CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS-

609

GOY. CLINTON TO THE CONTENTION OF CUMBERLAND CO.

Pokeepsie 27 th September 1782.

Gentlemen You doubtless have been informed by M r Biglow that I immediately transmitted anaccount of the late Outrage committed by Ethan Allen, and others on the subjects of this State andCumberland County to our Delegates at Philadelphia to be by them communicated to Congress andrequesting the immediate Interposition of Congress for your Protection, and for the preservation ofthe public Peace. I have this day received an answer from the Delegates which M r Biglow hasperused and from which it appears that altho there was not sufficient Time when my Messengerleft Philadelphia for the Congress to come to any Determinaton on the Intelligence yet that there wasevery Reason to believe they will immediately interpose and exert their authority for your Relief andProtection and you may be assured that the moment I am favored with their Determination it shallbe forwarded to you. In the mean Time I will still earnestly recommend to you to persevere in thepeaceable Line of Conduct which you have hitherto observed and not to have recourse to Violenceor Force unless when the immediate Defence of your Person or Property render it necessary andby no means in order to avert the apprehensions which you experience at present (and which Isincerely regret) to submit to the usurpation or to swerve from your Duty or Allegiance .

I am Gentlemen with great Respect & Esteem your most obed 1 serv 1

Geo. Clinton

Addressed,

To the Gentlemen forming a Convention of the Comittees ofthe Towns of Guilford,—Halifax Brattleborough, &° &°

&° Cumberland County.

PETITION OF COL. CHURCH

IN BEHALF OF HIMSELF AND OTHERS OF THE VERMONT SUFFERERS.

To his Excellency the Governor and the Honourable the Legislature of the State of New York , thePetition of the Subscribers, in behalf of themselves and othqys most Humbly Sheweth,

That your Petitioners and those they represent are Inhabitants of Cumberland County and by theirattachment, zeal and activity in Endeavouring to support the Just and Lawfull Authority of NewYork Incurred a Displeasure from those who stiled themselves Freemen of Vermont , But by theencouragement from the several Resolutions of Congress and Particularly that of the fifth of December1782, and the laws and Resolutions of the State of New York , your Petitioners were induced tobelieve that the Lawless and ungratefull usurpers would be brought to submitt to its Lawfullauthority, or at least to permitt your Petitioners to remain peaceably on their Farms, under theJurisdiction of New York , But notwithstanding the Resolutions and Laws, these Lawless usurpers,raised in Arms to the Number of four or five Hundred, Drove some of your Petitioners from theirhabitations, Imprisoned others, killed one, and wounded others, confiscated their Estates and soldtheir Effects.

Vol. rv.

77