222 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Congress, from political expedience^ to establish 

 an arbitrary bourtdary, which excluded from 

 that state, a great part of its territory ; that it 

 was the sense of the legislature, that Congress 

 had not any authority, by the articles of con- 

 federation, to intermeddle with the former terri- 

 torial extent of jurisdiction or property, of either 

 of the United States, except in cases of dispute 

 betv/een two or more of the states in the union, 

 rior to admit into the union, even any British 

 colony except Canada, without the consent of 

 nine states, nor any other state whatsoever, nor 

 above all to create a \\<i\\' state by di'smembering 

 one of the thirteen United States, without their 

 imjversal consent ; that in case of any attempt 

 of Congress to carry into execution their acts 

 of the 7th and 20th of August, the legislature 

 were bound in duty to their constituents, to de- 

 clare the same an assumption of power, and a 

 manifest infraction of the articles of confedera- 

 tion, and do therefore solemnly protest again&t 

 the same ; that a copy of their resolutions be 

 transmitted to Congress, and their delegates ex- 

 pressly directed and required to enter their dis- 

 sent on every step, which may be taken in and 

 towards carrying the said acts of Congress intp 

 execution.-^- 



Anxious for the safety of Vermont, and 

 wishing to avail himself of every measure to 

 promote it, on November 14th, Governor Chit- 

 tenden wrote to General Washington, on the 

 subject, explaining to him their situation, diffi- 

 culties, and views. In this letter, the governor 

 placed great confidence in the general, and gave 



' * Journal of Ccrg'ess, April 4, 1781, p. -339—334. 



