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Letter from Samuel Huntington, President of Congress, to Meshech Weare, dated

[P. 171.] SIR

Philadelphia, June 6, 1780.

You will receive herewith enclosed an Act of Congress of the 2d Instant, containing sundry resolutions respecting the District of Country commonly known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants.

I have the honor to be, with very great respect,
Sir, you obedt hble Servant

SAML HUNTINGTON, President.

P. S. June 10. You have also inclosed an Act of Congress* of the 9th Instant assigning the Second Tuesday of September next, for hearing &c. the Disputes respecting the New Hampshire Grants in the manner therein expressed.

I am, ut supra,

S. HUNTINGTON, President.

The Honble President of the Council

of New Hampshire.

Resolutions of Congress, in relation to affairs in the New Hampshire Grants.

[P. 173.]

In Congress, June 24, 1780. WHEREAS it is represented to Congress, and by authentic evidence laid before them it appears, that the people inhabiting the district of country commonly known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, and claiming to be an independent State, have, notwithstanding the resolutions of Congress of the 24th Septem' and 2d Oct. proceeded as a seperate Government, to make grants of lands and sales of estates by them declared forfeited and confiscated, and have also in divers instances exercised civil and military authority over the persons and effects of sundry inhabitants within the said district, who profess themselves to be citizens of and to owe allegiance to the State of New York:

Resolved, That the acts and proceedings of the people inhabiting the said district and claiming to be an independent State, as aforesaid, in contravening the good intentions *This act is not found on the files of New Hampshire.-ED.

of the said resolutions of the 24th September and 2a October last, are highly unwarrantable, and subversive of the peace and welfare of the United States:

That the people inhabiting the said district and claiming to be an independent State as aforesaid be and they hereby are strictly required to forbear and abstain from all acts of authority civil or military over the inhabitants of any town or district, who hold themselves to be subjects of and to owe allegiance to any of the States claiming the jurisdiction of the said territory in whole or in part, until the decisions and determinations in the resolutions aforementioned shall be made.

And whereas, the States of New Hampshire and New York have complied with the said Resolutions of the 24th Sept and 2 Oct. last, and by their agents and Delegates in Congress declared themselves ready to proceed in supporting their respective rights to the jurisdiction of the district [P. 174.] aforesaid in whole or in part, according to their several claims, and in the mode prescribed in the said Resolutions; and whereas Congress by their Order of the 21s of March last did postpone the consideration of the subject of the said resolutions, nine States, exclusive of those who were parties to the question not being represented, and by their order of the 17th of May, have directed that letters be written to the States not represented, requesting them im mediately to send forward a representation

Resolved, That Congress will as soon as nine States, exclusive of those who are parties to the controversy, shall be represented, proceed to hear and examine into and finally determine the disputes and differences relative to jurisdiction between the three States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay and New York respectively, or such of them as shall have passed such Laws as are mentioned in the said resolutions of the 24th Sept & 2d Oct last, on the one part, and the people of the district aforesaid who claim to be a seperate jurisdiction, on the other, in the mode prescribed in & by the said resolutions.

Extract from the minutes

CHAS THOMSON, Sec.

Letter of Foseph Marsh, Peter Olcott, and Beza. Woodward to the President of Congress.

[Copied from Gov. & Coun. Rec. Ver., App. G, Vol. II, pp. 249, 250.]

Dresden, on the New Hampshire Grants Į
July 20, A. D., 1780.

SIR-May it please your Excellency:

We are sensible Congress have reason to expect their resolves of the first of June last, would have such influence that the people on these Grants might wait patiently their decisions respecting them; but such is the disposition of those who have assumed an independent jurisdiction that not only their measures but professions are in direct opposition to those resolves. They have ever since their sessions in March been assiduous to obtain surveys of the ungranted lands and have now sundry parties of men out for that purpose, who instead of resting matters are hastened on account of the late resolves of Congress with a view to obtain surveys of the whole before the sessions of their Assembly in October next, and we understand are determined at that time to make grants of the whole to such persons as they shall apprehend will be most useful to assist in an establishment of a new State, and thereby at one stroke prevent an occasion for any further prohibition of Congress, purchase advocates in adjacent States and procure supplies of money to accomplish their purposes. They are also taking like speedy measures in confiscating estates of persons whom they are pleased to call tories; in respect to which it ought to be noted that their virulence is most poignant against those friends to order who oppose their rash procedures.

