The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-08-06
VERMONT AND GRANITE
STATE ONCE NEAR WAR

History records many events nearly
forgotten which are often prominently
brought into the limeight by the hap
penings of modern times.
Just now Vermont and New Hamp.
shire are in the lmelight because OF
the unfortunate labor troubles over
the removal Of large drive of logs
from the Connecticut river, which is
the boundary line between the two
states.
Among the peculiar situations upon
two sides OF controversies, which have
arisen in the past decades upon polit
ical questions, few are of greater in
terest than what happened between
Vermont and New Hampshire lao years
ago
Two men prominent in the Connect
cut valley and men we'll known in local
history in the vicinity of Bellows Falls
were prominent actors in a controversy
which for some months threatened to
l plunge the states OF Vrmont and New
Hampshire into civil war, and, in fact.
, aeoh state actually ordered out its
: mil tary fully equipped and ready to
/. march against each other at a nom.
ent's notice. Only for calm, conserv-
alive consideration of the others side
OF disputed questions, and a strong re-
). luctance to cause blood shed upon the
part of both states, the collision would
nave occurred and the subsequent his
= tory of peaceful and mutually happy
:, relations would have been reversed.
Vermont was then an independent
commonwealth, not a member OF the
Z United States and without ties to
II other states or nations New Hamp-
} shire was one OF the original 13 states
of the Union. Forty-fve towns east
h OF the Connecticut river had voted
h by large majorities to join themselves
u to the republic of Vermont, and Yer
mont had accepted them. For some
Il monthes the majority and minority Of
h these 45 towns and each had their own
9. separate board of officers. and each
IS had by this means representative
in the Vermont and also the New
- Hampshire legislatures.
~ A county known as Washington
~ county Vt. had ben formed OF towns
in the New Hampshire territory, with
N Charestown as its shire town. DR..
a. William Page was high sheriff of this
county under Vermont authority. and
at the same time Col Enoch Hale was
le high sheriff OF Cheshire county. as
y the same territory was known in New
m Hampshire. AS both governments had
- their own separate courts governing
- one and the same people, no dec sions
~ could be enforced by either side, owing
to the opposition of the other The
M legislature OF Vermont had met al
p' Charlestown in October, 1881 A
NJ cash of authority was sure to come
,c Early in November OF that year
ls Sheriff Page under Vermont authority
ny had arrested two cit zens OF West
e. moreland for some offense. The legis
~ lature OF New Hampshire, then sitting
at Exeter, passed a special statute EN-
nd powering Col. Hale to 80 to Charles
ON town and release these men held un
on der the pretended authority OF Yer
in mont Failing to accomplish this hi
y. was to call on the militia for assist
"a ance.
re. He went to Charlestown and de
lat manded of Jailer Ely the release O
lg' the prisoners. Being refused he mad,
re- show of attempt at breaking into jai
and was promptly arrested and paceC
in Jail himse I. The affair being re
ported to the governors OF both Yer
mont and New Hamr sire Governor
., Oh ttenden Of Vermont authorize,
Dr. Page. with two Vermont Justices
of the peace to go to Exeter and en-
is deavor to arrange some peaceabl,
I'd solution OF the difficulty regarding au
I'll thority over this territory. Upoi
DIS their arrival at Exeter they were al
IN promptly arrested by direct warran
from the president of the Council O
New Hampshire and confined there il
Jail.
The governors of each state at ono
=, lordered regiment OF militia to b.
~ armed and equipped. ready to march a
a moments notice. to maintain tn
Sc gnity OF their respective common
ro' wealths. In this situation. with bot
ia. sheriffs in jail. and exc tment runnin
y high among the people on both side
ne Of the Connect cut the strained cor
Jas ditions remand for some weeks
IN Governor Chittenden opened persons
eaS correspondence with General Washinl
Ihe ton (whu was not elected as the frs
oN' president until 1881 through the la
;, ter's calm and conservation advic
nc Vermont was induced to give up a
l.u claim to territory east of the Connect
ON cut river. although the indlvidus
OF towns still held by large maiorit
'lr to their original wish to remain a PAL
'sN of that state The west bank of tn
VI river was fixed upon as the dlvidin
line and 1t so remains today althoug
its location is var.ously questioned.
i've The sheriffs were released upon the
" own recognizances about January
OF 1882. and We're never brought to tria
ish They both became few vears lot,
isl prominent and influential busine.
ous men of Bellows Falls and we're fir
10 friends Very soon after this Vernon
srh' was admitted as the l4th state of II
nan Union. this incident being one of III
UNI strong points in demonstrating IL
ing wisdom Of the admission.
10 Col Enoch Haze In 1885 butt Il
nat first toll bridge across the Connect
gov cut river and owned and managed
for wears He was n leading ciizf
YES and land holder in the town of Roc
us' irgham aud village Of BE lows Far
.. He was moderator at the town meetr
eN0 hold SpnIatnhnr 1908 ava 80 d.e,