198 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



was generally believed in the otlier states, that 

 3ome of her leading men would incline to join 

 ivitli Canada, and make the best terms they 

 could with the British government, if no alter- 

 native vvas held out to them, but submission to 

 the government of New York. In this state of 

 the parties it was as dangerous to the American 

 cause, to decide against Vermont, as against 

 Nev/ Hampshire, or New York. Congress felt, 

 and wis^lj endeavored to avoid the difRculty : 

 A question was made, whether Congress had 

 any power to form a new state, within the limits 

 of the union. Those who remember the viru- 

 lence of these parties, and the precarioiis situa- 

 tion of the American contest at that time, will 

 not wonder that Conqrress found reasons, to 

 avoid commg to any decision at that period ; 

 for no decision could have been made, that 

 would net have proved highly irritating to some 

 of those stares, already too much inflamed, by 

 the violence, and duration of the controversy. 



Disappointed in her expectations of ad- 

 mission into the federal union, and alarmed by 

 the measures that were pursued by New Hamp- 

 shire and New York, Vermont now endeavored 

 to increase her own internal strength, by pur- 

 suing the same measures, that had been adopted 

 by those states, of claiming jurisdiction. Most 

 of the inhabitants of the towns in the western 

 parts of New Hampshire, were desirous of being 

 annexed to the (j;overnment of Vermont : There 

 were others, who wished to support the New 

 Hampshire claim, and aimed to extend her ju- 

 risdiction over the whole of Vermont. A con- 

 vention was proposed, and letters were sent by 



