The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-23
"a CURIOUS CHAPTER IN YER
MONT HISTORY"

The Other SIde-By J.M.French,M.D
Under the above heading, writer in
the JAN, 'S7, number of the Magazine of
American History, dating his communi-
cation at Ottawa, Canada, charges that
certain of the leading men of Vermont,
previous to its admission to the Union,
were so far wanting in loyalty to the
cause of American liberty, that they en-.
tered into an intrigue the object of
which was a return to British alliance.
The word intrigue he further con.
tinues lis used because the movement
was 80 far from being an open one, that
it was secretly conducted by a few,
without the knowledge and against the
desires of the many who were interest
ed. He adds, If, since that time these
actors in the extraordinary movement
have been idealized for loyalty, it shows
perhaps, how charitaby history has
dealt with them
Documentary. evidence is adduced in
support of the charge, In the Cana
dian archives at Ottawa he says, are
hundreds of old quill.written manu-
scripts. yellowed with time which af-
ford ample proof of Vermont's narrow
escape from becoming British prov
ince.' He then proceeds to give quota
tions from these manuscripts, showing
that when Congress had refused to rec
ognize the independence of Vermont. and
had rejected her application to become
a member Of the sisterhood of States,
Ethan and Ira Allen. Governor Thomas
Chittenden and some few others, enter.
ed into negotiations with General Hal.
dimand, the governor of Canada and
commander of the British forces on tn e
northeast frontier, through the medium
of Captain Justus Sherwood and others,
looking to the establishment of Yer
mont as a separate British province.
Aliens statement of what he might be
willing to do, is given in Sherwood's
own words; Should he have any pro-
posals to make to General Haldimand
heretofore, they would be nearly as fol.
lows: He will expect to command his
own forces. Vermont must be a gov
eminent separate from and independent
Of any other province in America; must
choose their own officers and civil rep.
resentativss, be entitled to all the privil.
eyes of the other States offered by the
Kings Commissioners; and the New
Hampshire Grants as chartered by Ben
ming Wentworth, Governor of New
Hampshire, must be confirmed free from
any patents or claims from New York or
other provinces. If, however, Con
gress should grant Vermont seat in
that Assembly as separate State, then
this negotiation to be at an end and to
be kept secret on both sides
Various extracts from correspondence
follow, all tending in the same line. The
The concluding paragraph of the article
is as folows:-
Il must, however briefly conclude the
result of my examination of these old
manuscripts. They show that subse
quent to these events Governor Chitten-
den carefully preached the subject of a
return to British allegiance in a meet
ing Of the Assembly, which had in the
meantime been elected. He was re.
buked for his presumption in having
any negotiations with General Haldi-
mand, and Messrs. Jones, Wells, Knowl
ton and Beadle lost their seats. So far
as the authorities IN Canada were con-
cerned, they came at last to recognize
that Vermont was endeavoring to carry
lts cause with Congress at the same time
that its governor and the Aliens were
keeping the door of Union open to Can.
ada. Nothing ever came Of these nego-
tiations, although they extended over a
period of two or three years; but the
fact OF their existence, 80 long concealed.
is Of interest to the world, and forms a
page Of history worth preserving"
Having thus considered the charges
from a Canadian point of view, let us
now examine the facts from Vermont
er's standpoint. 1t is now claimed that
the documents are other than genuine.
It is not denied that such negotiations
actually took place. On the other hand
it is both admitted and aNowed that all
these events and many others Of like
tenor. not only actually occurred, but
are we'll known to every student Of Yer
mont history, and have been so for 6
hundred years. The musty records
bring to light no new facts Of impor-
lance. The story in substance has beer
taught in her schools for years, ant
every son of Vermont recalls 1t will
pride and not with shame. as a proof O
the diplomacy and slatesmanshipas wei
IL. .,t.;ot;,r, of bar fret 0nvarnor