262 iNAlUK/iL. illNJJ CIVIL. 



the violences they produced. In the latter part 

 of the year 1781, the controversy with New 

 Hampshiic bore a very serious aspect. Ches- 

 terfield in that state, was one of the towns which 

 had joined with Vermont ; but some of the in- 

 habitants still adhered to the jurisdiction of New 

 Hampsinre. A constable under the authority 

 of Vermont, went to serve a writ upon one of 

 the inhabitants of that town. His authority was 

 denied, and an officer, under the authority of 

 New Hampshire, interposed. In the course of 

 the contest, the New Hampshire officer with 

 one or two -of his adherents, were imprisoned 

 by the officer from Vermont. Orders were giv- 

 en by the i^overnment of New Hampshire, to 

 raise the posse comitatus, and liberate the im- 

 prisoned sheriff by force. The governor and 

 council of Verraont sent three agents to P],xeter, 

 to endeavor to compromise the matter with the 

 government of New Hampshire. One of these 

 was a sheriff of Vermont : By v/ay of retaliation, 

 he was immediately imprisoned at Exeter. 

 Alarmed with this approach to hostilities, both 

 governments were obliged to interpose to pre- 

 vent more violent measures, which threatened 

 to break out into a civil war. In 1784, the sec- 

 retary of Vermont was arrested in the city of 

 New York, on account of his political conduct 

 in Vermont : The matter being laid before the 

 general assembly of the state, they unanimously 

 resolved that such lands in the territory of Veri- 

 mont, as belonged to the citizens of New York, 

 should be sold, until money en<High was raised 

 from their sales, to make fail restitution to their 

 secretary for all the charges and damages which 

 might accrue, from his arrest in New York. 



