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CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

and their appeared in many, if not most of the revolters, a Disposition to return to their DutyBut it was not long before the leaders of the Mal-contents, in Print and in Conversation so misrepre-sented and explained those Resolutions as induced that Party to believe that Congress favoredtheir plan.

That they have since formed a Constitution of Government and elected all the necessaryOfficers thereof.

That notwithstanding the Revolt was made upon this Foundation that we were thrown into a stateof Nature by the Colonies being declared independant of Great Britain and had then a right tochuse our Government; Yet those who continued subjects of one of the United States have not beenallowed that Privilege, but the Insurgents both by their civil and military authority, have at everyopportunity attempted to compel them to submit to their usurped Government, and very latelymany of their principal officers declared in the most publick manner that their Government wasdetermined to enforce submission by arms until Congress should otherwise direct and to leave nodoubt of the Sincerity of this Declaration they were then in the Act of Compelling Submission totheir Government at the head of about two hundred armed men. That beside this, their pretendedLegislature in June last passed an Act declaring that if any Person within this pretended State shallafter the first day of September next accept hold or exercise any office, civil or military, otherthan shall be derived from the said pretended State, he shall for the first Offence, pay a fine notexceeding one hundred pounds, lawful money; for the second offence shall be whipped on thenaked Back, not exceeding forty stripes, at the Discretion of the Court ; and for the third offenceshall have his right ear nailed to a Post and cut off, and be branded in the Forehead with theCapital Letter C. on a hot Iron.

Having understood that repeated application had been made on the Part of New York , to theGrand Council of america , to, interfere in settling their internal Troubles; the loyal Subjects of thatState upon the Grants, have waited with much Impatience the Lieusure of your honorable Bodyto examine into the matter, and recommend something adapted to the Restoration of Peace andTranquility, They conceived that by the third Article of the Confederation the States hadSeverally bound themselves to assist each other against all Force offered to, or attacks made uponany of them on account of Sovereignty, or on any other pretence whatsoever ; and therefore thatthe general Interest required the honorable Congress (as soon as they possibly could) to use theirInfluence, in putting a Speedy End to this political Schism.

That your Petitioners and others subjects of New York upon the Grants, have since this internalRevolution endured the most compleat anarchy possible, not having had the shadow of Governmentamongst them; and have besides had to contend with disorderly headstrong men, who endeavouredto exercise an usurped authority over them ; this they have supported with all the Fortitude theywere masters of; well knowing from the general Conversation of Persons not in Office that (whateverthose who promoted the present Disturbances from ambitious and interested motives might think)your honorable Body’s expressly recommending a return of their Allegiance, which we have almostdaily expected, would put a final Period to the Disturbances, and restore good Order and Government.

That the revolted Party has endeavoured upon all Occasions, both in Print and in Conversation,to prejudice the Cause of New York , by representing the avowed Subjects of that State upon theGrants to their Countrymen, in the odious Light of Tories and Enemies to the Country; whereas inTruth whenever there has been a call for Men by proper authority, your Petitioners affirm theyhave done their full part, and in some Towns more than their part, in providing Men for the Service:And they are willing when called upon by proper Authority which they can conscientiously obey,to do their full Proportion towards supporting the War, as soon as order and Government are restored