whatever, but they were willing at present to refer the question of their jurisdictional boundary to commissioners, mutually chosen; and when they should be admitted into the American Union, they would submit any such disputes to congress."

The state of society within the seceding towns at this time was very unhappy. The majorities attempted to control the minorities, and these were disposed not to submit, but to seek protection of the government with which they had been connected. At the same time and in the same place justices, sheriffs, and constables, appointed by the authority of both states, were exercising jurisdiction over the same persons. Party rage, high words, and deep resentment were the effect of these clashing interests. An affray which began in the town of Chesterfield threatened a scene of open hostility between the states of New Hampshire and Vermont.

A constable, appointed by the authority of Vermont, had a writ in an action of debt against a man who was in the interest of New Hampshire.

He found the man, in company with a number of people of Nov. 14. his own party, and attempted to arrest him. The owner of the house interposed. The constable produced a book, which he said contained the laws of Vermont, and began to read. The owner of the house forbade him. Threatening words were used, and the officer was compelled to retreat. By a warrant from a Vermont justice, the householder and another of the company were committed to prison in Charlestown. They sent a petition to the assembly of New Hampshire for relief. The assembly empowered the Committee of Safety to direct the sheriff of Cheshire to release the prisoners. They Nov. 28. farther empowered the committee to cause to be apprehended and committed to prison in any of the counties all persons acting under the pretended authority of the state of Vermont, to be tried by the courts of those counties where they might be confined; and for this purpose the sheriffs were empowered to raise the posse comitatus.

1782. Jan. 12.

In attempting to release the two prisoners from Charlestown gaol the sheriff himself was imprisoned by the Vermont sheriff, under the authority of a warrant from three justices. The imprisoned sheriff applied to a brigadier-general of New Hampshire to raise the militia for his liberation. This alarmed the Vermonters, and orders were issued by the governor for their militia to oppose force with force. A committee of Vermont was sent to Exeter "to agree on measures to prevent hostilities." One of this committee was the Vermont sheriff. He was immediately arrested and thrown into prison at Exeter, and there held as a hostage for the release of the sheriff of Cheshire. The assembly issued a proclamation allowing forty days for the people in the revolted towns to repair to some magistrate of New Hampshire, and subscribe a declaration that they acknowledged the extent of New Hampshire to Connecticut river, and that they would demean themselves peaceably as good citizens of the state. They also ordered the militia of all the counties to hold themselves in readiness to march against the revolters.

While affairs wore such a threatening aspect between the two states, means were used at congress to take up the controversy on more general ground. A committee who had under consideration the affair of admitting Vermont into the Union and determining its boundaries, prevailed on General Washington, then at Philadelphia, to write to the governor

of Vermont, advising to a relinquishment of their late extension as an "indispensable preliminary" to their admission into Jan. I, the Union, intimating, also, that upon their non-compliance 1782. they must be considered as having a hostile disposition tow

ards the United States, in which case coercion on the part of congress, however disagreeable, would be necessary.*

This letter had the desired effect. The assembly of Vermont, taking advantage of the absence of the members from the eastern side of the river, obtained a majority for complying with the Feb. 22. preliminary, and resolved that the western bank of Connecticut river on the one part, and a line drawn from the north-west corner of Massachusetts northward to Lake Champlain on the other part, be the eastern and western boundaries of the state of Vermont, and that they relinquished all claim of jurisdiction without those limits." When the members from the eastern side of Connecticut river arrived, they found themselves excluded from a seat in the assembly, and took their leave with some expressions of bitterness.

After this compliance, it was expected that Vermont would be admitted into the Union, and the question was solemnly put in congress; but a majority decided against it, to the no small disappointment of many persons, beside the inhabitants of the disputed terri- Apr. 14. tory. The pretence for this decision was, that they had exceeded the limited time; but they had complied with the "indispensable preliminary," and the order of congress requiring it stood unrepealed. Though cut off from their connexion with Vermont, the revolted towns did not at once return to a state of peace; but the divisions and animosities which had so long subsisted continued to produce disagreeable effects. The judicial courts of New Hampshire had sat without much interruption in the counties of Cheshire and Grafton, whilst the officers of Vermont held jurisdiction also; but when the latter were excluded by the act of the Vermont assembly, a spirit of opposition began to arise against the sitting of the former.

