The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-06-09

OF Marcn IN winch SeNeTdl lOTheTS
were killed and wounded, (the Yer
monters also suffered casualties) and
before the close of the year the York
ers found their property mostly con-
fiscated and themselves so harshly
handled by the civil and military au-
thority of Vermont that they either
submitted and took the oath of allie
glance to the state, or abandoned the
country. A greater part OF them fled
into the state of New York and set
tied up lands granted by that state
for the benefit of the sufferers.
This dispersion OF her partisans
from the county of Windham termi-
mated the attempts OF New York to
maintain her authority in Vermont
by means of military force, and al
though she did not readily acknowl-
edge the independence of Vermont, she
from this period relinquished all hope
of overthrowing its government.
During the session of the court
Westminster had presented more the
appearance of military encampment
than of a peaceful village. With the
departure of the dignitaries of the
bench, the lawyers of the bar, and the
prisoners in the dock, it again as
sumed its wonted aspect, and the roll
OF the drum and shrill notes of the
fife gave place to the music of the
sleighbells of winter and left to their
ff,,u ttr h. nf
Tor the rest of the season.
During the next season New York
delegation, aided by Charles Phelps,
had succeeded in bringing Congress in
to hostility to Vermont. The action of
Vermont towards her rebellious inhab-
itants was denounced, and the peo-
pie inhabiting said districts claiming
independence" were required to make
full restitution to the persons wno had
been banished and deprived of their
property
Gov Chittenden returned forcible
and spirited answer, reminding Con
gress of its solemn engagements to
Vermont. The course pursued toward
the rebellious persons at Guilford was
justified on the ground that nearly all
of those banished or fined, had taken
the oath OF allegiance to Vermont and
| were according to the resolutions of
| Congress Itself. amenable to no Other
| laws but those of Vermont. Gov
Chittenden's remonstrance closed by
| earnestly soliciting the admission cl
| Vermont to the Union.
| Mai. Stephen hoe Bradley of West
minister, and Gen. Ethan Allen, each
prepared printed proclamations de
Tending the policy of the Vermont
Republicans, and these papers were
widely circulated in the Continental
| Army and in Congress.
The threat of Congress certainly had
not the effect of awing Vermont in
| to any compliance with its demand
No reparation was made; and whel
two OF the banished men (Church ant
| Phelps) yentured to return, they wer,
seized and imprisoned. but were re
leased on their promise OF submission
to the laws of Vermont.
For eight years after peace had beer
| signed with Great Britain, Congress,
continued TO yacillate and evade Yer
| monts plea for admission to The
Union. But after this long delay there
was small reason for the little State
unencumbered by debt and growing IL
wealth and population at an unpre
cedented rate, to desire admission t
an uncertain Union; for now she wa
to all intents and purposes an indie
pendent nation. code of laws ha,
been enacted. a standard of weights
and measures prescribed. the value o
coins regulated, and a postal servic,
established.
In the United States, taxes wsr,
heavy and pressing, Silver money hat
nearly disappeared. and the cncu
lating medium of continental bills hat
deprecated, so that in some cases III
exchange was 24O to /, and eyesybod,
was clamorous for settlement,
On the other hand. Vermont beinj
out Of the confederation, could not b.
called upon to bear any part of tn
L uNbl Itu ~ wal
| But while Vermont continued in
different to Congress. 1t had at lengtl
become apparent to New York tina
the admission of the State to tn
Union would be to her own advantage
and singularly enough, Vermonts fna
admission to the Union was largely aC
complished through the agency of he
ancient enemy. Even the most OF
stinate now began to see that Their
was no hope OF retaining the dispute,
territory. They also saw that the pow
er and influence of the Northern State
in Congress would be increased by tn
admission of another from that sec
ton.
Standing in this altered position
both parties now made a move tc
wards comfy. Commissioners from
the two states met each other, an,
New York agreed that upon the pay
ment of 100000 as an indemnity al
claims and titles granted by the Stat
of New York in the disputed territor
should cease; and on February Is
1871, Congress declared that on tn
4th of March ensuing, Vernon
should be admitted "as n new and en-
tire member of the United States o
America"
| Thus were our forcfathers admitte,
to the Union, after forty years struc
gle to maintain their rights, whicl
happily has no parallel In this country
| Tho uinrv 80 our ,toto,. 80.