HISTORY OF VERMONT. 165 



their ability and zeal in the common cause, and 

 ti willingness to be called upon for this purpose, 

 whenever Congress should judge it necessary : 

 But declare they are not willing to put themr 

 selves under the provincial government of New 

 York, lest it should be afterwards coristrued to 

 imply an acknowledgment of that authority. 

 They conclude with requesting, that whenever 

 the Congress should find it necessary to call for 

 their services, they may not be called upon as 

 inhabitants of New York, or as persons subject 

 to the limitations, restrictions, or regulations, of 

 the militia of that province ; but as inhabitants 

 of the New Hampshire grants ; and that what- 

 ever commissions, might be granted to any of 

 the inhabitants, might consider theni in that 

 view.* 



This was the first application, the people had 

 ever made to Congress. The committee to 

 whom it was referred^ reported as their opinion, 

 that it be recommended to the petitioners for 

 the present, to submit to the government of 

 New York, and to assist their countrymen in 

 the contest with Great Britain ; but that such 

 submission, ought not to prejudice their right 

 to any lands in controversy, or be construed to 

 affirm or admit the jurisdiction of New York, 

 over the country, when the present troubles 

 should be ended. This advice was such, as 

 might have been expected : At a period whei; 

 the fate of all the American colonies was at 

 stake, the committee could not but wish, that a\\ 

 local or provincial controversies might subside ; 

 To avoid any decision upon the matter at that 

 time, the petition was withdrawn. 



» First petition to Congress, dated Dorset, Jan- 1 7, 17 74; 



