Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-19
The Centennial Of the Independence ofycrmont.


one of them, (held at Dorset, September e5th,
l77o) had unanimously resolved 'to take
suitable measures as soon as may be, to de-
clare the New Hampshire Grants separate
district" assembled pursuant to atj,urn-
ment in the court house at Westminster, to
carry out that purpose. At the successive
meetings Of the convention, some forty towns
were represented, the largest attendance at
any one meeting being ffty-six delegates,
representing tbirty-six towns Burlington
was represented by Lemuel Bradley Col
chester, by Capt. Ira Allen; Williston, by
Col. Thomas Chittenden Jericho, by Brown
Chamberlain Hincsburgh and Monkton,
by Isaac Lawrence. The convention at
Westminster sat three days. On the second
day, January 10th, it voted IN. c. D."
''that the district of land commonly called
or known by the name Of the New lamp
shire Grants be new and separate State,
and for the future conduct themselves as
snch." The third day, January 18th, III.
the convention Adopted the report of a
committee, consisting of Nathan Clark. E b.
suezer Hoisington, Captain John Burnham,
Jacob Burton and Colonel Thomas Chitten-
den, appointed "to prepare draught for a
declaration for new and separate State"
The report ended as follows
Considering that just right exists in this
people to adopt measures for their own Sc
curity, not only to enable them to secure
their rights against the usurpations Of Great
Britain, but also against that Of New York
and the several other governments claiming
jurisdiction of this territory, we do offer the
following declaration, viz;
yIRNoNT's FIRST DECLARATION OF INDEPEN-
DRNcE.
This Convention, whose members are duly
chosen by the free voice of their constituents
in the several towns on the New Hampshire
Grants, in public meeting assembled, in our
own names, and in behalf of our constitu
ents, do hereby proclaim and declare that
the district Of territory comprehending and
usually known by the name and description
of the New Hampshire Grants, of right
ought to be, and is hereby declared forever
hereafter to be considered as a separate,
free and independent jurisdiction or State,
BY the name and forever hereafter to be
called, known and distinguished by the
name of New Connecticut. And that the
inhabitants that at present are or that here
after may become resident either by procre-
alton or emigration, within said territory,
shall be entitled to the same privileges, im-
munities and enfrsnchisements as are, al
lowed, and on such condition and in the
same mauper as the present inhabitants in
future shall or may enjoy; which are and
forever shall be considered to be such prisi-
leges and immunities to the free citizens
and denilens, as are, or at any time hereafter,
may be allowed to any such inhabitants OF
any Of the free and independent States Of
America, and that such privileges and i'm
munities shall be regulated in a bill OF rights,
and By form of Government to be estab-
lished at the next adjourned session of this
Convention.
The Convention voted to accept this
declaration, and that the declaration of
New Connecticut be inserted in the news
papers"
THE newspapers" was the Connecticut
CourGnt. in which the declaration appeared
March II, l777.
The Declaration IS prepared for the
pres" by committee appointed for the
purpose, differed materially from the Decla-
ration as adopted in Convention, and was as
follows:
THE REVISED DECLARATION CT INDEPENDENCE.
10 Convention of the Representatives from
the several counties and towns of the New
Hampshire Grants, holden at Westminster.
January Is. III, by adjournment.
Whereas the Honorable the Continental |
Congress did. on the 4th day of July last, |
declare the United Colonies in America to be |
free and independent of the Crown of Great |
Britain which declaration We most cordial |
ly acquiesce in: And whereas BY the said |
declaration the arbitrary acts Of the crown
arc null and void, in America, consequently
the jurisdiction by said crown granted to New
York government over the people Of the New
Hampshire Grants is totally dissolved:
We therefore, the inhabitants, on said
tract OF land, are at present without law or
government, and may be truly said to be in
a state of nature; consequently right re-
mains to the people Of said Grants to form q
government best suited to secure their prop
erty, well being and happiness. We the
from the several counties and towns
on said tract of land, bounded as follows:
South On the North line of Massachusetts,
Bay; East on Connecticut river: North dn
Canada line; West as far as the New Hamp-
shire Grants extends:
After several adjournments for the pur-
pose Of forming ourselves into q distinct
separate State, being assembled at West
minister, do make and publish the following
Declaration, viz:
THAT we will, at all times hereafter,
consider ourselves as q free and independent
State, ca pabl 'of regulating our internal
police. in 6 .,lt,OI respect Whatsoever
and that the peop .on said Grants have the
sole and exclusive and inheren. right of rul-
ing and governing themselves in such man
per and form as in their own wisdom they
shall think proper, not inconsistent or re-
pugnant to any resolve Of the Honorable
Continental Congress.
Furthermore, we declare by all the tics
which are held sacred among men, that We
will firmly stand by and support one an
other in this our declaration OF State, and
in eudeavoring as much as in US lies, to sup
press all unlawful routs and disturbances
whatever. Also wewill endeavor to secure
70 every individual his life. peace and
property against ali unlawful invaders Of
he same.
" Lastly, we hereby declare, that we are
It all times ready. in c0njuction with our
brethren of the United States Of America, to
10 our full proportion in maintaining and
Importing the just war against the tyranical
nvssions OF the ministerial fleet and armies,
IS well as any other foreign enemies, sent
With express purpose to murder Our fellow
brethren. and with fire ard sword To ravage
'ur deienceless country.
" The said State hereafter to be called
y the name of New Connecticut"
Extract from the minutes.
Ira ALLEN, ClerF
The change Of name to Vermont, and the
rafting and adoption Of q constitution Tor
be new State, took place, as VIC shall see in
une and July following. The little com
unity of hardy settlers, thus crystalized in
} free and independent State, numbered
ieu hardly 10000 souls. Ii has, Ia the
undred years since, increased sixteen or
IN population. besides sending /
ANY thousands Of it, sons to found and :
uild up other States; and il may be said I
:.