Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-24
Ths GsssS County 8trald.
ISLAND POND, APRIL "a, 1885.
DENr1-Gop OR TRAITOR, wntcus

DEAIt-GoD OR TRAITOR, WHICH,
Mr.. EDITOR: In the latter half
of the last century people calling
themselves the "New Hampshire
Grants" settled on the west of the
Connecticut river. One Benning
Wentworth made a grant of some
townships in that territory, and the
"Green Mountain Boys" began to
settle and cultivate the lands in re-
lance upon the title and that the
home government would see them
protected in their homes and pos
sessions. Presently this Benning
Wentworth, who was governor of
New Hampshire, got into CORE
spondence with the governor of New
York about the title to these lands.
The governor of New York claimed
all the lands west of the Connect
cut river Under an old royal grant
from King Charles II, to the Duke
of York, granting all the lands west
of the Connecticut river and east of
Delaware Bay. Cadwailader Golden
issued his proclamation claiming all
that territory. The governor Of
New Hampshire spiritedly replied
denying the validity OF that pre-
tended ducal grant. He quoted
the settlers, and exhorted them to
be INDUSTRIOUS and to quietly settle
their lands, and that it could not be
possible that question of jurisdic-
ton would yitiate grants that either
had made as the representatives of
the government. Then the fears of
the people vanished and they felt
1uieted in their possessions. AS
time progressed and the settlers
made permanent improvements, New
York persisted and divided the
grants into counties and held terms
Of court. Some of the towns sub
united to the New York Jurisdiction,
and some refused to. Those who
refused were sued in eiectment in
the name of new grantees under
New York grants. Of course judg-
ment was obtained against the set.
tiers. So there were the forms OF
law over and against these settlers
But they banded together under the
name of the Screen Mountain Boys
determined to be heard by the gov
eminent. The government pretend.
I'd to listen, but gave no relief. 1t
forbade the governor of New York
to make any more grants till fur.
further instructed. Still grants con.
tinued to be made, suits to be bro't
and large fees taken by the agents
ee the government. These settlers
were rough, uncultivated, but brave
and hardy men, without mental cul'
tare, and without prosperity other
than what hard labor or hard living
had procured. They were not re.
fined in manners, and violence would
naturally characterize their actions.
They were called traitors" "reb-
els, outeasts," etc. But they or,
ganized and banded themselves to.
gether, and with obligations of Won
derful cohesive force held them to.
getheF till tyranny, under the forms
Of law, was driven into darkness and
out of existence. Your readers will
call to mind the many harsh, meas.
ures and the terrible suffering that
it cost to accomplish this. Now
what was the result? Why out OF
it all came the grand historic lives
of those bold men. Out of it came
the appellation, all brilliant with ma.
tive glory, of the Screen Mountain
Boys" Out of it comes all the gen
Injections and apotheosis praeticed
and accorded by history to the fame
and immortal name of Ethan Allen
as demi-god.
In the wilds of the northwest, in
babited by a like rough, uncultivat-
ed people, but equally hardy and
brave, like scenes are being enacted.
A large territory, wild and unculti-
waited, was held by an enormous fur
company for long time with no
purpose to its settlement. At length
civilization or NATURALIZATION be-
gan TO find foothold on it. There
were no forms to aid it; no we'll de-
fined rules for the possession or
transmission of property, and as
soon as this wild country began to
present any appearance of colonial
tion or settlement, it was purchased
by the British government. Gilt
edged agents were sent there who
kneW nothing about the nature,