When the inferior court was holden at Keene, a number of persons appeared to oppose its proceedings, and effected their purpose so

far as to make an adjournment necessary; but three of the lead- Sept. ers of the opposition were arrested and bound over to the superior court. In the mean time efforts were made to raise a party who should oppose the superior court; and it was reported that two hundred men had associated and armed themselves for that purpose. On the morning before the court was opened several of the leaders Oct. came to the judge's chambers, and presented a petition praying "that the court might be adjourned, and that no judicial proceedings might be had whilst the troubles in which the country had been involved still subsisted." They were told that the judges could come to no determination on the subject but in open court. When the court was opened their petition was publicly read, and the consideration of it was postponed to the next day. The court then proceeded to its common business. The grand jury being impanneled, the doors of the house where they met were kept open whilst the attorney-general laid before them the case of the rioters at the inferior court. A bill was found against them. They were arraigned, they pleaded guilty, and cast

The letter of General Washington will be found among the papers which follow, in its proper place.-ED.

themselves on the mercy of the court. The court remitted their punishment on condition of their future peaceable behaviour. This well-judged combination of firmness and lenity disarmed the insurgents, and they quietly dispersed. From that time the spirit of opposition to government in that quarter gradually abated, and the people returned to their connexion with New Hampshire.

SECTION IV.

DISCONTENT IN THE BORDER TOWNS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE LYING EAST OF CONNECTICUT RIVER.

NOTE BY THE EDITOR.

Readers will please bear in mind that on the 5th of January, 1776, the general assembly of New Hampshire "took up civil government,' and adopted what was called a " temporary constitution," to continue during the war then commenced with Great Britain (see State Pap. N. H., vol. VIII, pp. 2-4). Soon after, they assumed the name of the "State of New Hampshire," of which Hon. Meshech Weare was the chief magistrate, with the title of "President of the Council." This temporary constitution, it appears, was not acceptable to a portion of the people.

Extract of a Letter from Hon. Meshech Weare to New Hampshire Delegates in Congress,* dated

GENTLEMEN

Exeter, Decembr 16th, 1776.

"I enclose you an Address of Several Towns in the County of Grafton to the people at large (fabricated I suppose at Dartmouth College) and calculated to stir up contention & animosities among us at this difficult time: Especially as our Government is only temporary & the state of matters not allowing a Revisal. However this Pamphlet with the assiduity of the College Gentlemen, has had such an effect that almost the whole County of Grafton, if not the whole, have refused to send members to the new Assembly, which is to meet next Wednesday." -[M. W.]

This letter is found in State Pap. N. H., vol. VIII, p. 420.-ED.

[The following is an exact copy of the said printed Address :]

AN | ADDRESS | OF THE | INHABITANTS | OF THE | TOWNS | OF PLAINFIELD, LEBANON, ENFIELD, (alias RELHAN) Canaan, CARDIGAN, HANOVER, LIME, ORFORD, HAVERHILL, BATH, and LANDAFF, to the Inhabitants of the several Towns in the Colony of New-HAMPSHIRE. | NORWICH:1 PRINTED BY JOHN TRUMBULL, M,DCC,LXXVI.

THE INHABITANTS of a Number of Towns in the COLONY of New-Hampshire, to the PEOPLE of the several Towns throughout said COLONY.

FRIENDS AND BRETHREN.

