586
CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.
GOV. CLINTON TO THE N. Y. DELEGATION IN CONGRESS .
Camp in the Highlands 7 th June 1779.
Gentlemen. I received your letter respecting the Resolutions of Congress relative to the pre-tended State of Vermont at this Place where I have collected a large body of the Militia of the Statem order to strengthen the Continental Army and to oppose the Designs of the Common Enemy—my public letter to Congress of this date is expressive of my sentiments on those Resolutions & Iam confirmed in them by the concurring opinion of several members of the Legislature & of theprincipal officers of Government who are now with me in the field. I lament extremely that at acrisis so alarming not only to the safety of the State but to the general weal I should be under the•necessity of withdrawing from the immediate command of the militia at this Place & of conveningthe Legislature in order to lay before them the Resolutions of Congress . What etfect this mustnecessarily have upon the militia I shall leave it to yourselves to determine. Had the Resolutionsof Congress taken proper notice of the late attrocious outrage committed against the Authority ofthis State by an officer holding Rank in their service and had they adopted some measure forliberating the civil & military officers of the county of Cumberland now imprisoned by persisting intheir allegiance to this State & for preventing the like outrages in future it might at least for thepresent have in some measure atoned for the insufficiency of their Resolutions. How the interposi-tion of this State in favor of their Servants can consistent with its Honor & Justice be longerwithheld I am at a loss to determine. You will be pleased to direct your next letters for meat Pokeepsie. I am &c. &c. &c.
Geo. Clinton.
GOV. CLINTON TO GEN. WASHINGTON.
Camp Highlands June 7 th 1779.
Sir, It is with infinite Regret I inform your Excellency that in consequence of some violentOutrage lately committed in the County of Cumberland and which the Resolutions of Congress (copies of which I do myself the honor to transmit) do not in my opinion tend to remedy, the Duty Iowe to the State will soon constrain me to quit the field, in order to convene the Legislature and tomake the necessary arrangements for vindicating the Authority of this government, I had flatteredmyself that in consequence of my Representation that Ethan Allen having the Rank of a Col 1 underCongress had with his associates seized & imprisoned the principal civil & military officers of thisState in the County of Cumberland, the justice and wisdom of Congress would have adopted suchmeasures as might have prevented this State from the cruel necessity they will too probably bereduced to in a short time of opposing force to force Your Excellency rvho knows my Inclinations& Conduct, the Zeal & Exertions of this State in the Common Cause & their long & patient forbearanceunder the usurpation of its revolted citizens will judge with what anxiety we look forward tothe cruel dilemma to which by the great principle of self preservation; we may shortly be reduced ;and this anxiety is rendered doubly Painful by the Reflection, that the gen 1 interest of America must necessarily be affected by applying the Resources for maintaining the authority of this State,