HISTORY OF VERMONT. 1^1 



included within the said district, but such as 

 have hitherto actually Joined in denying the ju- 

 risdiction of either ot said states, and have as- 

 sumed a separate jurisdiction, which they call 

 the state of Vermont. And further, That in tlie 

 opinion of Congress, the said three states afore- 

 named, ought in the mean time to suspend ex-, 

 ccuting their laws over any of the inhabitants of 

 said district, except such of them, as shall pro- 

 fess allegiance to, and confess the jurisdiction of 

 the same respectively. Resolved unanimously. 

 That in the opinion of Congress, no unappropri- 

 ated lands or estates, which are or may be ad- 

 judged forfeited or confiscated, lying in said 

 district, ought until the final decision of Con- 

 gress in the premises, to be granted or sold."* 

 ,. From these resolutions it was apparent, that 

 the views of Congress were to evade any deter- 

 mination, aiKi to pacify and quiet all parties for 

 the present ; and that it was of much more im- 

 portance, in their view, to preserve the union 

 and affection of the three states, than that of 

 Vermont, At a time when the fate of America 

 depended upon preserving the union of the 

 states, and all might have been lost by the dis- 

 affection of any one, perhaps this evasive policy 

 was the best. It seems to have (Quieted all par- 

 ties but Vermont. The states of New Hamp- 

 shire, and New York, passed the acts which 

 Congress had called for. Massachusetts did 

 not, and probably with a view to prevent the 

 district of Vermont from being sacrificed by 

 cither, or both of the other states. 



It was impossible that Vermont should com- 



• Joiirn*! ©f Congr^ii, September 7,4, 1779. 



