596

CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

future day more difficult as They bear no Share in the present public Burthens that part of theCountry is become an Assylum for all Persons who wish to avoid Military Duty or the Payments ofTaxes and Numbers are daily emigrating thither influenced merely by this Motive—They will alsoattempt to enforce their cruel Edict and oblige the Inhabitants of Brattleborough and the otherTowns who have remained in Allegiance to this State to submit to their usurpation—These Inhabit-ants will resist and the Justice Peace and Safety of the State demand that we should and we areresolved to assist and protect them—In short for we cannot enter into particulars, Matters arebro’t to a Crisis and we must in this session determine with Decision upon the important Questionof protecting our faithful Subjects and supporting the rightful Jurisdiction of the State—What theConsequences will be we forbear to mention—They may easily be imagined and Congress canprevent them.

One principal Design of our present Meeting was to deliberate upon this momentuons Subject.We shall notwithstanding suspend all further proceedures and continue sitting till we are favoredwith the Sentiments of Congress which you will transmit to us by the messenger who convey’s thisand whom you will detain for that purpose.

Should we however be disappointed and Congress decline to interpose by an express Recommen-dation as above proposed we do in such Case direct Mr. Jay to whom we have in a special mannercommitted this Business immediatly to withdraw and attend us at this Place.

Gent n

With this you will receive a Letter in the nature of Instructions which you will observe is wroteupon a Presumption that no Proceedings relative to the Vermont Business have been had in Congress since the appointment of the Committee on the 1 st of June last. Should subsequent measureshowever have been adopted by Congress which you may conceive equally effectual and beneficial tothe State with those we have instructed you to propose you are in such Case at Liberty to suspendthe Communication of these Instructions till our further Direction and immediately inform us of themeasures by a special messenger.

We are with due Respect Gentlemen your most obedient ServantsBy order of the Senate

By order of the Assembly

RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS .

In Congress 24 u > Sept r 1779.

1 Whereas on the first Day of June last Congress by a certain Resolution, reciting that “ Whereasdivers applications had been made to Congress on the part of the State of New York and of the Stateof New Hampshire relative to Disturbances, & animosities among Inhabitants of a certain Districtknown by the name of “ the New Hampshire Grants” praying their Interference for quieting thereofdid resolve that a Committee be appointed to repair to the New Hampshire Grants & enquire intothe reason why they refuse to continue Citizens of the respective States which heretofore exercisedJurisdiction over the said District ; for that as Congress are in duty bound on the one hand topreserve inviolate the Rights of the several States, so on the other they will always be careful toprovide that the Justice due to the States, does not interfere with the Justice which may be due toIndividuals.