Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-05

territory known as Vermont, thus defined
and limited, be. and hereby is recognized
and acknowledged by the name of the
state OF Vermont, as free, sovereign and
independent; and that a committee be ap-
pointed to treat and confer with the agents
and delegates from said state, ueon the
terms and mode of the admission of said
state into the Federal Union.
by the treatment, however, accorded to
this recommendation of the committee. it
became evident, to the surprise and utter
establishment of the Vermont delegates.
that congress did not intend even vet to
come to any decision in regard TO the
affairs of Vermont.
After having addressed dignified but
spirited communication to the president
of congress, in which they reminded that
body that, having, in the most ample
manner. complied with their requirements,
and having officially communicated said
compliance 10 them. they cannot but re-
gard the failure of congress to execute
their part in the premises a violation of
their plighted faith, as also an act of in
justice to themselves, exposing them. as it
did, to the main force of the enemy in
Canada, with no aid whatever from the
United States in whose cause they had so
freely fought and suffered-the agents i'm
mediately withdrew from Philadelphia
and repaired to their homes.
1t need hardly be said that when these
proceedings of congress came to be known
in Vermont, universal and intense dissat-
i,faction was the result. Having taken
the step she had in perfectly good faith,
and in accordance with the advice of gen.
tlemen Of the first character in America,
the people of Vermont were now tempted
10 the opinion that the resolution of the
Goth of August had been designed prin.
clpally to dupe the assembly 10 compli.
tnee for the purpose of so weakening the
state us to render it less dangerous to
contravene her designs and wishes. Mean
time. Notwithstanding the pain and morti-
ication oftheir disappointment ;and though
their faith in the virtue and integrity of
this congress was so sadly shaken that
they determined never more to urge upon
it their right to u confederation with the
United States, yet, that it might appear tc
the world that Vermont was not in fault
ut their next ensuing assembly, in Octo.
Der, they again appointed agents with full
powers to complete arrangements for her
admission into the Union; while they
themselves resolved, in the future, rs in
the past, to rely on their own strength, re
sources and management for defence ant
safety-to
I" Bow to no patrons insolence; rely
On no frail hopes in freedom live and die"
Years elapse. Hostiites between Great
Britain and America had ceased, and now,
on the one hand, congress was reed rom
its embarrassments with regard to Yer
mont; while Vermont, on the other, on
account of the withdrawal from her north
ern frontiers of the British forces whose
efforts had been SO long pasied by the art
full policy Of II few individuals, was re
leased from all her fears. On the goth OF
January, 1888, the preliminary articles OF
peace were signed which formally ter.
minated the Revolutionary war, and estab
lished the Independence of the united col
onies. Meantime the people of Vermont,
having now no external foes to dread
ceased to be specially solicitous for IN i'm
mediate, organic union with the confeder
atel state
The adoption of the new federal consti
tuition, however, awakened fresh interest
in this matter.
During the years Immediately following
the war, the leading statesmen and phi
lanthropists of the United States, becoming
alarmed at the operation and tendency O
public affairs, and fully convinced thai
tho powers with which congress wa
invested were wholly inadequate to tn,
purposes of government, and that NOR,
solid and efficient organization was indis
pensablc in order to secure the fruits O
that momentous struggle which had only
just closed-that liberty and independence,
which had been purchased at the price O
so much blood, toll and treasure-movet
for, and secured. the calling of nationa
constitutional convention. This conven
ton, consisting of delegates from tn,
several states, assembled at Philadelphia
in 1887, and, after mature deiberation
adopted a constitution by which congress
should afterwards be adequate to all tn
exigences of government. This constitu
tion was ratified by the states, and tn
first congress assembled under it on tn
Sd of March. 1889.
The policy. proceedings and measures O
this new congress seemed to be marked b,
so much wisdom. prudence and equity
thlt the conf lence of the people of Yer
mont in the federal government, S,
elfectually weakened by the evasivo an,
vacillating policy of the former congress
was now in Il fair way TO be restored. Blu
the ancient difficulty with New York still
remained unsettled. One serious Difficult
ty only, however, now stood in the way O
such settlement. A new political gen
GRAFTON had come upon the stage-a
generation which, SO far from inheritino
the feuds of the former, could not bu
perceive that Vermont was now to remain
II free and independent state, and probably
felt but little, if any anxiety that it shoulc
be otherwise. But the former governors
of New York had m ade grants of large
tracts of land in Vermont. the validity O.
which the government of Vermont had
refused to admit; and the grantees hence
were constantly complaining to the gov.
ernment of New York of the injuries
done them in not being permitted to take
possession Of their property. Now. though
New York felt under no very strong obli
cation tn rpfun1 what had hpan avtor,o1