er nations: For if the dispute is between the ftates claiming on the one part, and the state of Vermont on the other, whether the latter be a ftate de jure, as an independent jurisdiction de facto; they ought to be confidered in the courfe of the difpute, until the powers interpofing, have determined wh ther the latter be an independent jurisdiction de jure, if not they of courfe ought to annihilate the jurifdiction de facto; but to annihilate the ftate de fallo in the firft place, is fummarily ending the dispute; to deny the latter any independent jurifdiction de facto, is to deny there is any longer parties in the difpute.

gain we conceive the means connected with the end, and upon no principle whatever can we justify, that either part fhould establish the modus or rules to be purfued in determining difputes without confounding every idea of right and wrong. In the prefent cafe, on the one part might the end as juftly have been established as the way and means to effect the end.

We are far from being willing those brave and ftrenuous efforts made by the ftate of Vermont in the controversy with Great Britain, fhould be buried by our grasping adverfaries, (thirsting after domination and prey) in the pecious pretext of riotously affuming government; and we thereby lose all credit for the men and money we have expended.

Thus while we are neceffitated to remonftrare against the proceedings of Congres on the prefent mode, we are willing at the fame time any equitable enquiry fhould be made, the state of Vermont being allowed equal privileges with the other frates in the difpute.

And that the state of Vermont might ftand juftified to your honorable body, and to the world, both as to her prefent and future conduct, we are induced, as well from principles of attachment to the American cause, as a regard we have for peace and harmony among the states of America now at war with Great Britain, to make the following proposals, viz.

1}. That the flate of Vermont will, as foon as may be, forward to the fecretary of Congress, an attefted return of all male perfons, liable to do duty agreeably to a militia act heretofore exhibited to Congrefs in a code of laws, entitled "The Laws of Vermont;" and the ftate of Vermont fhall for and during the prefent war with Great Britain, from year to year furnish an equal number of troops in the field in proportion to their numbers, as Congrefs fhail eftimate the quotas of the feveral United States in pro portion to their numbers; which troops fhall be clothed, quartered and paid, by the fate of Vermont. And at the clofe of the war, the dispute fhall be equirably fettled by the mediation of fovereign powers; and nothing herein contained, fhall be conftrued to take away the right any of the United States claim to have in or over the state of Vermont: Or

zdly. We are willing to agree upon fome one or more of the legiflas tures of the difinterefted ftates to interpofe as mediators, and fettle the difpute: Or

3dly. We are willing Congrefs, being poffeffed of fovereignty, thould interpofe to prevent the effufion of human blood: At the fame time, we reprobate every idea of Congrefs fitting as a court of judicature, to determine the difpute by virtue of authority given them by the act or acts of the fate or ftates that make but one party.

It gives us pungent grief that fuch an important caufe at this juncture of affairs, on which our all depends, fhould be forced on by any gentlemen profefling themfelves friends to the caufe of America, with fuch vehemence and puit as appears on the part of the ftate of New York: And fhali only add, that if the matter be thus purfued, we ftand ready to appeal to God and the world, who must be accountable for the awful confequences that may eulue. Signed at Philadelphia, this 22d day of September, A D. 1780. IRA ALLEN, STEPHEN R. BRADLEY,

No. XI.

Questions propofed by the Committee of Congress to the agents on the part of Vermont, with the Anfwers of the Agents, August 18, 1781. Chap. V. p. 219. Question ft. ARE the boundaries fet forth in the written propofitions delivered in by the faid Agents at this time, claimed by the ftate of Vermont as the lines of jurifdiction, the fame as contained in the refolution of Congrefs of the 7th of August instant ?

Aafwer. They are the fame, with the addition of part of the waters of Lake Champlain for the benefit of trade.

Q. 2d. What part do the people of Vermont mean to take as to the palt expenfes of the present war, and what aid do they propofe to afford as to men and money to the common defence ?

A. Such proportion as fhall be mutually judged equitable after their admiffion to a feat in Congress, which has been at feveral different times officially propofed by agents on the part of Vermont.

Q. 3d. What are the ideas of the people of Vermont relative to the claim of private property, under grants or patents from New Hampshire, or New York previous to the prefent revolution?

A. Although the ftate of Vermont have not hitherto authorised any courts to take cognizance of fuch causes as refpect titles of lands, nevertheless they have had, and still have it in contemplation to adopt fuch modes as the circumstances arifing out of each cafe may justify, without adhering to the ftrict rules of law.

Q. 4th. What are the intentions of your conftituents in regard to the patents that were granted on conditions of fettlement within a giv en time, and which have been prevented by the claims of the people of Vermont, and the prefent revolution?

A. No forfeitures have been taken by the state of Vermont on any fuch grants for nonperformance of conditions of fettlement, and we conceive it to be the intention of our conftituents to grant a further reasonable time for fulfilling fuch conditions.

