Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-11-24
v,rmonrs New cor OId) Claim TO Dis
tincttOn.

VtrmOnts New Cor Old Claim 60 Dis
tinetiOn.
In an article contributed to the Novem-
Der number of the Vermonter Frank L.
Greene, the editor of the st. Adams Mes
senger, records and proves the interesting
historical fact that the policy Of expansion
in the United States began with the admis-
sion of Vermont to the Union in 1901.
With regard to this policy Of expansion,
Mr.. Greene says, there has been a great
ransacking of history ever since our war in
the Philippines began, and
"All the arguments presented up to this
time date the first manifestation of the
idea of expansion from the Louisiana pur-
chase during President Jefferson's admin
istration in 1908. As matter of fact, the
first acquisition Of Independent, II not
strictly foreign, territory by the United
States was the admission of Vermont to
the Union In 1901.
"Vermont had then for fourteen years
maintained her existence as sovereign
republic, with her own governor, council,
legislative body, courts, army, postmaster
general, post routes and post-offices, her
own peculiar stamp and coinage; in fact,
with fully developed and thoroughly or
ganized independent government, which
had been called into existence by her own
declaration of independence in 1777 And
all this was so well established and so thor
oughly recognized, and the isolation of
Vermont from the Thirteen Original States
was so apparent and pronounced, that even
the agents of Great Britain for two years
conducted negotiations with her leading
men in the hope of at least saving that
much of the colonies 70 the mother cOun-
try through some measure of honorable and
generous compromise.
"Once these facts are called to mind, it
scarcely seems necessary to strengthen the
novel statement l have advanced by a null
titude of detail, for the splendid isolation
of the little Green Mountain common
wealth throughout the stormy days of the
Revolution was long ago recognized as a
conspicuous feature of the romantic his
tory of old New England"
In the summary of fact and argument
which follows in his article Mr.. Greene
shows that when the Declaration Of indie
pendence was adopted by the thirteen colo
mics they were each, in effect, an independ-
ent state, and during all the period Of the
Revolution they were bound together only
by the slender thread of the Confederation
Vermont was never a member of this Con-
federation, she had no representation in
the Continental Congress, and was gov.
erned only by her own Committee of Safety.
New Hampshire had abandoned her claim
to jurisdiction over the New Hampshire
Grants tout of which Vermont had formed
ITSELF and New York had business enough
on her hands as a rebel against English
rule without attempting to continue hel
effort to reduce the unruly Green Noun
tain boys TO submission. Congress hat
been repeatedly petitioned by Vermont fol
recognition, but that body, fearing to offenC
an influential member like New York at ;
critical time, had automatically tabled al
such petitions.
Under such circumstances independence,
was the only status for Vermont, and tn,
independence, declared by the Westmins
ter convention of 1777, she resolutely main
tanned until, in 1871, the time was ripe ant
the sovereign little state relinquished he
independence TO become the first addition
TO the ranks of the Old Thirteen. Ant
when she did this, and her membership II
the Union had become fact, the first &C
Of Expansion" on the part of the Unite,
States had taken place.
Here is a very good and proper bit o
reading for the third and fourth classes Il
our Vermont schools this winter.