The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-15
A Vermont Governors Earliest
Exercise ofthe Pardoning Power.

4 We print VERBATIM from volume l. of
Hon, u. p Walton's "GOvernor and Council,
the following very unique proclamation of
pardon. issued by Governor Cbittenden, in
fT7D. Other historical articles, which will
be given in the BANNER will show Why the
belliRerent parties. forgiven of their sins,
needed such pardon as Governor Chitten-
denmerel elfdly granted to them 1t needed
four or fve extended "re-legations0 to the
''arbitrement of arms" before Vermont could
establish herself as State in the I'm
ion. On either side Of us the jeal-
GUS and conflicting powers claimed ju-
risdictiNn, and backed their claim with
war-like, and all other possible efforts to
enforce the fact that Vermont ought not to
be. and never should be. an independent
State. The Green Mountain Boys had an
opinion Of their own in this matter, aud the
fact that our State was the first one added
to the American Union. and made the four
teenth star in the old flag. shows that while
they fought LONG, they also fought WELL,
and earned the name that they have ever
since sustained, of being worthy of the place
given them in the constellation of our United
Stetes,
This proclamation of Governor Cbittenden
was conciliatory, aud admirably adapted to
the purpose for Which it was intended. It
placed all VermOnters from the west bank
of the Connecticut to the eastern line of
New York on an equal footing, as citizens of
what the Governor rightfully calls, "the ris-
ing State of Vermont" yr
wwW Dad
We copy the proclamation, as written by
the Governor, and, though its Typography,
and in some instances, the orthography, diff
fers from those in present use, the variations
will add interest to the ancient document;
PROCLAMATION OF PARDON ISSUED
BY GOV. CHITTENDEN, JUNE 8, 177O.
DY HIS ExCELLENCY
THOMAS CHITTENDEN, ESQ.,;
Governor. Cgptuin General and Commander in
hiet in and OUsr the Sate of VERMONT
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, Sundry Persons, Inhabitants of |
this State, forgetting that great, TIE of
Allegiance that Ought to bind every Subject |
In faithful Obedience TO that Power which |
protects Life, Liberty and Fortune-beinR |
instiRnted partly through their own mistaken |
Notions Of Government, not considering all |
Power originates from the People; and build
ing on false Reason, that public Acknowl- |
edgment Of the powers of the earth is essential |
to the existence of distinct separate State |
But their especially. being deceived, and in- |
tluenced by certain Persons who have crept
in privily to spy out and Overturn the llber- |
ties of this State, purchased at the dearest |
Rate WHO, acting under Pretence of Pow |
er assumed by neiRhbouring Sister State, |
never derived from God or Nature, have i'm |
posed their tenants upon the credulous
Whereby a number have been traduced to |
follow their pernicoqs Ways. by open Oppo-
sitiOn to the Authority of this State, in the |
Execution of Justice by the civil Law, to the |
Disturbance OF the Peace, thereby incurrinR |
the Penalties of that great Rule of Right. |
which requires Obedience to the Powers that
AND WHEREAS the supreme Authority of
this State are ever willing to alleviate the
Miseries of those unhappy Subjects who
tians % tnEonB1 9o 1iistaen ho
And innsinucn es equal Punishments lin tins
sasel can not be distributed. without pun-
shtnR the RI RighteOns with the Wicked.
have therefore Thought ct, by and with
The Advice of Council, and at the Desire of
the Representatives of the Freemen of this
state, IN General Assembly met, to make
known and declare this my gracious DESIGN 1
of Mercy to every Offender And do hereby
publish aud declare to all Persons residing
within the STATE, A FDLLald FREE p ARDON of
oil public Ohencesi Crimes and MisdeineanOrs
heretofore committed within the Limits OF
this Statei against the Honor aud Dignity OF
tne iTeemen thereOf-remitting toe all and
SINGULAR the Persons aforesaid, all Penalties
incurred Tor Breaches of the Peace, such as
Riots, Mobs, tumultuOus Assemblies. Com
tempt OF aud Opposition to Authority; ex-
ceptlpg only crimes OF High Treason, ,Mispris-
on OF treason. and other capital Offences
committed isince the 18th of January, I777 L
and all Persons indicteu, informed against
OF complained OF, for any of the offences
committed before this date NAV
plead tins Proclamation in Discharge there
of.
PROVIDED nothing herein contained he
to extend to any Person against
nor to barany Person from Receiving private
Damages, anything contained herein to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
AND do further assure the Subjects of
this state, that it is not the design of
Of their Rulers to take from any one the
peeceaDle kn1oymentsiof his own Possess
5ions, acquired by the Sweat of his Brow
Whatever falsehOOds wicked designing men
may have invented, to disquiet the minds of
the faithful Subjects of the rising State of
Given under the Hand and Seal of the Coun-
Gil Chamber. at Windsor on the Sd day of
June, 1779, and in Third Year of the Indo-
pendence of this and the United States of
AMERICA.
THo's CHrTTENDEN.
BY His Excelency's command.
JONAS FAY, Sec,Y 7. Il,