clamation, asserting the claims of that colony to the same territory.

312. Progress of the controversy. The government of New York applied to the crown, and in 1764 an order was obtained, in which his majesty declared the Connecticut to be the boundary between New Hampshire and New York, which was considered by New York, as a decision that the territory belonged to that colony. In consequence of which, the government of New York proceeded to divide the territory into counties, erect courts and grant lands. The grants made by New Hampshire, were declared to be invalid, and the grantees were required to surrender them and take new grants under New York. Actions of ejectment were brought and judgmedt recovered against the occupants. Some of the inhabitants complied with the requisitions; and many refused. Controversies succeeded which ended in opposition to the sherif of Albany, confusion and riots. In 1767, the agents of the settlers procured an order of the king to put a stop to the proceedings of New York.

313. Violent measures of New York. In 1772, Governor Tryon of New York made some attempts to effect an amicable adjustment of this controversy; but the claims of the parties could not be reconciled. In 1774, the legislature of New York passed an act, making it felony in any of the settlers to refuse to surrender himself to the orders of the governor and council, and a reward was offered for apprehending seven of the principal settlers. The consequence was a combination on the part of the settlers, to resist the claims of New York by force. An attempt was made in concert with Col. Skeen, to procure this territory to be erected into a separate royal government; but the revolutionary war in 1775, changed the aspect of affairs. The session of the court at Westminster was opposed by force; one man was killed by the military, in attempting to disperse the insurgents;

and a committee of the inhabitants resolved it to be the duty of the settlers to renounce and resist the government of New York, until some security could be obtained for their lives and safety.

314. Proceedings of the settlers during the War. In autumn 1775, some persons attended upon the congress in Philadelphia, to obtain advice; but nothing could be obtained, except the opinions of individuals, that it was prudent to associate and form temporary regulations. In January 1776, a convention at Dorset prepared and transmitted a memorial to congress, manifesting their readiness to bear a full proportion of the burdens of the war, but not to be considered as belonging to New York.

Another convention in July 1776, entered into an association for the defense of their rights, and in September, they resolved to take measures for erecting their territory into an independent state. A general convention was called and met in January 1777, at Westminster. On the 16th of that month, it was resolved that the "district of territory, called New Hampshire grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared to be an independent state." To this territory was given the name of Vermont, which signifies green mountain, from the mountains of that name, running through the state.

315. Proceedings of Congress in regard to Vermont. No sooner was a government and state formed in this territory, than an application was made to congress by the convention, to be received into the confederacy as an independent state. To this measure, the state of New York made a most formidable opposition; and to prevent a rupture, or dangerous altercations with New York, congress was obliged to decline receiving Vermont into the Union, and avoid any act that should be construed into an acknowledgment of the independence of that state. New Hampshire had long before ceased to exercise jurisdiction over the territory and had withdrawn all claims to the property.

316. Extension of Vermont Jurisdiction. By the original grants to Mason, under which New Hampshire was settled, the colony could not claim more than sixty miles of territory from the mouth of the Pascataqua. But several towns west of that line were settled and governed by New Hampshire by common consent. In 1778, sixteen of the towns on the east of the Connecticut, and not within the limits of the grants to Mason, petitioned to be united with Vermont. This question was referred to the people, and the assembly in June 1778, voted to receive them into the jurisdiction of Vermont. This measure alarmed New Hampshire, and produced warm remonstrances to Vermont, and to congress. That body was much displeased, and the next assembly in Vermont voted not to erect the sixteen towns into a county, which was a virtual disavowal of their former proceedings.

317. Claims to Vermont. The inhabitants of the sixteen discarded towns, and some of the towns on the west of the Connecticnt, made a feeble attempt to erect another state, whose center and seat of government should be on the river; but without success. To prevent such confusion and altercation, Vermont, in February 1779, voted to dissolve the union with the sixteen towns. Soon after this step, New Hampshire voted to assert her claims to the whole territory, as far as the bounds of New York, and New York asserted her claim also to the whole territory, as far as the Connecticut. Massachusetts also set up a claim to a part of the same lands. In this state of things, the governor of New York exercised acts of authority within Vermont, and every thing wore the appearance of an appeal to arms. Some military officers commissioned by the governor of New York, were taken prisoners by Col. Allen of Vermont; but upon the governor's application to congress, they were liberated.

318. Proceedings of Congress on that occasion.

Congress directed their commissioners, appointed for the purpose, to inquire into the facts relative to these controversies; but this inquiry produced no reconciliation. Congress therefore, in September 1779, recommended to the parties concerned, to pass laws authorizing congress to hear and determine their dif ferences. New York and New Hampshire complied; but Vermont declined it, as did Massachusetts. The government of Vermont published an appeal, in which it was maintained that congress ought not to intermeddle with the police and government of that state, or arbitrate upon its rights. In June 1780, congress resolved that the proceedings of Vermont were highly unwarrantable, and subversive of the peace and welfare of the United States. In September, congress began to hear evidence of the claims of the states, to the territory of Vermont, but the business was left unfinished.

319. Extension of the jurisdiction of Vermont. Vermont being pressed by its opposers, determined to enlarge the limits and augment the strength of the state. By means of circular letters, a convention was called of delegates from towns on the east side of the river. Forty three towns agreed to unite with Vermont, and in February 1781, their desire was notified to the assembly of Vermont at Windsor, Upon which the assembly on the 14th of that month, resolved to claim the jurisdiction of all the territory in New Hampshire, west of the Mason line. On the 22d the articles of union were ratified. Some persons within the limits of New York, having intimated a desire to be united with Vermont, for protection, the assembly on the 14th of February, resolved to extend their claims of jurisdiction to the river Hudson.

320. Negociations of Vermont with the British Commander. Not having been able, by repeated applications, to procure an admission into the union of the states. the leaders in Vermont adopted the plan of exciting the jealousy of congress, by entering into

a negotiation with the British commanders in New York and Canada; and by making it believed, that, if not received into the union, the state would put itself under the protection of the British government. This negotiation was attended with this good effect; ît amused the British with the hope of detaching that state from the American confederacy, and induced them to suspend hostilities on its frontiers. This farce was continued, with great address about three years, until the peace of 1783.

321. Measures which led to the admission of Ver mont into the Union. On the 7th of August 1781, congress resolved to appoint a committee of five to confer with the agents of the several contending states, respecting the claims of Vermont to independence. On the 20th of the same month, they resolved it to be a preliminary to the recognition of Vermont as an independent state, that all its claims east of the Connecticut, and within twenty miles of the Hudson, should be relinquished. In October, these resolutions were considered by the assembly of Vermont, but it was determined not to comply with the conditions. In this situation of affairs, New Hampshire and New York prepared to repel the usurpations of Vermont upon their territory, with force of arms. Fortunately, no blood was shed, and in January 1782, General Washington interposed his influence, and like a guardian angel, persuading the rulers of Vermont to recede from their unwarrantable claims, pointed out to them the way to safety. On the 28th of February 1782, the assembly of Vermont withdrew their claims within their original limits, the Connecticut on the east and New York line on the west.

322. New sources of altercation. In the county of Windham, were some persons attached to the gov ernment of New York, who opposed the raising and paying of men for protecting the frontiers of Vermont and who attempted to exercise the powers of government under authority from the government of New