194 NATURAL AND CIVlL 



iighting for, the right of making their own laws, 

 and choosing their own form of government, tt) 

 the arbitrament and determination of any man, 

 or body of men, under heaven." 



It seems to have been the desire and expec- 

 tation of all parties, that Congress should take 

 up the matter, as they had proposed, on Febru- 

 ary 1, 1780. Vermont had now acquired such 

 numbers, popularity, and power, that much was 

 to be expected from having her claims thorough- 

 ly understood, and considered by the United 

 States. But instead of being decided, the mat- 

 ter was not taken up at all, on the first of Feb- 

 ruary ; and on March 21st, it was ordered by 

 Congress that the matter be postponed, nine 

 states, exclusive of those who were parties in 

 the question, not being represented.* On June 

 second, Congress resolved that the proceedings 

 of the people of the New Hampshire grants were 

 highly Unwarrantable, and subversive of the 

 peace' and welfare of the United States ; ancJ 

 that they be strictly required to forbear from any 

 acts of authority, civil or military, over those of 

 the people, who professed allegiance to other 

 states : And on June the ninth', they resolved to 

 defer the matter to the second Tuesday in Sep- 

 tember.! Uj^on the receipt of these resolves, 

 the governor of Vermont, by the advice of his 

 council, replied, that " however Congress might 

 view those resolutions, they were considered by 

 the people of Vermont, as being in their nature 

 subversive of the natural right which they had 

 to liberty and independence, as well as incom 



* Journal of Congrrtss, March ji, i*;r,o, p. 48, 49. 

 + Joarnal of Gwigrcss, March ai, 1780, p. 8ij 8z. 84. 



