Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-08-17
vERMONTS MOUNTAIN RULE"
Article by Frederick w. Baldwin,
Attorney, of Barton.
Tells in New England Magazine of
Practice Unrecognixcd by
Law but Rooted in
Tradition.


fck ". Baldwin. attorney and counselor
at law OF Barton.
Vermont is divided into two nearly
parts. says Mr.. Baldwin. by range
of hills known as tho Green Mountains
These form a ridge running north and
south. the length OF the State and sub
stantially along its central line.
This physical condition has given rise
to the political arrangement known as
the Mountain Rule" a practice rooted
in tradition, unrecognized by law, but
as binding in effect as the constitution
itself. BY this custom. nominations and
appointments to political office are so
arranged that an equal opportunity Of
political patronage is extended to the
people on both sides of the grand divi-
sion. Verrnonts most exhaustive his
torical writer. Hon L. p. Walton, says
The rule has always been accepted
from the admission of Vermont to the
Union" Vol. 8, p. 4: @ and c.. This
event occurred In 1871, and separates
the subsequent history of the State
from the preceding. colonial period
which dates from the settlement Of Yer
mont IN 1724
The history Of Vermont is. in some
respects the most remarkable of that
Of any OF the United States The first
settlers were a plain. Industrious, hardy
race of men. who had emigrated, for
the most part, from Massa chusetts and
Connecticut, with no idea Of forming an
Independent republic, but merely to make
homes for themselves and their children
in the much-talked of New Hampshire
Grants"
Previous to 1865 II WIS generally under
stood both IN England and America, that
the province of New Hampshire extend
ed westerly TO twenty mile line from
the Hudson river and Lake Champlain,
and this included the present State OF
Vermont.
In accordance with this understanding,
Bennng Wentworth, governor OF New
Hampshire from the year l7i9 TO 1894,
granted In the kings name. one hundred
and thirty-eight townships Of land each
of about six miles square, and all situat-
ed between the Connecticut river and
the said twenty mile line.
July 20. 1854, King George declared the
western boundary OF the Connecticut
river to be the boundary between New
Hampshire and New York.
The governor of New York treated the
grants made by the governor Of New
Hampshire. as utilities. and the settlers
under them as trespassers. Suits IN
e5ectment were brought before the SUI
preme court at Albany, and judgments
rendered against the settlers, in every
case; but attempts to execute these
judgments, by dispossessing the settlers
met with determined and obstinate
resistance
In ITO convention OF the settlers, was
called at Bennington, and passed the
following resolution: Resolved, to sup
port our rights and property, which we
possessed under the New Hampshire
grants against the governor and coun-
Gil of New York, by force as law and
Justice have been denied US"
The result of this action was. that sew.
eral Of the moro prominent settlers were
indicted by the courts OF New York as
rioters" reward was offered for the
apprehension Of Ethan Allen, Seth War.
ner and others.
In 1T4, the government of New Yorl
passed an act. which put an end to al
prospect Of reconciliation. 1t declared
that unless the offenders SURRENDERED
themselves to the authorities Of New
York within the space Of seventy days
they should be indicted, for capita
offense, in court Of the colony, be con
victed Of felony, and suffer death with
out the benefit Of clergy.
September Is, 1916 there was a conven.
ton held at Dorset at which thirtyfive
towns were represented ten from thu
east and twenty-five from the west sid,
of the mountains At this convention. Z
resolution was passed with a dissentine
vote ito take suitable measures, soor
as may be, to declare the New Hamp
shire grants, free and independent dis
trict."
This convention was adjourned iron
time to time until July ., lit, at Wind
sor, when a constitution was adopted
an election ordered n regiment of sol
ders organized and a council Of safet,
elected to manage the affairs of the new
republic. until the government Shout,
become operative under the constitution
From December 10, 1915 to July .. III
six conventions were held, three on tn
east side and three upon the west sid
Of the Green Mountains"
The first general assembly Of III
young republic. was held at Windsor
March y, 1873 and from that time unit
March 4, 1891, thirteen years. when Yer
mont was admitted into the union. It
general assembly had met twenty eigh
times, fourteen on the east and four
leen upon tho west side of the Gree
Mountains" usually alternating betwee
the sides of the State
During this time, the governors wer
taken from the west side, and the lieu
tenant governors. from the east side.
At tho October 1870 session of the Les
passed; providing; that Alden Spoono
of Windsor should he State printer tina
year, and that thereafterwards, Haswe
e. Russell of Bennington, and Mr.. Spoor
err. should alternate as state printers,
The territory comprising the new reu =
lie was pra ctically a wilderness, n rang
OF high Mountains reaching its ent1
length, covered with heavy forests; II
entire territory made up of mountai
and valley, clear mountain streams run
ming down to Lake Champlain and II
Hudson river on the west side; and
Lake Memphremagog and the Connet
ticut river on the east side OF the rang
Nearly all buildings we're made of los
while the greater part of everything II
Iettlers needed, whether for food or clOtl
ing, had to be there produced. A 70
fign country to the north was at Wf
with the Republic of America to Il
west "A hostile province endeavoured
deprive them of the homes, they ha
bought dearly
Every settler strove to defend not on
n ic hn,, hut