Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-12

courts" but they had manliness enough
to know when they were trodden on, and
TO spurn Indignantly the heel that crushed
them. They boosted little skill in the
rules of logic, but nature had endowed
them with powers Of reasoning sufficiently
strong to see that, having purchased their
lands in good faith of one royal governor,
to be required to repurchase them at an
exhorbitant price of another, was IN out
rage-was the sheerest tyranny, and that
to submit to it were eowardlY and unwor-
thy-were tamely to surrender their dear
est, indefeasible rights.
Indignation meetings were called; asso-
Citations were formed, resolutions were
adopted, declaring that, having reason to
regard the views and proceedings of the
Workers as those of speculating and un-
principled land, ,jobbers, and satisfied in
view of what has already transpired, that
they had nothing whatever to hope from
the customary forms of law, therefore they
felt authorized, at least until his majesty's
pleasure should be more fully known, to
advise the most determined resistance
against the unjust and arbitrary decisions
of the court; felt fully justified in requir-
ng that, when the executive officers of New
York came to eject them inhabitants from
their rightful possessions, they be met by
avowed opposition, and in no case, be
allowed to proceed in the execution of
their business
This decidedly pronounced position, it
needs hardly be said, at once occasioned Il
spirited and determined resistance, on the
part of the inhabitants of the grants, to
the civil officers sent out, from time to
time, by the state of New York, to appre-
hend the " "rotous Vermonters =" Sew
eral Of these" says quaint writer of that
period, having been seized by the people,
and severely cEaotjSed acjth tI0igs of The
eOjldernCSS.'*
In the meantime. for the sake of render
ing their resistance still more effectual, a
convention Of representatives from the
several towns on the west side of the
mountains was called. This convention,
after mature deliberation, appointed SAM
uel Robinson Of Bennington an agent to
represent to the court of Great Britain
the grievances of the settlers, and to OBJ
toip if DosCiI,la q con nfirootiOn of tho
New Hampshire grants. Though only
partially successful in his mission, yet. in
consequence of the representations thus
made ut the British court, his majesty is
sued a special order prohibiting the COVER
nor of New York, upon pain of his
majesty s highest displeasure, from making
any further grants whatsoever of the
lands in question till his maesty's further
pleasure should be made known concern
ing the same. In spite, however, of this
explicit prohibition, the governor of New
York continued to make grants and writs
of ejectment continued to be issucd-the
general assembly Of that province going
so far, indeed as to characterize the recus-
ant Vermonters rs rioters" "a mob, '
" outlaws" lawless bandlt," and
accordingly. to dcnounco against them
the pains and penalties Of treason and re
bcllion, to be inevitably visited on them,
unless they speedily gave over their re-
sistancc and peacefully and unconditional
Iy submitted to the lawfully constituted
authorities.
Regarding these threatenings rs origin
ating solely in the avarice Of an unprin
cipled sci of spectators, who coveted
their lands. with their valuable improve
ments, and us designed mainly, hence, tc
terrify them into submission; and quit,
confident, moreover, that popular senti
ment was largely in their flvor--that the
great body OF the people of New 1orl
felt no interest in enforcing the claims o
that province to the lands in questionable
settlers on the New Hampshire grants
strong in the sense of the rectitude O
their cause, We're by no means intimidatet
by these ominous outgivings. Nay, 81
far from inspiring them with terror, OF
alarm, these mpotent menaces awakened
only their ontempt-served really onl,
the more eIiectualIy to nerve the arm o
resistance, and to strengthen in their DO
sons the determination rather than sur
render their cherished rights and libertie
to the arbitrary claims of New York, Il
meet death. if necessary. in their defence
Hitherto the opposition TO the claims o
New York had been confined principal,
to the inhabitants on the west side of TIN
mountains. The settlers on the grants il
the vicinity Of Connecticut river had
many Of them, surrendered their origina
charters, and taken out new ones undel
the authority Of New York. In scvera
of the towns, having thus submitted quiet
ly to the jurisdiction Of that colony, an,
not having hence been driven to despera
ton by the executive officers of New York
the people here stood, in Il measure un
concerned, thous h by no means altogethe
Indifferent spectators on the controversy il
which the settlers of the more westerl,
grants were so deeply involved. But now al
incident occurred which had the effect o
arousing thespirit Of opposition toNew Forl
at appears that, at an early day committees wer
appointed in the several towns the west side of tn
IN an
convention, general assembly, to concert measure
for the common defence, decreed that no perso
should take grants under the government OF New
YORK: should take, accept or hold any office Of homo
prOht under the colony OF New York; that all cvl
military officers who shall act under the authorlt
OF the governor or legislature OF New York, Will do s.
These DEGREES had al! the force of law, and he in
fraction OF them wasalwdys punished with e&emplar!
severity. The punishment most frequently inflicted
tbs application OF the Dcdch seal" to the naket
back, an 1 punishment from the grants. This mode o
r punishment derived its name from aluslon to thu
great seal of tue province Of New Hampshire, whicl
affixed to the charters OF the townships granted
by the governor of that province OF which the bsecl
rod well laid upon the naked backs of the Workers.
and their adherents was humofously considered
confirmation.
That he reader may have Just idea of the summa
, ry manner in which the convention committees pro
aded against those who violated their decreGs W.
will lay before them the gsentenceOf one Ben
brought before the committee OF safety at Sunder
land to answer to the charge of having accepted tn
Office OF justice OF the peace under the authority
of New York, and OF having ohiciated IN tina