Q. 5th. What are the number of inhabitants within the lines mentioned in the propofitions abovementioned ?

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A. As the citizens of Vermont have not been lately numbered, we can therefore only eftimate them at thirty thousand, which we conceive to be nearly a true estimate.

Q. 6th. What quantity of land is contained within the faid bounds? A. There has been no accurate furvey of the state of Vermont, but we conceive it to contain about five millions of acres.

2. 7th. What applications have been made either publicly or private ly by the enemies of the United States, or their adherents, to draw off the people of Vermont from their affection to the United States of America? A. The honorable committee are poffeffed of copies of Bev. Robin fon's letters inclosed in Brigadier general Allen's letter of the 9th_day_of March laft, to the then Prefident of Congress, and any private offers wa cannot avouch for. Q. 8th. In cafe the enemy fhould attempt an invafion of the northern frontiers, what aid as to men and provifions could be raised in the ftate of Vermont for the public defence (you can fuppofe the invafion made in different quarters) and in what time?

A. The number of militia within the lines herein limited, we fuppofe to be about feven thousand; are in general well armed and accoutred, VOL. II I 3

and have ever fhown themselves fpirited in cafe of alarms, &c. In te. gard to provifions, the country is fertile, but new, and confiderable emigrations from other flates to Vermont, -The legiflature at their feffion in October laft, levied a tax on the inhabitants fufficient for victualling one thou and five hundred troops in the field for twelve months, and we are of opinion a large store may be in the fame manner collected the enfuing au

tumn.

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No. XII.

The Improvement which the Man of Europe has received in America. Chap.

XIII. p. 430.

IT has been an opinion often adopted by the hiflorians and philofophers of Europe, that all the animals in America are inferior in every thing which conflitutes their proper perfection, to thofe of the fame fpecies in Europe. M. de Buffon has avowed this fentiment in its fullest extent: Copying from him, moft of the European writers have embraced and repeated the fame hypothefis. To add fomething new to the conjecture, the Abbe Raynal has wifhed to find fome marks of degradation in the Europeans themfelves, when removed into America; that he might from that circumstance deduce a conclufion, that there was fomething naturally deficient and degrading in the American climate with regard to the productions and powers of animal life.

Among other paffages, the following are remarkable for the fingularity of the fentiment and expreffion - While tyranny and perfecution were deftroying population in Europe, British America was beginning "to be peopled with three forts of inhabitants. The first clafs conlifts of "freemen: It is the most numerous, but hitherto it has vifibly degen"erated. The Creoles, in general, though habituated to the climate from "their cradle, are not fo robuft and fit for labour, nor fo powerful in war, "as the Europeans; whether it be that they have not the improvements of "education, or that they are oftened by nature. In that foreign clime "the mind is enervated as well as the body; Endued with a quickness "and early penetration, it cafily apprehends, but wants fleadiness, and is "not used to continued thought. It must be a matter of aftonishment to "find, that America has not yet produced a good poet, an able mathe "matician, or a man of genius in any fingle art or fcience. They poffefs, "in general, a readiness for acquiring the knowledge of every art or sci66 ence, but not one of them fhews a decifive talent for one in particular. "Is it poffible that, although the Creoles educated with us have every one of them good fenfe, or at leaft the most part of them, yet not one should "have arifen to any great degree of perfection in the flighteft purfuit: "And that, among fuch as have flaid in their own country, no one has "diftinguished himself by a confirmed fuperiority in those talents which "lead to fame? Has nature then punished them for having croffed the "ocean? Are they a people degenerated by tranfplanting, by growth, and by mixture ?'"*

Such is the account which the Abbe Raynal gives of the degradation which has come upon the defcendants of Europe in America. It may afford amufement to an inquifitive mind to examine the observations, and

* Raynal's Hiftory of the East and West Indies, vol. vi. p. 80, 81, edit. 1782.

investigate what has been the fact with regard to the defcendants of thos Europeans who settled in the United States of America; and we know not how to conduct the inquiry upon fairer principles, than to endeavour to afcertain what has been the effect with regard to their government, religion, population, and those arts which tend the most to render human life more eafy and happy.

