HISTOHY OF VERMONT. 251 



to the justice of his excellency Gen. Washing- 

 ton ; and as the general and most of the inhabi- 

 tants of the contiguous states, were in favor of 

 the independence of Vermont, it would be more 

 prudent for Congress to refer the settlement of 

 this dispute to the states of New York and Ver- 

 mont, than to embroil the confederacy with it. 

 But supposing Congress had a judicial authority 

 to control the internal police of the state, the 

 state had a right to be heard in its defence : 

 That the proceedings of Congress were wholly 

 unjustifiable, upon fheir own principles ; and 

 that coming to a decision of so important a mat- 

 ter, exparte, and without any notice to the state, 

 was illegal, and contrary to the law of nature 

 and nations. The remonstrance was concluded 

 with soliciting a federal union with the United 

 States, agreeable to their preliminary agreement, 

 which their committee had reported, was " be- 

 come 4ihsolute and necessary on their part to be 

 performed ;" and from which, they were assur- 

 ed, Vermont would not recede. 



Th e assembly met in the month of February, 

 and sent their remonstrance to Congress. Like 

 that of the governor and council, this was also 

 •plain, spirited, and decisive ; announcing to 

 Congress in the plainest terms, that they should 

 not intermeddle in the internal affairs of govern- 

 ment ; and that they were fully resolved, to 

 maintain their independence. 



The effect produced by these acts of Con- 

 gress, was in every respect different, from what 

 that body seem to have expected. Instead of 

 being awed into submission, the people and go- 

 .lernmeut of Vermont concluded they were 



