The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-10-04
FROM 1862 to 1901

tory from the river TO the lake was a
football for outside organizations con-
tending for possession and the mas
terry. and the condition throughout its
territorial eXistance was that of excite
ment and unrest.
In 1862 New York, by virtue of an
extraordinary grant from Charles I'd
to the Duke of York. claimed iurisdic-
ton over about sixty townships of
which grants had been previously made
by Gov. Mesbeck Weare of New
Hampshire; the latter declaring the
former illegal. Attempts were made
to dispossess the settlers, which were
in all cases resisted. In IVA New
York passed despotic law in regard
to the resisting Vermonters, and Gov,
Clinton offered large reward for the
apprehension of Ethan Allen and sew
en- of his most active associates; Allen
in turn threatening to "kill and des-
troy any person or persons whomso
ever If necessary, who attempted to
capture any of them" In an atfray
between contending parties in 1875 at
Winchester Court House, some blood
was shed, which was possibly the only
instance of sangninary conflict.
In 1777 Vermont, by act of her as
sembly, cut loose from outside control
and declared her independence. New
York still urged her claims, attempt
ing to enforce them with her militia !;
and in 1879 New Hampshire laid claim
to the whole territory, while Massa
chusetts speedily followed with coun-
ter claim to about two thirds of it.
Congress under the Confederation was
practically poweress, yet fayoring the
claims OF New York responded to the
remonstrances of Vermont with threat
ening manifestos, But the hardy
mountaineers knew no surrender, and
issued an "appeal to the candid and
impartial world" asserting her right to
separate independence and her firm re-
solve TO maintain IL. Ethan Allen, the
Cour de Lion of the age, in letter to
Congress dated March 8, 1881, wrote !:
"Rather than fail in our struggle to be
free | will retire with my hardy Green
Mountain Boys to tho desolate caverns
of the mountains and wage war with
human nature at large"
The following extract from the Rec
ords of the Council of Safety" dated
Sept. Sd, 1777, shows the temper of the
people and how kindly they disregard
ed the disloyal; G. - ia permit
ted to stay on his farm (but if found
off to expect thirty-nine lashes of the
beech seaD till further order of this
Council" But peace and union sue
ceeded discord and strife, and in 1771,
after long period of continuous con-
f1ct and uncertainty and fifteen years
of nominally independent sovereignty,
the fourteenth star was added to the
constellation and Vermont became the
equal of her oppressors .
The above notes and extracts will
make clear the following intensely pat
riotic poetical et1usion dated 1779,
which NAV interest Vermont readers,
showing that love of Home and State
was not born of the generation now
living.
SONG OF THE VERMONTERS.
Ho, all to the borders! Vermonters come down
With your breeches Of deer-skn and jackets Of brown
With your red wooden caps and your moccasins come
| To the gathering summons OF trumpet and drum
Come down with your rifles let grey wolf and fox
Howl on in the shade Of the primitive rocks
Let the bear feed securely from pig pen and stall.
Here's two-legged game for your powder and ball.
On our South came the Duchman enveloped in grease
And arming for battle while canting for peace;
On our East crafty Aeshech has gathered his band
To hang up our leaders and eat out our land.
Ho, all to the rescued for Satan shall work
No gain for his legions of Hampshire and York.
They claim our possessions the pitiful knaves
The tribute we pay shall be prisons and graves.
Let Clinton and Ten Brock with brides in their hands
Still seek 10 divide and parcel our lands;-
We have coats for our traitors whoever they are
The warp is OF feathers, the filing OF tar.
Does the old Bay State threaten does Congress complain
Swarms Hampshire in arms on our borders again?
Bark the wardogs of Briton aloud on the Lake?
Let them come what they they welcome TO take
What seek they among us? The pride of our wealth
Is comfort, contenment and labor and health,
And lands which freemen only have trod,
Independent of all save the merces OF God.
We owe no allegiance, we bow to no throne:
Our ruler is law and the law is our own.
Our leaders themselves are om own fellowmen,
Who can handle the sword, the scythe or the pen.
Our wives are all true and our daughters are fair,
With their blue eyes of smiles and their light flowing
| hair
All brisk at their wheels till the dark even-fall
Then bthe the sleighride, the husking and ball.
We've sheep on the hlsides and COWS on the plain,
And CAV tasseed fields and rank growing grain
| There deer the mountains and wood pigeons fly
From the crack OF our muskes like clouds IN the sky
And there's fish in our streamets and rivers which take
Their course from the hills broad bosomed lake.
| Through rock-aIched Wnoosk the salmon leaps free,
Aud the portly shad follows all fresh from the
Like sunbeam the pickeIe glides through the pool,
And the spotted trout sleeps where the water cool,
| Or darts from his shelter Of rock and root
AT the beavers quick plunge or the anglers pursuit
| And ours are the mountains which awfuly rise
Till they rest thei green heads the blue Of the Skies
And ours are the forests unwasted, unshom,
Save where the wild blast Of the tempest has torn.
And though savage and wild be this climate Of ours,
| And brief be our season Of fruit and offlowers,
Far dearer the blast refund mountains which
Than the zephyr that breahes over slaves
| Hurrah for Vermont for the land which we till
| Must have sons to defend it from valley and hill
Leave the harvest to rot the field where it grows
And the reaping Of wheat for the slaughter OF foes.
From far Michescom's wild valley to where
Poosoomsuck steals down from his wood-circled lair;
| From Shocktcook river 10 Lutterlock town
Ho, all to the rescued Vermonters come down.
Come York or come Hampshire, traitors and
knaves,
II We rule err our land We shall rule DER graves
| Our vow is recorded, our banner unfured;
! In the name Of VERMONT we defy all the world
There is no medicine so often needed in
every home and so admirably adapted to
the purpose for which it is intended, as
Chamberain's Pain Balm. Hardly week
passes but some member of the family has
| A ahn