Vast numbers are continually making application for lands, and become advocates for their establishment in order to obtain them. Agents are at the same time employed to impress the minds of the people with an apprehension that Congress are conscious they have no right to decide the question in respect to their being an independent State, and mean to postpone it from time to time, that they may establish it themselves, and construe every delay in that light. And experience shows that such suggestions however ill-grounded have too much influence. In short no measures are omitted which may tend to weaken the authority of Congress in the minds of the people and destroy the

salutary influence of their late resolves, which they say were passed only to quiet New York till they can establish

their State.

New Hampshire continue to call on those towns east of the river (who have connected themselves with those west) for men, money and provisions, but as there is no authority to which they can consistently own allegiance, till Congress decide the dispute, and as they know not any right which New Hampshire (rather than Massachusetts or New York) have to call on them consistent with the resolves of Congress on the subject in Sep' last, they do not comply with their orders in respect to paying taxes, and think it unreasonable that a proposition? [proportion] be allotted to them, till they are put in a condition to perform it, which can be done only by the direction of Congress; they are [as] Zealously affected in the Contest with Great Britain as any part of America, have ever had their quota of men as full as any part, and are now exerting themselves to raise their quota of recruits, from a sense of the importance of the cause; but cannot act with that vigor as though the dispute respecting the grants was decided.

The people in these parts mean to abide the decision of Congress and abhor the sentiments of those who deny their right. They will cheerfully acquiesce in anything Congress may judge proper, but ardently wish a union of the two sides of the river. New Hampshire will be their choice, if a new State be not admitted, which they have generally done expecting.

We entreat a speedy decision in respect to a new State, and in case one is not admitted, that commissioners may come into the territory to decide the claim of the other States, as we apprehend the future happiness of the inhabitants who are most nearly interested ought to be consulted, inasmuch as they will be principally affected by that decision.

We add nothing in respect to the merits of the case, as we have already laid our own submission and representation of the matter before Congress last winter, which we trust will be considered in its place.

A decision to be published on the Grants before a new election of officers in Vermont (in the beginning of Sep') is greatly desired, and in our view absolutely necessary before

a meeting of their Assembly (the beginning of Oct') in order to prevent their involving hundreds of people in inextricable difficulties, by purchasing their grants of land.

More than thirty thousand people on these Grants must be involved in difficulties while the matter is delayed, and the eyes of the greater part are to Congress for relief; and unless it can be speedily obtained we are undone.

We write in behalf of the Inhabitants in the northern part on both sides of Connecticut river; and have the honor to be with the highest sentiments of duty and esteem, Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servants.

JOSEPH MARSH

PETER OLCOTT

BEZA. WOODWARDS

His Excellency the President of Congress.

Committee.

Letter from Beza. Woodward to Samuel Livermore. [From MS. Letters of Correspondence in library of N. H. Hist. Soc.] Dresden, 25th July, 1780.

SIR

By a letter from Doctor Page of Charleston, I am informed that Congress, by a resolve of the ninth of June have appointed the first Tuesday of Sept. next to hear and finally determine the dispute respecting the New Hamp Grants-that the people in Cheshire County are roused by an apprehension that the Assembly of New Hampshire have no Agent appointed to attend nor delegate instructed to support their claim. We have had accounts here that you are re-appointed; but fear it is a mistake, as we are informed that Gen. Bellows sets off this day for Exeter with a petition for the Court to convene and prepare to support their claim. I hope you will not fail to go, as I well know your ability and disposition to take every proper measure to have set aside the line fixed by arbitrary power at Connecticut River in 1764. The Committee in this part wrote to Congress last week requesting in the most pressing manner, a speedy determination. They are to meet again at this place next week on Thursday on account of the above mentioned resolve, to determine what further may be expedient

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