HISTORY OF VERMONT. 197 



Vermont could have no hearing, without deny- 

 ing their own existence, and that they ^ would 

 not take on themselves that humility and self 

 abasement, as to lose their political life in order 

 to find it ; they declared their readiness to bear 

 a full proportion in all the expences of the A- 

 merican war, until it should be ended, and their 

 willingness that one or more of the legislatures 

 of the independent states, should interpose as me- 

 diators, and settle the dispute ; but reprobate 

 every idea of Congress sitting, as a court of ju- 

 dicature, to determine the dispute by virtue of 

 authority given them, by the act or acts of the 

 state or states, which made but one party ; they 

 conclude with observing, that if the matter is 

 thus pursued, they stand ready to appeal to God 

 and the world, who must be accountable for the 

 awful consequences that may ensue.* Having 

 heard the evidence on the part of New Hamp- 

 shire, on September 27th, Congress resolved 

 that the further consideration of the subject 

 should be postponed. f 



At no time had the spirit of parties run high- 

 er, than at this period. During the whole of 

 this trial, it does not appear that either of the 

 contending parties, had any ideas of conciliatory 

 measures ; all seem to have been determined to 

 effect their purposes : And although Vermont 

 was not admitted to appear as one of the parties 

 before Congress, her expectations and prospects, 

 had at no time been so high. She well under- 

 Stood the ground, on which she stood ; and it 



* Remonstrance cf Ira Allen and StcpLen R. Bradley to Congr^sj, 

 September aa, 1780. Appendix, No. X. 

 j Journal of Congress, September 12, 19, ao.37. 1780, p. I86t-I97' 



