Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-04-11

i
the Congress of the United States, to be
admitted into the Federal Union with them
upon the liberal principles of paying Just
proportion of the expenses OF the war with
Great Britain, have been rejected, and reso.
lutions passed exparte, tending to create
schisms in the State, and thereby embar'
rass its efforts in raising men and money
| for the defence of her frontiers, and dis
conntenancing the very existence of the
State. Every article belonging to the Uni
ted States, even to pick axes and spades
has been by Continental Commissioners
ordered out of this State, at time when
she was erecting line of forts on her from
tiers; at the same time the State of New
York evacuated the post of Skeensboro', for
the avowed purpose Of exposing this State
TO the ravages OF the common enemy.
The British officers IN New York being
acquainted with the public disputes between
this and the claiming States, and between
Congress and this State, made oyertures to
General Allen, in letter, projecting that
Vernon: should be colony under the
Crown of England, endeayoring at the same
time to draw the people of Vermont into
their interest. The same day Gen. Allen
received this letter (Which was in August
l7S0) he laid it before me and my council,
who, under the critical circumstances of the
State, advised that no answer, either oral
or written, should be returned, aud that the
letter should be safely deposited It'll fur
Their consideration, to which General Allen
consented.
A few months after, he received Il second
letter from the enemy, and the council ad-
yised that Gen. Allen should send both let
tiers TO Congress enclosed with a letter
under his signiture) which lie did, in hopes
that Congress would admit Vermont into
the Union; but they had not the desired eff
feet
In the fall of the year 1850, the British
made descent upon the Lake Champlain,
and captured the forts George and Ann,
and appeared in force on the Lake. This
occasioncd the militia OF this State, most
generally, TO go forth to defend it. Thus
the militia were encamped against the enc
my near SIX weeks, when Gen. Allen re-
ceiyed flag from them with an answer TO
my letter, dated the preceding July, to Gen.
Haldimand, on the subject Of an exchange
of prisoners. This flag delivered letter
TO General Allen, from the commanding Of
iicer OF the enemy, who were then at Grown
Point, with proposals for truce with the
State of Vermont, during the negotiating
the exchange of prisoners. General Allen
sent back flag of his, to the commanding
officer of the British, agreeing to the truce,
provided he would extend the same to the
frontier posts of the State of New York,
which was complied with, and truce took
place, which las:ed about three weeks. 1t
was chiefly owing to the military proves OF
the militia of this State. and the including
the State of New York III the truce, that
Albany and Schenectady had not fell sac
riice to the ambition of the enemy that
campaign.
Previous to the returning of the enemy
into winter quarters, Colonel Allen and Ma
jor Fay were commissioned to negotiate the
proposed exchange of prisoners, they pro-
ceeded so far as to treat with the British
Commissioners on the subject Of their mis-
sion, during which time they were inter-
changeably entertained with politics which
they treated in an affable manner as | have
been told Blu, no cartel was settled and
the campaign ended without the efiuson OF
blood
The Cabinet Council, in the course of
the succeeding winter, finding that the en-
envy in Canada were about 1000 strong, and
that Vermont must needs be their object
the ensuing campaign, circular letters were
sent from the supreme executive
authority of this State, to the claiming
States before mentioned, demanding ofthem
to rclinquish their claims to this State, and
inviting them to Join in solid Union and
Confederation against the common enemy.
Letters were also sent to your exceiiency,
and to the State of Connecticut and Rhode
Island. Every one Of these letters stated
the extreme circumstances OF this State, and
implored their aid and alliance, giving them
withal to understand, that it was out Of the
power of this State to lay in magazines, and
support body of men sufficient to defend
this State against the force of the enemy.
But to these letters there has been no man
ner of answer returned. From all which 1t
appeared that this State was devoted to de-
struction by the sword of the common enc
my. 1t appeared TO be the more unJustfia-
bic that the State of Vermont should be
thus forsook, inasmuch as her citizens
struck the first offensive blow against Brit
ish usurpation, by putting the Continent IN
possession of Ticonderoga, and more than
300 pieces of cannon, with Crown Point,
St. Johns, and all Lake Champlain, their
exerlions in defeating Gen. Carleton, in his
attempts to raise the siege OF ST. Johns,
their assisting IN penetrating Canada,-
their ualor in the Battles Of Hubbardton,
Bennington, and at the landing near Ticon-
deroga, assisting in the capture of General
Burgoyne, and BY being the principal bar
rer against the power of the enemy IN Can
ada ever since That the citizens of this
State have by nature an equal right to lib
erty and independence with the citizens Of
America in general, cannot be disputed !;
and that they have merited it from the u
nited States, by their exertions with them,
in bringing about the present glorious Rev.
olution, is as evident truth as any other
which respects the acquired right Of any
community. Generosity, merit and graft
tude all conspire in vindicating the hide
pendence of Vermont. - -sfo -i-
Z But, notwithstanding the arguments
which have been exhibited in sundry PamPh-
r - L.