New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-07
VERMONT.
A STUDY OF INDEPENDENCE.
AMERICAN COMMONWEALTIIS. VERMONT. a
STUDY OF INDEPENDENTS. >, by hO"i"n ntis ~.
ID. $40. IOutHiOu fiHln


Co.
Tho history of Vermont has been written so
often. and every disputed point III 1t has prer
studied so minutelv that there is little room
for expectation that new material can be dis
covered Bat the annals Of the state are OF so
romantic and stirring a character that no writer
need despair OF producing picturesque an" IN
teresting account off;s genesis ana progress anu
this Mr.. Robinson has enectually accomplished
From the very beginning the fate OF the territory
which was in the fitness OF time TO oe vermont
was Troublesome and disturbed Inc region DE-
tween Lake Champair and the OohHecucut
River was from the closing years OF the seven
tecnth century disputed by the French and Eng
Iish each in turn conducting predatory expedi-
tjons in which Indian warfare was adopted, ana
many fierce and bloody deeds were done IRON
tenac was at first the most vigorous deVlser oil
these expeditions, and his Canadians ana lhulahs'
about equally savage, carried terror Wherever
they went. The English were then AZ disad-
vantage, for the attacks from tanaua were Gov
cred by immense stretches OF forest, IN Whlch 'he
ASSISTANTS concealed themselves untll, oepoucnihS
upon the cleared lands, they fell suddenly upon
the settlements with torch ana scaiplhg-Anl'eS'
Such were tho expeditions against Salmon fa's
md Schenectady. which carried CONSERVATION
*.
but for some time they were attended with ill
success and when Frontcnac struck back he gen
crallv hit the mark Life in the wilderness
during this period was full Of peril The Indians
lnrked in the depths Of the forest. As settlement
was pushed forward toward the frontier Of
Canada. the pioneers had TO guard themselves
dav and night. Every Lighthouse must be po-
tential fortress Every acre must ihe cleared
arms in hand The rife accompanied the plough ;
and even when all possible precautions had hrcn
taken tho risk OF surprise was still Formidable
II WAS in I7o0 that the first beginnings OF settle
mcnt were made in the unnamed region which Is
now Vermont In 1928 Massachusetts, projected
the construction Of fort above Northneld, on
what were called the equivalent lands to Keep
watch on the surrounding country. send eApcdi-
tions ont from time TO time. and afford protcc-
ton TO settlers. The fort was bnllt ana hamcd
Fort Drummer. and was barely completed when IT
sustained an Indian attack.
or course trade with the Indians was not over
looked by the canny Massachusetts, men, and
Fort Dummcr drew much custom from the Jana
dian forts, which fact naturally led to fresh hos
tilites But il is needless 10 rehcarse the familiar
story Of the great and long fight for Canada, and
il is mentioned only because the settlers ot the
future Vermont played an important part IN H..
distinguished themselves by their valor. ana nv
their rugged lives produced band of fighters
not 10 he surpassed for endurance and renowned
for their independent spirit When the trouble
arose over the New Hampshire grants, New-fork
ard Ncw-Hamrehirc were TO discover that these
frontier soldiers were as keen 70 maintain their
RIGHTS against men OF their own blood as against
Frcnchmcn and Indians The heroes Of the war
Ethan Allen. Warner Stark, and their peers,
became the formidable "Grcrn Mountain BOYS,
and within their jurisdiction no writ OF 6overnor
Clinton's was allowed 10 run. Shcrihs were
dcfied thci- deputies seized and whipped, ana the
Green Mountain Boys carried things with a hgh
hand. Governor Clinton and his assembly fnmcd
and -tormct. and threatened great things hu' 'nc
recalcitrants would not submit coul@ not be CO.
creed and finally bad 20 bc left alone.
When the war Of independence came the YER
montcrs THAT were 70 be- were among H'e Ifs'
a, the from. and did valiantly. ~ always Bnt
the Continental CoagrcSs which more often than
not acted foolishly and impoliticy, was strongly
disposed IN take the sidN ~ Ncw-York In the long
drawn-out land dispute. and tried 70 cocrc" Yer
mont into surrendcring her righte Ihen broke
out tha. sturdy independence which had already
beer manifested so often previously Vermont
turned hcrcely on Congress. dehed lts authority
and denied it's lurisdcton-nay more, hlnted that
II Congress disappointed its Just expectations there
were other powers 10 treat with, ana tha'
Great Britain would doubtless be very willing TO
accord Justice to people who occupied 30 i'm
portant position upon the Canadian iropuer'
This intimstion. OF course. reused uneasincss at
Philadelphia. but perverse influences continued
dominant. and the Vermonters. who meant TO have
their way, opened negotiations with the British
commander in Canada This phase Of the story Is
developed in Mr. Robinsons chapter on the Iialdi-
mand letters. concerning which a great deal has
been written At this distance there seems no
reason for doubling that Ira Allen. who manipu-
lated the NEGOTIATIONS was so overcrafty that IN
effect he laid himself and his co-workcrs oper to
the charge Of playing false TO both sides
Tie truth apparently is that hc was ready TO
use any means whether foir or unfair TO accom-
psh his end which the conquest OF Con-
eress Vermont was 10 be admitted TO the con-
federacy on equal terms That was the goal.
There was no serious intention Of making an
alliance with the British but It was necessary TO
make Congress believe that such an intention
was seriously entertained As TO deceivlng
General Iladmand, the presumption is that Ira
Allen thou Iht lightly Of it. Probably ho re-
gardcd il as kind OF spelling Of the Egyptians
However that may he, Aliens audacious and not
particularly moral scheme succeeded. Congress
came over, the difficulties were overcome, and Yer
mont was admitted 20 the siserhood OF States
Peace arrived presently. and TO the great relief
Of all concerned, for both sides had had more than
enough OF fighting. and the material interests of
the country had too long been thrown into the
background.
Vermont now applied herself TO the further
ance of peaceful industries, and rapidly advanced
beyond pioneer conditions, developing manu-
features, exploiting the States mineral and other
resources, and pushing forward in every direc-
ton The war Of 1912 made fresh demands
upon her, and she responded with noble deeds
1ycn peace ensncd once more and with it the
renewal of progress, until the outbreak Of the
Southern rebellion Vermont had been Of
thc first American communities to denounce and
reject human slavery, and she now started up full