Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-05
Che FREEMAN.
Studies in Early Vermont History.
BY REV. II. H. HOWARD, A. NJ.
No
HER ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.

No. 8.
HER ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.
Vermont had long struggle in effect
inc her admission into the Union. Every
advance on her part, looking toward that
result, was for years met either by eva
sion or fltt refusal. 1t may not readily
appear to the reader why congress, espe-
cially since it was manifestly for its inter-
est, under the circumstances. to couciliate
AMI combine rs many communities rs pos
sible in support Of the patriot movement,
should have thus refused to acknowledge
the independence Of this state, and to have
so steadfastly discountenanced all efforts
for her admission into the Federal Union
And yet it is quite likely, that, on rehec.
tion, we shall find it is not far that we
shall have to search for u solution of this
mystery. Says Professor Thompson:
"The contest with the mother country
was yet undecided and its issue doubtful;
and the grounds which the several parties
in this dispute had assumed were such
that congress could not hope to make Il
decision which would satisfy them all
and to irritate either of the states con-
cerned TO such a degree as to drive them
to IN abandonment of the common cause,
might paralyze the efforts of congress, and
prevent the attainment of that liberty and
independence for which they were strug~
CLING"
There is no reason to believe that con-
gress had any spite against Vermont; but
New York had, and New York was q
state of sufficient magnitude and import
ance to be able to intimidate congress
Congress would not willingly have afflict-
ed Vermont, probably, yet, rather than
incur a serious risk of rupture with either
of the states which laid claim to the terri
tory in controversy, it would, doubtless,
and rightly have preferred sacrificing
Vermont as q separate and independent
jurisdiction. The duties and responsible
ties devolving on congress, at this time,
were manifestly of a very difficult and
delicate nature. A most stupendouS trust
had been committed to its hands. That
trust must not be put in jeopardy. Clear
ly the successful termination of the war
for independence, as also the fate of the
colonies generally, depended upon the in
tegrity of the latter's union for the com
mon cause. Nothing, therefore, must be
allowed to pnt the integrity of that union
in peril. Hence the strangely partial,
evasive and vacillating policy of that
body relative to the affairs Of Vermont.
"In April, 1777, Thomls Young, dis
tinguished citizen Of Philadelphia, ad-
dressed a communication to the inhabitants
of Vermont, in which he represented it rs
the opinion of several of the leading
members of congress, that Vermont should
proceed in her organization, form Il con-
stitution, AMI appoint delegates to con-
gress; and he declared it to be hi, own
individual opinion that congress would
not hesitate to sanction their proceedings,
or to admit their delegates to seat in
that honorable body. This communication
was prefxed to resolution which con-
gress had passed on the 9th of May, 1776,
which recommended to the assemblies and
conventions of the united colonies. where
no government, sufficient for the cxigen.
ces of their affairs, had already been es
tablshed, to adopt such government as, in
the opinion of the representatives of the
people, should best conduce to the happ-
ness and safety of their constituents. This
resolution was regarded by the author OF
the communication, as u full license from
congress to assume the powers of govern
ment, and he recommended that no time
be lost in avaling themselves of the pres
ent opportunity to establish separate
dominion. ia
Now, while New Hampshire. Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut were ready Chat
is, at the outseO, TO admit Vermont as n
new member of the Federal Union, and
appauded the spirit and boldness with
which she asserted and maintained her
rights, New York, on the other hand
not unnaturally, regarded all transactions
of the kind advised above, as open acts OF
treason and rebellion against the lawful
authority of that state, and hence earnest
ly demonstrated, in letter addressed to
the president Of congress, May %, against
the proceedings of Mr.. Young, and of
those members of congress who had given
him counenance. With view to bring
ing congress to decision On the subject
of this controversy, on the 23d of June,
one of the New York delegates laid before
that body the aforementioned letter of
Thomas Young to the inhabitants of Yer.
mont. Congress now, for the first time,
took up the matter; and the petitions and
communications from. New York and the
New Hampshire grants were referred to
committee of the whole. This committee,
on the 3Oth of June, among other things,
resolved O THAT congress would not
recommend or countenance anything inju-
rious to the rights and jurisdiction of the
several communities herein represented
(2) that the inhabitants of the New Hamp
shire grants cannot be justified in their
declaration of independence, by the exam
pie of the united colonies, nor by any act
or resolution of congress: (3) that the pc
tition of Vermont to be recognized as an
independent state, and to have her dele
gates admitted to seats in congress be dis
missedt
Still later. in June, 1881, Vermont, hav-
ing completed her eastern and western
unions, as elsewhere related, appointed
Jonas Fay, Ira Allen, and B. Woodward,
delegates to the American congress to
negotiate her admission into the Federal
Union Full powers were given them to
complete the arrangement; and if they
effected their object, they were authorized
to take their seats in congress as represen-
,.. 4