that altho' the State is determined not to Relinquish it's Right of Jurisdiction to the Country distinguished by the New Hampshire Grants unless Congress should agreeable to our Act of Submission judicially determine it not to be comprehended within our Boundaries, yet that we are disposed to every measure for confirming the Inhabitants in their Titles and Possessions as to Right of Soil and for healing animosities, which either Justice Expediency or even Generosity can dictate; and I would wish that these Copies might be as diffusively and expeditiously dispersed as possible throughout the whole of the Grants; as I flatter myself that the Inhabitants will be thereby convinced that while we resolve to maintain that authority which is essential to the Peace and Welfare, not only of this State, but of the whole Confederacy. We never had it in contemplation to deprive Individuals of their Property and that under this Conviction every Cause of Jealousy will cease and the Inhabitants will return to their allegiance to this State; and I would particularly recommend in order that they may entitle themselves to the security, with respect to their Titles and Possessions, intended by one of the Acts, that Agents or Deputies may be elected in the Towns conformadable thereto and I pledge myself that Commissioners will be immediately appointed and every other measure taken on the part of this State for carrying the good intentions of the Legislature into effect. It may not be improper for me to remind you that Congress by their act of the 24th September 1779 expressly declare it to be the Duty of the People inhabiting on the Grants to abstain from exercising any Power over any Inhabitants who profess to owe allegiance to this State and that this State ought to suspend executing its Law over any of the Inhabitants except such as profess themselves to be its Subjects. This State has during the whole of the Time since the Controversy was submitted to Congress hitherto strictly observed this Recommendation of Congress; and should any Person under pretence of authority from the assumed Government attempt to enforce their Laws, you will perceive that Resistance by force is in every point of view justifiable and the Faith and Honor of Congress is pledged for your support. You doubtless are apprised that there is the fullest Evidence of a criminal and dangerous Intercourse between some of the Leaders in the assumed Government and the common Enemy and this I trust will be an additional Inducement with such who profess to be friends to the Cause of America to interest themselves in prevailing with their fellow citizens to return to their allegiance and by that means disappoint the views of a Combination who from inotives of self Interest and ambition would enter into a league with the Enemy and sacrifice the Liberties of their Country. Should those overtures be rejected and prove ineffectual for the reestablishment of Peace and good Government and should Congress delay or wholly decline to decide on the Question of Boundary, it is evident that the State has no alternative left, but must necessarily have recourse to compulsory means to maintain those Rights and enforce that authority so essential to our future Peace and Security. I am with great Respect & Regard Gentlemen Your most obedt seryt GEO: CLINTON. To the Gentlemen of the Convention of Committees from the Towns of Brattleborough Guilford & Halifax in Cumberland County. Sir GOV. CLINTON TO JOEL BIGELOW ESQ. Pokeepsie 15th September 1782. From the Conversation between us you are already apprized of the Measures I have taken in Consequence of the Information I received relative to the late outrage committed by the Inhabitants on the Grants who oppose the Government of this State and you may be assured the moment I am informed of the Effects these Measures may produce I shall communicate them to you-until the Result of the present application to Congress I would, as heretofore recommended to our Friends still to persevere in the Line of Conduct pointed out by the Resolve of Congress in abstaining from all acts of Force or Violence except when their immediate self Defence shall compel them to have Recourse to resistance by Arms. At the same Time should the Government of the pretended State continue to hold the Prisoners in Confinemeut I would then think it justifiable and advisable that attempts should be made for their Release, and if this cannot be effected then that an equal number of the Insurgents should be taken & brought to this or any other Place of Security in the State where they can be detained as Hostages for the security and Indemnity of the subjects of this State whom they have made Prisoners of I am Sir your most obedt Servt Mr Joel Biglow. GEO: CLINTON. GOV. CLINTON TO THE CONVENTION OF CUMBERLAND CO. Gentlemen Pokeepsie 27th September 1782. You doubtless have been informed by Mr Biglow that I immediately transmitted an account of the late Outrage committed by Ethan Allen, and others on the subjects of this State and Cumberland County to our Delegates at Philadelphia to be by them communicated to Congress and requesting the immediate Interposition of Congress for your Protection, and for the preservation of the public Peace.. I have this day received an answer from the Delegates which Mr Biglow has perused and from which it appears that altho there was not sufficient Time when my Messenger left Philadelphia for the Congress to come to any Determinaton on the Intelligence yet that there was every Reason to believe they will immediately interpose and exert their authority for your Relief and Protection and you may be assured that the moment I am favored with their Determination it shall be forwarded to you. In the mean Time I will still earnestly recommend to you to persevere in the peaceable Line of Conduct which you have hitherto observed and not to have recourse to Violence or Force unless when the immediate Defence of your Person or Property render it necessary and by no means in order to avert the apprehensions which you experience at present (and which I sincerely regret) to submit to the usurpation or to swerve from your Duty or Allegiance . I am Gentlemen with great Addressed, Respect & Esteem your most obedt serv To the Gentlemen forming a Convention of the Comittees of the Towns of Guilford, Halifax Brattleborough, &c &c &c Cumberland County. GEO: CLINTON. PETITION OF COL. CHURCH IN BEHALF OF HIMSELF AND OTHERS OF THE VERMONT SUFFERERS. * To his Excellency the Governor and the Honourable the Legislature of the State of New York, the Petition of the Subscribers, in behalf of themselves and others most Humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioners and those they represent are Inhabitants of Cumberland County and by their attachment, zeal and activity in Endeavouring to support the Just and Lawfull Authority of New York Incurred a Displeasure from those who stiled themselves Freemen of Vermont, But by the encouragement from the several Resolutions of Congress and Particularly that of the fifth of December 1782, and the laws and Resolutions of the State of New York, your Petitioners were induced to believe that the Lawless and ungratefull usurpers would be brought to submitt to its Lawfull authority, or at least to permitt your Petitioners to remain peaceably on their Farms, under the Jurisdiction of New York, But notwithstanding the Resolutions and Laws, these Lawless usurpers, raised in Arms to the Number of four or five Hundred, Drove some of your Petitioners from their habitations, Imprisoned others, killed one, and wounded others, confiscated their Estates and sold their Effects. Your Petitioners cannot but hope that having thus sacrificed their all, suffered such exquisite Tortures, Banishments, Impris onments in loathsom Goals, half starved, and threatened with being put to Ignominious Deaths, But, that your Honours will take their case into your most serious Consideration, and grant them some relief in their Deplorable Situation, and your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever be good Citizens of the State of New York. New York 24th Feb'y 1786. TIMOTHY CHURCH, Colo., WM. SHATTUCK, Majr., A LIST OF THE CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICERS In the County of Cumberland who were Commissioned by the State of New York, and who have been either Imprisoned Banished or have had their Efects taken from them by the Authority of Vermont and also the amount of their losses, Estimated by a Committee on Oath. |