• HISTORY ;0F VERMONT. 215 



there weri^ gmall insurrections, to demand ex* 

 plana tion$:(, And nothing but the well knovvn^ 

 and strong attachment of the gentlemen con- 

 cerned, to the independence of Vermont and of 

 America, could have preserved them from open 

 vi(^en€e and destruction* 

 .It may be doubted, how far such a measure 

 was justifiable^ ifk, that, or iii any other state of 

 things. On the one hand, it may be said, whem 

 the Safety of. all America was in question, and 

 in much danger,; nothing ought to have been 

 done to encourage the enemy, that they should- 

 be able to divide^ and thus subdue the conti- 

 nent* . On the other hand, it may be urged,^ 

 that when thirty thousand people were deserted 

 by the Cong;ress, and become the objects of the 

 intrigues and policy of the adjacent states, it 

 Was as justifiable and necessary for them, to 

 provide for their safety, as it was for the rest of 

 the, coaitinent. If there was no other alternative 

 for the people of Vermont, than to be divided, 

 Subduedj and delivered over to the power of 

 their ancient enemies ; their leaders will Hot be 

 blamed, for taking necessary and adequate 

 measures, to pro'ent such an evil. In such a 

 situation^ it was scarcely possible for the people 

 of Vermont to believe, that they could be under 

 anyinoral obligation, to sacrifice themselves, to 

 procure independence for those, who by the act 

 of their representatives, had rejected them from 

 their confederation. 



But whatever may be thought respecting the 

 propriety of such policy, the event shewed, that 

 the gentlemen of Vermont had formed a sound 

 judgment, with regard to the effect. Flattered 



