CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.
607
SUBMISSION OF THE PEOPLE OF WHITE CREEK TO NEW YORK .
To His Excellency George Clinton Esquire & the Honorable the Senate and Assembly of theState of New-York , the petition of the Subscribers most Humbly sheweth—
That your Petitioners have been ever since their settling in this County Faithfull subjects to theState of New York & notwithstanding numbers of this County having gone over to Vermont yettsuch as have shewn themselves friend to the Common cause & appear to Bee Truly penetant fortheir misconduct, we would Recommend to your Excellency & Legislature for pity ; that altho theyhave swerved From their allejance to this state yet they have shown themselves To be allways inrediness to oppose our Enemy ; we would therefore Request that your Excellency, & the HonorableLegislature Will take there Case into Consideration & restore them to their former Privalages & asin duty bound shall Ever pray.
White Creek March 5 th 1782.
Matthew M WhorterRobert PennellAlexander TurnerPelatiah Fitch Junr
Joshua ConkeyThos ArmstrongRobert BoydAlexr Kennedy
Samuel WhorterThomas LycnSanford Smith
GOV. CLINTON TO THE COMMITTEES OF CUMBERLAND CO.
Gentlemen Your Petition dated the 26 th April last was presented to me by M r Shepherdsonyour Agent in answer to which I would assure you that as soon as the Council of appointment can beconvened I shall use my best endeavours that the requisite civil and military officers be appointed forthe Towns you represent agreable to your Request.
In the mean time I transmit you copies of two acts, passed by the Legislature at their last Meeting,from which it will appear that altho’ the State is determined not to Relinquish it’s Right ofJurisdiction to the Country distinguished by the New Hampshire Grants unless Congress shouldagreeable to our Act of Submission judicially determine it not to be comprehended within ourBoundaries, yet that we are disposed to every measure for confirming the Inhabitants in theirTitles and Possessions as to Right of Soil and for healing animosities, which either Justice Expe-diency or even Generosity can dictate ; and I would wish that these Copies might be as diffusivelyand expeditiously dispersed as possible throughout the whole of the Grants; as I flatter myself thatthe Inhabitants will be thereby convinced that while we resolve to maintain that authoritywhich is essential to the Peace and Welfare, not only of this State, but of the whole Confederacy.We never had it in contemplation to deprive Individuals of their Property and that under thisConviction every Cause of Jealousy will cease and the Inhabitants will return to their allegianceto this State; and I would particularly recommend in order that they may entitle themselves to thesecurity, with respect to their Titles and Possessions, intended by one of the Acts, that Agents orDeputies may be elected in the Towns conformadable thereto and I pledge myself that Commissionerswill be immediately appointed and every other measure taken on the part of this State for carryingthe good intentions of the Legislature into effect.