talents in discussing the question
of expediency. We should then have had
this point presented in the fairest light, for
give the gentleman credit for the ability TO
make the most Of the argument; and
am persuaded that his frankness and sincerity
would have scorned to skulk from an avowa
of the reasons which are most conclusive in
the minds Of the jealous and influential advo-
Gates of annexation.
The history ofthe State which l, with my
colleagues, have the honor 10 represent. has
been appealed TO in a manner which seems
to call for some notice on The part of her del
eSation.
1t has been assumed, with great apparent
confidence, that the admission Of Vermont to
/ the American Union is a parallel case 10 the
proposed annexation of Texas, and therefore
sanctions that measure by the authority of a
venerable precedent. But there is not the
smallest analogy between the cases. A sufi-
cient distinction is 10 be found in the single
fact, that by the treaty ofl7S3, which recog-
nized the Independence. and fixed the boun-
daries ofthe Union,the United States claimed,
and Great Britain conceded TO them, urisdic-
. ton over the territory of Vermont. The u
nited States never surrendered this claim, or
recognized the independence Of Vermont
and her admission was merely the erection Of
a portion Of the territory of The United States
into confederate State. Thus far, then, the
case is not distinguishabe in principle from
that OF the States afterwards formed in The
Northwest Territory; and the fact that, in
the latter case, the soil was the prop
eriy of the nation, is unmportant, be-
cause of the right of jurisdiction and terri
tory is independent of the fee, and may and
often does exist without it. But the argu-
nent by no means rests on the single fact
alone 10 which have adverted. The terri
tory Of Vermont was originally claimed by
both New Hampshire and New York. New
Hampshire had made extensive grants of
land in the disputed district, before it was de-
termined by royal ordnancein l767 TO belong
to New York. New York then attempted TO
set aside the grants which had been made by
New Hampshire. This was resisted by the
grantees, who, however, were willing TO sub
init to the jurisdiction of New York, provided
the New Hampshire grants were confirmed.
The jurisdiction of New York was in fact
extended overthe territory in question. Coun-
ties were organized, and courts established,
by the provincial legislature Of New York,
and delegates were sent 10 that body by the
people of these new counties. 1t was only
upon the often repeated refusal of New York
10 recognize ;;, 'i4 ;aiJ; ;; v Inc New Hamp-
shire grants. and her dissent from the resolu-
tons Of the Provincial Congress Of IVA, that
the inhabitants of Vermont resolved 10 de-
clare themselves independent.
The first resistance 10 the authority of the
roval courts W thin the jurisdiction of New
Y ork took place in,he n. Hampshire Grants,
and was occasioned by the dissatisfaction of
the inhabitants OF the Grants with the refusal
Of New York TO adopt the resolutions of the
Provincial Congress. CThompson's Civil
History of Vermont, PEI Vermont thus
early gave proof Of her attachment to the
principles and cause of American liberty, and
the Green Mountain boys. 10 whom Ticon,.
dercga surrendered in l975. acted, as their
heroic commander declared, under 1.-The au-
ihority of the great Jehovah aud the Cont
mental Congress- As an intregal part ofthe
State of New York, Vermont was a member
of the Confederation, and through the whole
Revolutionary struggle she recognized the
authority of Congress, and annually renewed
her application 10 that body for admisslnnin-
TO the Union. vermont State papers, %,
Ga, 81, 50, 20, ~, 70, and elsewhere.) The
Constitution adopted by Vermont in lII7,
provides for the election ofdeegates to Con-
gress, ibid PAS. as does also that revised by
her Council of Censors in 1855, ibid 81,
526. Various acts of the Legislature pro-
vided for the punishment of treason against
the United States, [ibid 293, Alb, Ala, Ais.
BY resolutions Of Congress, on The 9Th and
Goth Tor 2lstl Of August, 1871, the faith of
that body was pledged TO the admission OF
Vermont, ibid Isl, l59; see also the report
of committee of Congress, ibid 10, III.
Vermont acceded TO the conditions imposed
by those resolutions. by the advice of Gen.
Washington, Gbid 167, 16s, leo y and though
Congress most unjustifably refused to redeem
the pledge, yet the resolutions of the 9TH and
goth of August, 17sl, and the acceptance Of
their conditions by Vermont, must be con-
sidered as constituting a compact, which Ell
Their party had right to enforce. The phra-
seolosy of the Constitution was altered, as
we learn from the Madison Papeis, by sub
shutting the word jurisdiction for 4" limits"
for the very purpose of meeting the case of
Vermont. The application Of Vermont for
admission TO the Union was renewed soon af-
tel the adoption of the Federal Constitution,
and the only obstacle which had ever existed
being removed by the formal consent Of New
York, she was admitted at the same time,
and upon the same principles as Kentucky.
and the obligations of the General Govern
ment were thus at length, though tardily, full
filed.
The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ken
nedy) remarked, in his very able speech, a
very important fact, which is entirely conclu-
sve in regard to the views of all parties, as to
the relation in which Vermont stood to the
Union. Her Senators and Representatives
| were ;nmediafeIU admitted to their seats,