HISTORY OF VERMONT. 18f 



ton wrote again to Congress, informing them 

 what had happened, disapproving of their nfiea- 

 sures, and particularly of the appointment of a 

 committee to confer with the inhabitants ; and 

 wishing their journey might be postponed, un- 

 til the legislature of New York should be con- 

 vened, and take the resolution of Congress un- 

 der consideration. On the 16th, Congress re- 

 solved that the officers who had been thus re- 

 strained of their liberty, ought to be immediate- 

 ly liberated ; and that their committee who were 

 appointed to confer with the inhabitants should 

 be directed to make inquiry into the matters 

 and things contained in governor Clinton's let- 

 ters ; and that all further proceedings be post- 

 poned, until they should report.* 



Five commissioners were appointed to re- 

 pair to Vermont : Of these, but two, Dr. With-, 

 erspoon, and Mr. Atle, att nded. These gen- 

 tlemen repaired to Bennington, in June ; made 

 many inquiries, and had several conferences 

 with the friends of Vermont, and with oth- 

 ers who were in the interest of New York* 

 They proposed several questions to the gover^ 

 nor of Vermont, to which he returned written 

 answers. Their aim seems to have been, to 

 bring about a reconciliation between the par- 

 ties. Upon their return they made a report 

 to Congress, July 13th ; but which evidently 

 denoted, that no part of the business on which 

 they were sent, had been effected. f 



Four different claims Vv^ere now before Con- 

 gress, to the same tract of country ; and the 



■• Journal of Congress, June 16, l'?79, p. 259,260 



+ Account «t' the p^-oceedlpfs of Mr.Witherspoon, and Mr. Atlc, 



