Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-09-01
Why Vermont Celebrates.

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early history of Vermont was intended
for publication last week but was crowd
cd out by the lengthy report OF Cen
tennial proceedings'1
Vermont was not one of the origi
nal thirteen States. In fact, she
did not become q member Of the
American Union until 1901, some
time after the Federal Constitution
had been adopted. She had no
part in the counsels of the colonies
during the Revolutionary war, but
she did her full share OF the service
for the common cause. She declar-
cd her independence and adopted a
constitution in l777, and hence it is
that to day the State celebrates the
Centennial anniversary of her ex'
istcnce. 1t may be interesting at
this time to recall briefly the histor'
zeal facts connected with the organ
ization of the Green Mountain State
and the causes that kept her from
being u member of the original con-
federation. The early emigrati on
into Vermont was mostly from New
Hampshire or under the grants OF
land from the Governor of that
State. Governor Wentworth claim.
ed jurisdiction over this territory
under the charter of the colony,
and in l76S no less than 13S town
ships had been granted west OF the
Connecticut River. These were
known for many years simply MS
the "New Hampshire grants" The
Governor of New York, on the 9th.
er hand, claimed that under the
grant to the Duke of York by
Charles ii. all the territory was in.
cluded to the Connecticut River.
On an appeal to the King, the claim
of New York was sustained aud an
attempt was made to dispossess the
settlers of their lands. This met
with organized resistance under the
lead of Eathan Allan, Seth War
ner and others. In 1774 Governor
Tryon of New York issued proc
lamation commanding Eathan AL
len, Seth Warner, Remember Ba.
ker, Robert Cochran, Peleg Sun
derland, Silvanus Brown, James
Breckenridge and John Smith to
surrender themselves within thirty
days under pain Of conviction Of
felony and death without benefit of
clergy. a reward of Gl5O was Of
fcred for the capture of Allen and
$50 for each of the others. These
sturdy settlers retorted by offering
reward for the apprehension Of
the Acknowledgement of New York.
The breaking out of the Revolu
ton suspended the controversy.
The petition of the Vermont set.
Hers in 1777 to be admitted to the
Coutrderacy was strongly opposed
by New York, and Congress put
them off. Taking advantage of
their cause of complaint the Brit
ish generals tried to estrange them
from the patriot cause, but without
success. In 1871 Congress offered
to admit Vermont with a consider
able curtailment of boundrieS, but
the people refused and remained
ont of the Union for nine years
longer. In 1900 New York revived
the old controversy, and offered to
relinquish her claim on payment of
$500 This was agreed to, and
on the 4th of March 1891, the Green
Mountain State was admitted to
the Union. Although not one of
the States during the Revolutions
airy struggle, her sons did some bril-
liant service. Eathan Allen and
his company of eighty-three men
took Fort TicOnderoga sin the name
of Almighty God and the Cont
mental Congress-" on the 10th of
May. 1915. Allen and Warner,
with the men under their command,
took part in the invasion of Cana
da, and the former was captured
and taken to England. Vermont
men were conspicuous in the bat
ties on Lake Cllamplain, and the
Important victory at Bennington
was won on their soil and with their
aid. The State has right to date
its existancc from 1777, though kept
out of it's place in the Union of the
States until 1871 by the action of
the others.
After the State celebration to.
lay, comes the cOmmemOratiOn of
the battle Of Bennington, which
was fought on the 10th of August,
LIT. This passage of Revolution.
ary history is familiar, but there is
no danger that its Importance will
De overeStimated. That victory I'M
Ter Stark was the turning point in
he struggle. 1t filled the patriots
with hope and gave new vigor to
heir efforts. 1t was the prelude to
he defeat of BurgOyne at SaratO
ga and the triumphs that followed
md secured the independence of
he States. 1t is nece ssasy to re.
fresh the memory only by recalling
he salient points of this history.
Burgoyne had arrived in Quebec
md taken command of the British
Orces with the title of Lieutenant
General, in March, 1871. He form
ID a plan for entering the State OF
New York by two routes converg-
ng to Albany, where Gen. Schuy-
er had command of the fOrlorn and
disappointed Americans. Thence
lie made no doubt of being able to !;
ldvance down the Hudson and Join d.
lord Howe at New York. He car 7.
led all before him on Lake Cham :
,lain, but received a check in the
flair of Oriskany, when st. Leger
attempted to seize Fort StanwiX
md rouse the royalists of the Mo.
'awk Valley. 1t was while engag. Il
d in bringing up supplies from v