HE important Crisis is now commenced wherein the providence of

TGOD; the Grand Continental Congress; and our necessitous cir

cumstances, call upon us to assume our natural right of laying a foundation of Civil Government within and for this Colony.-Our anxious concern how the present time may be improved, whenever we are acting, not only for ourselves, but ages yet unborn; and on which the fate of posterity politically depends, imbolden us to address you in this manner upon the important subject. How many millions are there in the world, who would count nothing in this life, too dear to part with, if they might arrive at such a period: and yet how frequent are the instances, wherein such golden opportunities have been lost, principally through the inattention of the people: whereby ambitious and designing men have inshralled [inthralled] whole Kingdoms and Empires; and thereby brought them to ruin and destruction. The Tyrant would never rise, nor the Oppressor reign, were it not for the pusillanimous submission of the people, who have it in their power to prevent them, and ought to hold the reins of Government in their own hands. Freedom and liberty never can be lost, nor gained in the hands of Tyrants, but by the tame submission of the subject, or through their criminal neglect, or inattention and are seldom if ever regained, but by bloody conflicts. Witness the present day. Who could have thought, even less than twenty years ago, that arbitrary power and oppression could have reigned predominant in one of the best constitutions (as supposed) in the world, in so short a time; but not more strange than true. This in part, may be accounted for by the parliament's giving up into the hands of the King such power and influence; but principally by the criminal neglect, if nothing worse, of the people; who have the right of constituting one main branch of the British parliament. It may be observed, as a self-evident proposition, that, whenever a people give up their right of representation, they consequently give up all their rights and privileges; this being the inlet or door to arbitrary power and oppression; therefore upon the present exigency of affairs, it behooves every individual, who is a subject of Government, to attend to the important business-see and act for himself. No one is excused, as we are all upon an equal footing, and all equally interested.-Therefore let us, like free born Americans, know our rights and privileges, and like rational men act up to our exalted character.-Let us not give occasion 1 Norwich, Connecticut.

to our neighbours or posterity to reproach us, by saying, that we made a glorious stand against the strides of arbitrary power, and oppression; and with our blood and treasure gained the happy conquest, but in the first advance we made towards establishing a constitution for ourselves and posterity, we either inadvertently or carelessly, gave up our most essential rights and liberties; or rather that we did nothing to preserve them.-Upon these considerations, Brethren, are we induced to treat with you freely upon this subject; which leads us to a particular inquiry into, and observations upon the present state and circumstances of the Colony.

AND Ist. We shall all doubtless agree, that the former government of this Colony was in a manner absolute; perhaps more so than any of the united Colonies especially in point of representation, which was solely under the controul of the chief Magistrate of the Colony; and that it was owing to the goodness of the ruler that we did not feel the whole weight of the iron rod, that was thereby put into his hands: and also that the whole intention of the people now is to abolish the old, and form a new Government upon a republican establishment, a design the most noble; a free people governing themselves by their own laws &c. It will also be allowed no doubt, that as the Colony hath formerly been divided into Counties, Towns and districts, for the convenient and regular governing the same, they will still act as such. Therefore, if there was nothing more in the way, we should likewise be agreed to take the necessary step for a remedy in the case, which naturally arises; (viz) as the body is too large and numerous to act individually, that the people elect their Representatives, and appoint them a time and place, to assemble together, for the purpose of laying a foundation or form of civil Government, throughout the Colony. But we are not insensible that there are several objections and embarrassments in the way; and by many, perhaps, thought to be weighty and important; which, if removed, will clear the way for our unanimous proceeding. Therefore, we shall endeavor to consider, and remove them by fair and reasonable observation.

IN the first place it will be objected no doubt, that there is now subsisting in the Colony, an Assembly, lately appointed by the people; who have formed themselves into a Council, and House of Assembly (as they stile themselves) and that said Assembly have already formed a plan for electing a new Assembly, this insuing fall, for the then insuing year: And, therefore, it would be preposterous, now to appoint a new Assembly, &c. To which we answer, Ist. That, at the time, when the members of said Assembly were elected, the reasons, which make it now necessary that an Assembly should be appointed, did not exist: As the reasons for calling said Assembly then, and the purpose, for which they were appointed, was only of a temporary duration; (viz.) to act in the exigences of the Colony, under their distressed and difficult circumstances, as the case might require. No one we believe thought at that time, they were appointed to institute a lasting plan of Civil Government for the Colony; especially, independant of, and in contradistinction to the Crown of Great Britain; therefore they were not elected for the purpose; and consequently have not the power that an Assembly now ought to have.

A FORMER Convention sitting in the Colony elected much as it chanced to happen under our then broken and confused circumstances, assumed to themselves the prerogative to regulate and determine how