The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-02-09

cody replied to them, that the gods of
the vallies are not the gods of the hills ,
and when asked by Kemp. the Kings at
torney. to explain his meaning. he only,
added. that If he would accompany him
to Bennington, the sense would be made
clear.
When the news of the proceedings at
Albany reached the grants. it created
loud murmurs of discomfort among the
people. A convention of the settlers
was held at Bennington, in which it was
Resolved, to support their rights and
property which they possessed under the
New Hampshire grants, against the usur-
patton and unjust claims Of the govern
1 OF and council of New York, By FORCE,
as law and justice were denied them. -
Having thus appealed to the last arbiter
of disputes, their resolution was follow
ed by spirited and determined resist
ance of the authority of New York, in
consequence Of which several of the set
tiers were indicted as rioters but the
officers sent to apprehend them '.were
seized by the people," says a writer of
that period, "and severely ehastiSed with
twigs of the wilderneSs!'
At this period, and for sometime after
wards. one of the most efficient support
ers of the authority of New York was
John Munro, who was proprietor of a
patent under that province, Tying upon
White Greek, and extending into what
is called SALISBURY Hollow. He held
the Office of jnstice of the peace for the
county OF Albany, and resided on his
patent near the west line of Salisbury.
He had about him number of tenants
and dependents. and by his boldness and
energy vi character was very trouble
some to the New Hampshire grantees
By his assistance, the sheriff of Albany
county surprised and arrested Silas Rob-
inson in Bennington, early in the morn
ing OF the 29ch of November, 1770,
and succeeded in conveying him to Al
bany, where he was imprisoned. At
the January term of the court in III,
he was indicted as a rioter, and kept IN
| Jail ill October, when he was liberated
on bail. Simeon Hathaway, Moses
Scott, and Jonathan Fisk were also in
dic;ed, but none of them were arrest
ed.
! Whenever the sheriff appeared upon
the grants for,the purpose OF arresting
rioters, or ejecting the settlers, he was
sure to be met by 3 paryy larger lha 1
his own, fully determined 10 frustra.e his
object. Being required to serve a writ
OF eiectment ON James Breckenrid ge,
the sheriff, by order of the governor.
called to his assistance posse OF 750
Earmed militia. The settlers having
timely knowledge of his approach, as
sembled to the number of about 800,
and arranged their plans to resist him.
An officer with Is men was placed In
| the house,-12o men behind trees near
the road by which the sheriff must ad-
vance, and the remainder were concealed
behind Ridge of land within gun shot
OF the house and the forcing the door
by the sheriff was to be made known to
those concealed without by raising red
flag at the top of the chimney.
When the sheriff approached all were
silent, and he and his men We're COM
pletely within the ambuscade before they
discovered their situation. Mr.. Ten
Evck, the sheriff, went to the door, de-
manled entrance as sheriff of the coun-
ty of Albany, and threatened. on re-
fusal, to force it. The answer from with
in was, attempt it, and you are dead
man. On repeating his demand, with
a threat of using force. he received for a
second auswer-hileous groans; and at
the same time the two divisions exhibited
their hats on the points of their guns,
which made them appear much more nn-
merous than they really were. The
sheriff and his posse seeing their dan
gerous situation, and not (says Ira Al
4 len J being interested in the dispute, made
"a llasty retreat, without a shot being
fired on either side.
The New York claimants finding that
the militia of Albany county could not
be relied upon to act against the settlers,
they now sought to accomplish their OBJ
iects by other means. By making IA
vorable offers of titles under New York
to some prominent individuals on the
grants, by conlerring Offices on Others,
and by encouraging persons from New
York to settle upon the u1occupied
!. | lands which had been granted by New
Hampshire, they hoped to divide the
people, and render tie New York inter
est predominant. To thwart these plans
of their enemies, commi tees OF safety
4 were organized in the several towns, and
a convention of the settlers on the grants
was assembled, which deereed, among
other things, that no officer from New
York should be allowed, without per-
mission of he Committee of Safety. TO
, carry any person out of the district OF
. the New Hampshire grants, and that no
SURVEYS should be made, nor lines run,
lnor Sc Elements made under New York
within the same. The violation of this
decree was to be punished at the discIe-
ton of court formed by the Commit
tees OF Safety or elders of the people
Atthe same time the civil officers were
. 10 be allowed TO exercise their proper
functions in collecting debts and other
matters not connected with the contro-