1. With regard to civil government.-When the men of Europe came into America. they brought with them no other ideas or fentiments as to the nature or form of civil government, than those of the European monarchies. Hereditary monarchy was the eftablifhed form of government in all the kingdoms, from which the first fettlers in America came. The authority of the monarch was then every where efteemed as facred and divine, fomething derived immediately from the God of kings, not at all dependant upon or derived from the people, but referved. appropriated and imparted by the Creator of all, to certain European families called no❤ ble and royal. Firmly believing in, and deeply impreffed with thele ideas, the Spaniards, the French, and the English, came into what, in the fingular language of Europe, was called the new world, and they every where attempted to establish the lame fyftem and form of government. And behold the first mark of their degradation in the American climate! Believ ing in monarchy, with all its high distinctions and claims, of uncorrup ted and noble and royal blood, they immediately found the diftinctions and privileges annexed to it were unnatural, uíelefs, and foolish. Their bufinefs was to clear up the lands, to plant the country, and to provide food and raiment. To men engaged in fuch neceffary and useful employments, nature and fituation fuggefted the vanity and folly of the EuTopean diftin&tions and titles; and they faw at once, that man was not any better for being called a duke, an earl, or a marquis. Civil government they immediately found was a matter of the highest confequence and neceffity; and inftead of enquiring nicely into the heavenly property faid to be appropriated and communicated to kings, they paffed over thefe fublime myfteries, took the ftep that nature taught, and entered into combi. nations among themfelves both to form and fupport civik government. Their conftant employment of clearing up an uncultivated country, gave them jutt and comprehenfive views of the nature and origin of property: Their mutual wants, interests, and fafety, taught them the nature, defign, and duty of civil government; and every thing in their fituation and employment tended to give them just ideas of the rights and duties of man. Thus, while in theory they believed in the facred right of kings and monarchy, every thing in their business and in the fate of the country taught them a contrary doctrine; and plainly indicated, that it was the will of their Creator that they should govern themfelves in fuch a manner as was beft fuited to their condition and ftate of fociety. During a century and an half the kings of England still kept up their claims, and their authority. This interference of royal authority was every where found to produce mifchief, and to be unfriendly to the intereft and profperity of the colonies. At length the matter became for oppreffive and odious that it could be endured no longer. The people of America and the king of England appealed to arms, which fhould have the lovereign authority. Heaven declared in favor of the juft and righteous caufe of the people. merican fyftem of government, till then unknown to the world, took place. The univerfal and uncommon profperity of the whole continent engaged the attention of all Europe. The wifeft and most powerful of all her mations caught the American fame, endeavoured to avail herfelf of the A

The A

merican principle, to deftroy defpotism, and establish the republican form of government; but unfortunately, fuch was the flate of fociety in Europe, that her men did not understand the principles, and could not fucceed in their flruggles to establish a fyftem of free government.

It certainly then cannot be in matters of government that the men of Zurope have degenerated in America. The whole effect has been the other way: They have difcovered the true principles of a free government, and firmly established them in their own country. The firit nation in Europe endeavoured to do the fame, but failed in the attempt....

2. Another article in refpect to which the degradation of man often appears with a melancholy afpect, is in matters of religion. At the time when the first emigrations were made to America, the religion that was established in almost every part of Europe, was truly and properly the religion of monarchy. In conformity to the diftinctions and different orders of men in the flate, the clergy were also arranged under different- names, dignities and orders: from the dirt, by various steps and orders, the hiesarchy rose to the skies.. Beginning in the privilege of begging, the or der of clergy rofe one over another, till the whole terminated in a fpiri tual monarch called an archbishop, patriarch, or pontiff. In the highest fpiritual office, by whatever name it was called, were united the privi leges of great wealth, the powers of fuperftition, temporal honors, civil dignities, and a fituation next to the throne; effectually fecuring the con fcience of the fovereign, the obedience of the clergy, and the faith of the people. Ceremonies, creeds, and confeffions, founded in folly, ignorance and knavery, formed the largest part of what was called the divine fervice. The principles and practice of morality were forgot, and the fear of God and love of our neighbour were but little taught or regarded. To believe in the church, was the grand requifite: and the vices of such men, howeve er enormous, gave but little offence; conformity made atonement for all vices; and he who was an obedient fon of the church, and liberal in money to his fpiritual mother, was fure of being bleffed by deacons, priefs and bishops.

This fylle of corruption, called at that time religion, had become fo apparent and abufive, that the degree of corruption had ferved to engage the attention of many ferious perfons; and the confequence of thinking at all upon the fubject, was a difcovery that there were many errors and abuses in the national religion. No fooner had the emigrants arrived in New England, than they laid afide the whole fyftem of ecclefiaftical power; and although they were far from comprehending the principles of religious liberty, and had too much of the intolerant and perfecuting spirit which they brought from their mother country, they embraced the leading prin. ciple of religious freedom which produced all the reft, that the people themselves fhould choose their own clergy who fhould be without civil powers or honors,' Amidst thousands of errors and mistakes, this fundamental truth gained strength, gradually explained itself, and continued to operate till it produced that perfect system of equality and freedom which now takes place in America: A lyftem in exact conformity to the genius and fpirit of the pure and benevolent religion of Jefus Chrift; greatly fa vorable to fociety; and honorable, in the highest degree, to the country. that discovered and produced it.

Is it then in matters of religion that the men of America have degenerated from their ancestors? Are the established and dignified clergy of monarchies, the only meek and humble fucceffors of the fishermen of GaliIce? Is it in the divine right of tithes and tenths, that apoftolic Christian»

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