Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-14

soon as the different appointments, made
necessary for the exeeutio Of the decree
were completed by the united action of
the council, all the members, individual
ly, took an active part. And for many
hours, they might have been seen sitting
round the tables, silently and intently
engaged with their pens; some in drafting
dispatches to be sent ID New Hampshire
and Massachusetts, some in writing conf
dental letters unfolding their plan, and
asking the cooperation Of the leading men
in the different parts Of their own state,
and some in making out commissions for
the military officers, or the commissioners
and other officers of coLfscation; while
others were out, scattering themselves
about town, warily and cautiously inquir-
ing out prompt and trusty messengers, to
be despatched, as soon as it was dark,
simultaneously and post-haste, to convey
these important missives to their different
destinations round the country. And all
beingaccomplished,-the blow struck and
the machinery put in motion,-the.coun-
Gil concluded to adjourn, to meet again
in few days at Bennington, the interim
to be spent by them in repairing to their
respective spheres of influence among the
people, and there taking an active part
in defending and explaining their meas
ures, and assisting to carry them into ope-
ration.
Such was the origin of those temporary
tribunals in Vermont, subsequently termed
courts of confscation, which formed a
prominent feature in her early history.
and which furnished, it is believed, the
first example Of the exercise of this ex-
traordinary power ever known in the
United Colonies during the revolutionary
struggle. And whatever may have been
the effects of this retributive policy in
other states, its results here were salutary
and important. Itput an immediate stop tC
any further espousing Of British interests
especially among men of property, while
within the astonishingly short space of fif
teen days, it brought a regiment Of men
into the field, well armed and prepared
for instant serVice,-thus securing those
advantages to the defenders of liberty, in
the peculiar posture of affairs in which il
was introduced, and giving that impetus
/ to their military operations, without which
the brilliant successes that marked the
ensuing campain in Vermont could never
have been obtained Of this there can
scarcely be a doubt. And scarcely less
doubt can there be, that the important
measure in question would not have been
brought forward and adopted at the crisis.
in which alone the advantages it then Sc
cured could have been derived from it
but for its sole protector, the sagacious
scheming, and fearless Ira Allen.
Speculative writers have often amused
themselves in tracing great events to small
causes. And in this they have often
times so wonderfully succeeded, as tC
show, beyond the power of man to refute
some of the most trivial circumstances O
life, considered by themselves, to have
caused the revolution of empires. Were
we to make out an instance of this charac
ter, to be added to the many other re
markable ones which have been noted By
the curious, it should be done by tracin;
. the independence of America to the mea
sure which Allen so boldly projected, a
he walked his lonely chamber, on tn
eventful night we have described. Th
independence of the colonies was, at tina
dark crisis, balancing, as on a pivot; an
the success Of Burgoyne must seemingl
have turned the scale against us: Th
success of Burgoyne, at the same time
hung on a pivot also; and the victory {
Bennington, with all its numberless direC
and indirect consequences, as now seem
generally conceded, turned the scale {
his fortunes, when his success, otherwis,
could scarcely have been doubtful. Br
the victory of Bennington would neve
, have been achieved but for the decide
and energetic movement of Vernon
which alone secured the cooperation {
New Hampshire, or, at least, insured VII
tory, when, otherwise, no battle woul
= have been hazarded. And that essenti
movement Of Vermont would never hay
been made but for the bold and chara
. teristic project of Ira Allen.
All this, to be sure, is but suppositior
but who can gainsay its truthfulness.
e. ca A gentleman, in announcing
le willingness to take wife, declares thu