New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-20

their homes. Up TO that time the territory had been
se eaTy maps So laid Dow down. NewYork for
than hundred years from the date Of her charter bao
| Hampshirc grants had been made and occupied New
York set up the clam that her eastern boundary was
the Connecticut River. The line between that province
| and New-Hsmpshirc was loosely defined la tIe
charters, issued when the geography Of the country
was almost unknown, that IL was impossible 10 10 %
determined by their language. The charters were VI
fact conflicting. The greater influence Of New fork,
and her better means Of prosecuting her case before Inc
order establishing the Connecticut the dividing
line But this was only the arbitrary adjustment OF
a boundary incapable Of other settlement us
legal effect was prospective, not retroactive II esuiD
vested, under which prior and adverse possession
existed, and which had been detived from the common
source Of title, the King OF whom the cODtcsting
governors alike the agents and while the territory
was de facto part Of New iampsbFc Nor Wa .,d y
It should have such an effect When In 1877. three
years later the settlers, resisting the efforts Of New
0 Sn in bTSg the cse n eor, ts body upon
its unanimous and emphatic judgment further grants
to 1884 were positively prohibited by the King.
Mountaineering thls explicit order We Colonial
in large quantities, of lands occupied adversely under
the NewiiampShire titles, without the least regard to
the rights Of The Inhabitants, the distressing
quences in which they would be involved. These
grants were made not to settlers but ~ spectators and
political fsvortes upon payment Of enormous fees to
the Governor. Not even compensation was offered
Tor me improvements which mad given the lands all
tho value they had rescued them from the savage and
the wild beast, and made them habtable BY man. No
greater outrage had been attempted under the forms
wond not only have been In violation of fundamental
Prin,e,ipes II it had been done by the Crown but il was
based upon the Judgment Of the Prvy Council.
The ScenpInts Of the Hampsre Grants had no
without counsel, without influence. =. They made
SGf at dGS Sna iP.v naS d.,S at Albany
pet in Vo Dat quarter e rHe% % they he set the author
ity of New-iork at defiance. and resolved to
protect themselves. shcds who came into the Grants
should have defended were maintained by force.
But with the first guns of the Revolution, the people
Of the Grants threw themselves into that struggle.
without regard to its effect upon the contest. to them
much more important, In which they were alTeady
gagged. TicoLde!o2a was taken By Ethan Allen. and
the disastrous expedition against Canada where Allen
was lett a prisoner. They turned ont on The ap-
prOach Of Bulg0yne to garrison TconderOga in such
strength that men enough not left at home to
transport the supplies, which ort of their slender re
sources they poured into that fortress They were
They fought under Warner at Iubbardton before Ben
aiagGh and with Gates at Bemis Heights and Sa
treated from TiconderOga after Burgoynes surrender
capturing the last prisoners and firms the last sho:s
at The remains Of that expedition.
When the authority Of Great Britain was thrown off
by the Declaration of Independence, the organization
Of separate government By the inhabitants Of the
Grants became unavoidable. The jurisdiction of New
Hampshire over them had ceased after the ROYAL order
Of 1904, and with New York they were at war, As
early July, 1876 IN convention assembled at Dor
set. they adopted articles Of association for the pr
January 1777, they resolved 10 form Independent
state under the OF NewCornecticut declaring it
well as against New-YOrk In June, I777, a com
mittee was appointed to draft constitution and the
constitution was ratified and at the first election held
under it Thomas Clitenden was male Governor.
That first constitution Of Vermont cannot be read
without admiration. l pity the man, who In view Of
the time and the circumstances of its composition.
in hardship and poverty, foreign enemy at their very
gates stu more inveterae fo in The sister province
neither statesmen nor lawyers. unframed in political
science or literary accomplishment; but one OF them
having sat in a legislative assembly before. They
were only doing their best under every discourage
ment With such Slender requirements as they had to
D% SH tho pdpe Of Of the that con
tuition Of Pennsylvania, adopted ire year be-
fore, was doubtless in considerable degree their
original And It displayed breadth and elevation
Of yGT ppoi9bnd sag a 0 an Of
looked for in such an assembly. 1t would be an in
erestiHg task to review this constitution, If the flying
hour allowed. Two Or three points only can be
1t con.aned The first prohibition Of slavery ever
which the institution at that time legal Tho
"That all men are born equally free and independ.
ent, and have certain natural inherent and unalten-
tending life and liberty acquiring, possessing and pro
tectns property; a1d pursuing and obtaining hapPi
this country or brought from over sea ought 10 be
holden by law to serve any person as servant.
ner after she arrives TO the age of eighteen years
they arrive to such age; or bound By law for the
payment of debts damages, fines costs. or the Hike"
subject y' that has found its way down to us like
scattered leaf from the foliage of departed year.
child fell into the hands of company OF VernOnters.
commanded by Ebenezer Alien, who had fought with
great distinction at Bennington, he gave her this
writing and set her free
TO whom it may concern. En2TT ye: where's
old taken prisoner on Lakc Champlin with the
British troops the 18th day Of inst. November by a
passed by the Honorable Continental Congress that
all prizes belong to the captivators thereof therefor
captvaors thereof being conscientious that il Is not
lght IN the sight of God to keep slayes; Therefore n
mand % give her and her child their freedom. ! DO
therefore give the said Dinal and her cllid theE
United States Of America, with her behaving as
becometh, AID to trade and traffic for herself and
child, rs though she We're born free, WlthOut behE
molested By any person.
''O'(''''- ''' "EBENEzER ALLEN.
Can't in Col Herricls Regt OF Green Mountain Boys"
There is not much lawyership in the form Of This
document 1t is neither elegant in style, nor faultles
IN be2g Sn @ pro o9c5Skea o e'0'u
Another article in that first consultation should not
seen with a prophetic eye when they founded free
government that its greatest danger was Ike 70 De
The greed for Office which turns places OF public trust
into the Spoils of party and the opportunities Tor
plundor. And they adopted this clause:
AS every freeman TO preserve his independence Of
without a Sufficient estate, ought to have pro-
fessOn calling, trade farm whereby he may honestly
subsst there be 10 necessity for nor use in esab-
fishing Offices of profit; the usual effects Of which
dependence and servility mrecoming freemen in the
possessors or expecants faction, contention, c0rrup-
ton and disorder among the people. lut Ii any mail
Is called into public service to the prejudice Of his
private affairs, he has right 10 reasonable compenss
ton and whenever an Ofce through increase OF fees
otherwise becomes profitable as 10 occasion many
to apply for IT, the profits ought 10 be lessencd by the
legislature
We have lived to see the prohibition of slavery in
the earliest constitution Of Vermont become part of
the fundamental law Of this Nation. May the time be
not far OH when it, declaration against TAFT other and
more widespread curse which scOIrupts and degrades
gOvenIuent, shall be likewise put in force by the
body Of the American people.
one more provision In this instrument may be
quoted. From each representative in the Legislature
required before taking his seat, this declaration
You do believe in one God, the Creator and GOV,
Of the Universe. the rcwarder of the good ana
punisher OF the wicked. And you do acknowledge
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be