HISTORY OF VERMONT. I6l 



government as shall hereafter be established in 

 this state."*- To submit to the claims of New 

 York, was to give up the whole of their property, 

 and to reduce themselves to a state of depen- 

 dence, and beggary. To oppose her diiims aid 

 power, would probably bring' op, not only a 

 contest with New York, but with the Congress 

 also : And to continue without some form of 

 government, was impossible. 



A situation attended with so many difHcultics, 

 %ave rise to a variety of opinions. Some were 

 for attempting to return to New Hampshire : 

 Others saw no other method of proceeding, but 

 submission to New York. The more rcsolute,r 

 were for assuming the powers of government, 

 and hazarding all the consequences of such a 

 measure. To ascertain what the prevailing 

 opinion was, it was judged necessary to call a 

 general convention. This convention was cal- 

 led by circular letters, from some of the most , 

 Influential persons ; it consisted of fifty one 

 members, representing thirty five towns, and 

 met at Dorset, July 24th, 177G. At this ses- 

 sion, the convention agreed to enter into an as- 

 sociation among themselves, for the defence of 

 the liberties of their country : But that they 

 Vvould not associate with either of the counties, 

 or with the provincial Congress of New York ; 

 and that any of the inhabitanits of the New Hamp- 

 shire grants, who should enter into such an as- 

 sociation, should be deemed enemies to the 

 common cause. 



* In the grants made by the governors of New Hampfhirc, the anntml 

 cuit rents rct'ervpd to the crown on every hundred acres, were one fhilling, 

 proclamation money, equal in value to nine pence ftcilinp;; in the grants 

 watle by the governors ot New York, thCiC quit lents were mfed to fA.-© 

 s*>j-Ili!Vgs and fiK pence fterling, 



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