The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-25
THE DORSET CONVENTION OF sEPTEM-
BER 25, l7T6

To-day-September 25--is the centennial
anniversary Of one of Nermont's historic
days. One hundred years ago, a " general
4" convention of the delegates from the
several towns in the preseat territory o.
Vermont, assembled at Dorset, for the pur-
pose, undoubtedly, of declaring the states
independence, aud agreeing upon form OF
government-but, as we shall see, the frs
of these objects was postponed until a
later day. Over this convention, presided
Joseph Bowker Of Rutland, aud the follow
ing towns were representative use the
present designation of towns and counties ::
Rutland county-Rutland, Pawlet, Bran
don, Wallingtord, Tinmouth, Dandy,
Wells, Poultney, Casteton; Bennington
county-BenningtoD Pownal SALISBURY
Sunderland, Manchester, Dorset, Rupert
Stamford, Peru; Addison county-Brid-
port, Addison, Middlebury, Panon; Chit
tenden county-Colchcstc Burling on,
Williston; Windham county-Marl
borough, Guilford, Londonderry, Rock
iiisohuih. iCuilihtioNbby ''NpNilhoAti, iit-Ai-
fax; Windsor county-Windsor.
A prior convention had bccn held al
Dorest in July, called, among other thing
" to know the minds of the convention
relative to continuing under the jurisdic-
ton of New Hampshire and, in case
they should conclude not to remain under
that jurisdiction, to see if they twill agree
" to an association and subscribe thereto
I" to do duty in conjunction with the con
" tinental troops rs members of the dis
" trict of land which they inhabt." In
this convention thiriy-fve towns were re-
presented by flity-one delegates, all being
from west of the Green mountains, except
Townshend. The proposition to remain
with New Hampshire was considered and
dismissed, after which it was voted, witt
only one "di.sentient,' ''That application
" be made to the inhabitants of said Grant
" to form the came into separate District
committee was appointed "to treat witt
L" the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire
" Grants on the East side Of the range Of
"Green Mountains, relative to their assC-
" citation with this Body; an ngrcemenl
or compact was entered into to 'defend BY
" arms the United States against Grea
Britain and the convention adjourned to
meet again a. Dorset, September %, 171G
Ono hundred years ago to-day.
tits evident from this brief summary Of
the doings OF the July convention, that hi
object aimed al was separation both from
New York and New Hampshire and tina
the adjournment to September was for tn,
purpose of ascertainng tho views of the
people on both sides of the mountain, So
that final action might be taken at the adj
journed session. This is st en- from he az
pointment OF committee to "treat will
" Tie inhabitants of the towns cas-. Of th
mountain, as well as from the direct vot
that Applicant N be made to form "sepa-
" rate district" Meetings. were held in va
rious Of these eastern towns, and, general
ly, with favorable results, there being, as
we have seen, eight towns represented in
the September convention-and in add
ton to these two, other towns were renre
scented by cttcr-whilo, in July, there was
only one.
On the second day Of the convention
Thursday, September 2G, 177G-the article.
passed in July, directing that application
be made to loim the New Hampshire
grants into separate district, was taken
up, and committee was appointed "to
= form plan Tor future proceedings, who
reported in the afternoon, ''as opinion a
follows:
y Covenant or Compact ought to be en-
tered into by the Members of this Couven-
ton for themselves and their Constituen 8.
to be governed by such rules as may be
agreed on by the majority, (viz.):
To regulate the Militia TO furnish
troops according to our ability, for the de-
fence OF The Liberties Of the United States
of America.
To return the number of the inhabitants
on this District to the Continental Congress
ana at all times 10 be governed by their
Councils.
number Of men to be elected 10 wait
on the uonble Continental Congress with
such Petitions as shall be agreed on by thl.
Convention.
To make suitable provisions that the
whole Of the inhabitants on Sd New Hamp
SHIRE Grants on each side of the Green
Mountains be notified and have proper OPP
portunity to join aud coincide with the
measures taken for the benefit of forming
Oh district into separate State
AS the troublesome and aged conflict eX-
lsung between the state of New York and
tlQt l)i strict of Land p1, ,ulIaI Nd
known by the Lame Of the New Hampshire
Grants relative to the title of lands on Sd
district has not yet subsidized,
we do therefore vote that any Law, or
Laws, Direction or Directions, we may
ior me time being } receive from Sd State
OF n. York will not in future be accepted
neither shall we hold ourselves bound by
them.
some measure to be entered into for the
better securing the Torres in Sd District.
That the Militia officers on each side OF
the Mountain continue in their statiOns and
after executing the orders to them hereto
fore received from the State of New York
to be under the direction of this Copyen.
ton
We have been particular to give this doc
ument, or report, in full, because. as il
seems TO us, that II has been given greater
importance than ii deserves. So good au-
thority as Hon. L. p. Walton says sit de-
'serves the title of the first constitution of
vermont" but we fail to see any reason
for 60 calling it. The report was never
adopted by the convention, but simply
"accepted and then the convention pro-
ceeds to act, not as If it was form of
government, but simply as recommends
lion as to order of business, doing certain
acts in accordance with the recommends
tion and emitting to do others.
After accepting this report, the first act