Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-08

kept in Gov. Thomas Chittenden, a ma
tive Of Guilford, Conn. Pending the
first election under the constitution, a
council Of safety was put IN power,
whose first act was to notify New Hamp-
shire of the approrch of Burgoyne and
to ask assistance. The New Hampshire
legislature met in special session, troops
were raised, Stark was sent with his
veterans. and the victory OF Bennington
was the first trophy of the new State.
Congress could not, in face of that
event, openly support the cause Of New
York against the new claimant for indie
pendence. Still, the most desperate
shifts were necessary from 177S till 1871,
the date of her admission, to keep the
new State from falling into the hands of
New York, or New Hampshire, or Mas
sachusetts, or of the King, all four of
which at one time laid claim to por-
tons. Twice several towns eastof the
river joined Vermont and took seats in
her general assembly,-thi seems to
have been the most effective way of
answering the New Hampshire claim.
After Burgoyne's surrender, the north
ern frontier was left open to Canadian
raids, which Gov. C%hittenden STAYED off
by engaging the British officers with
proposals to become a crown colony.
This intrigue had to be carried on very
dellcately, and once came near involv-
ing the Governor in trouble. Gen. st.
Leger was one of those who had been
baited, but his troops upon al incursion
~, tho Stotn lIllnI n s.tta1n SnVraatf
Upper. st. Lcger thought he had
spoiled the negotiations, but he buried
the Sergeant respectfully, and sent his
clothing on to Gov. Chittenden with Il
letter. The legislature was in session,
the nature Of the arrival became known,
and the secret of so unusual II proceed
ing was loudly demanded. An excited
body of men entered the Governors
room and insisted on explanations, but
Chittenden made delay, and got time
to substitute a less compromising cor
re%spondcnce for the genuine. The ar
rival of the news of Lord COrnwalPs
surrender enabled him to drop the ne
gotiations.
BY 1871 the State had risen to have a
population of 5000, or about as many
as Oregon had in 1870. Chittenden
took the State safely through the social
and industrial crisis, which in Massa-
chusctts eliminated in Shay's rebel
lion. In 1877 the question of paper
money and legal tender was sub
mitted to the popular vote, with
the following results, as canvassed
by the next legislature shall
there be established II bank for the is
sue Of paper money on loan to the peo-
pie? Yeas, 456, nays, 2,197. Is it ex-
pedient to pass Il general tender act?
Yeas, $50, nays, $751; 1t was further
voted hat the fultillment OF contracts
in kind, after the specified time of pay
ment is elapsed (which had been per-
mitted by the Legislature of 1866 be
continued. This was an arrangement
by which the debtor could satisfy his
creditor by transfer of cattle and pro-
duce ON the sworn appraisal of arbitra-
tors. The debtor class in somc districts
attempted to oyerawe the courts, but
they were met by the militia. Thomas
Chittendcn was Governor of the State
from l77S till his death in 1907, with
the exception of one year, and is the
great character in the civil genesis of
the State, rs Ethan Allen was in its early
military history. In its Connecticut
~parentage, Vermont was the twin-child
to Wyoming.