HISTORY OF VERMONT. 233 



r . - 



forloru hope, to the main force of the enemy 



in Canada, an<;l destitute of the aid of the Uni- 

 ted States ; which made them urgent that un- 

 necessary delay rhight not deprive them of the 

 benefit of the confederation ; and that they should 

 expect to be officially acquainted, when their at- 

 tendance would be necessary.J 



The proct-edings of Congress ought to be 

 treated with all the respect which is due to gov- 

 ernment, and with all the candour that is due 

 to the imperfection of man. But when every 

 reasonable allowance is made their conduct in 

 this affair, cannot be considered in any other^ 

 than an unfavorable light. There could be no 

 hecessity of evasive policy, at a period, when the 

 public sentiment called for the decision of a 

 question, which had alreidy occasioned so much 

 trouble and dansrer. The resolves Consfress 

 had paseed on August 7th, and 20th, 1781^ 

 could not be undt-rstood in any other sense, 

 than as a conditional engagement or promise on 

 the part of Congress. The condition had been 

 fully complied with. In that stage of the busi- 

 ness, to resolve their own engagements into 

 nothing, had not the appearance of wisdom and 

 sound policy, but of art, cunning, and littleness^ 

 Their own faith and honor, and what ought to 

 have been infinitely dear to them, the honor of 

 their general, required the most unequivocal 

 and punctual performance of what they had vir- 

 tually engaged, and led the people of Vermont 

 to confide in. Nor would the agents of Ver- 

 mont have been wrong, if they had expressed 



X Copy of a letter from the Hon, Jonas Fay, Moses Robinson, and 

 Isaac Tichenor. 



VOL. II E 2 



