The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-29
alutlana WEGkly @lnHe.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 90. 1876.
THE DORSET CONVENTION OF sEPTEM-
Der %, l776.

Vermont, assembled at Dorset, for the pur-
pose, undoubtedly, of declaring the states
Independence, and agreeing upon form of
goyernment-but, as we shall see, the first
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, Castleton; Bennington
couuty-Bennington Pownal, SALISBURY,
Sunderland, Manchester, Dorset, Rupert,
Stamford, Peru; Addison county-Brid-
port, Addison, Middlebuiy, Penton; Chit
tendoo county-Colcheste Burlington,
Willistoni windham county-Marl-
borough, Guilford, Londonderry, Rock
ingham, Dummerston, Westminster, Hall
fax Windsor county-Windsor.
prior convention had been hold at
Dorest in July, called, among other things,
" to know the minds Of the convention"
relative to continuing under the jurisdic
tion of New Hampshire ADD, in CAGE
they should conclude not to remain under
that jurisdiction, to see if they twill agree
" to en- association and subscribe thereto,
" to do duty in conjunction with the con-
" tnental troops as members of the dis
"trict OF lanl which they inhabit." In
this convention thirty-1ve towns were re-
presented by fiity-one delegates, all being
from west of the Green mountains, except
Townshend. The nrennsiiinn To ~ona"in
with New Hampshire was considered and
dismissed, after which it was voted, with
only one "disscntent," "That application
be made to the Inhabitants of said Granite
" to form the same into separate District
A committee was appointed "to treat with
the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire
Grants on the East side of the range of
"Green Mountains, relative to their asso-
citation with this Body; an agreement
or compact was entered into to "defend by
arms" the United States against Great
Britain and the convention adjourned to
meet again at Dorset, September %, 177G
-one hundred years ago to-day.
tbs evident from this brief summary Of
the doings OF the July convention, that the
object aimed a, was, separation both from
New York and New Hampshire, and thai
the adjournment to September was for III
purpose of ascertalning the views of tn,
people on both sides of the mountain, 50
that final action might be taken at the sd-
iourned session. This is 81 en- from he ap
pointmeut of committee to ''trcat with
the inhsbtsnts" of the TO ms east of th,
mountain. as well as from the direct vot,
that application be made to form ''sepa-
rate district" Nice ings were held in va
rious of these eattern 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 repIe-
sented by letter-while, in July, there was
only enc.
On the second day of the convention
Thursday, September 90, 177G-the article.
passed in July. directing that applies
be made to form the New Hampshire
grants into separate district, was taken
up, and a committee was appointed "to
= form plan for future proceedings, who
reported in the afternoon, "as opinion as
follows
Covenant or Compact ought to be en-
tered into by the Members of this Conven-
ton for themselves and their Constituents
to be governed by such rules as may be
agreed on by the majority, (yiZ.):
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
and at all times to be governed by their
Councils.
A number of men to be elected to wait
on the Honble. Continental Congress with
such Petitions as shall be agreed on by this
Convention.
To make suitable .,provisions thst the
whole of the inhabitants on Sd New Hamp.
shire Grants on each side of the Green
Mountains be notified and have proper op-
portunity to join and coincide with the
measures taken for the benefit of forming
Sd district into separate State.
AS the troublesome and aged conflict ex-
listing between the State of New York and
that District of Land commonly called and
known by the name 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
for the time being receive from Sd State
of N. York will not in future be accepted
neither shall we hold ourselves bound by
them.
mo 10 na 80
better securing the Torres in Sd District.
..That the Militia officers on each side OF
the Mountain continue in their stations and
afler executing the orders to them hereto
fore received from the State of New York,
to be under the direction OF this Convex
ton.
We have been particular to give this doc
ument, OF report, in full, because, as it
seems to us, that it has been given greater
Importance than ii deserves. So good au-
thority as Hon. L. p. Walton says cit de-
"serves the title of the first constitution of
"Vermont," but we fail to see any reason
for 80 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, bat simply as recommends.
ton as to order of business, doing cert ain
acts in accordance with the recommelda
ton and omi ting to do Others.
After accepting this report, the first act
OF the convention was to form covenant
" or compact" as recommended. This COW
tnsnt, after referring t. the troubles with
New York, Va TIA, lheIe is reason 10 tx
pect continuance Of the same unless
measures are 'taken to form the dlstric
" into separate and distinct one from
New York, and that, aside from this,
defiance, etc, would rer der such an ascot
AIIGn Il. A. l.