CHAPTER VIII.
THE CONVENTION.
Edwards was brought to trial on the charge of leading an armed invasionof New Hampshire.
He declared that he alone was responsible for the foray, and doubtlesshis statement was a true one, though Allen did not believe it.
The district court condemned Edwards to death by hanging, for his actwas one of high treason, and the sentence was sure to be confirmed bythe king, to whom it had to be sent.
When Gov. Tryon heard of the fight and the capture of Edwards, and hissubsequent trial and sentence, he resolved on two things. He wouldbring all the pressure to bear on the king that he could to prevent thesentence being confirmed, and he would capture Allen and his friends,no matter what the consequences might be.
A proclamation was printed and sent through all the grants, in whichthe governor of New York offered a reward of one hundred and fiftypounds sterling for the capture of Ethan Allen, dead or alive, and afurther sum of fifty pounds each for the bodies, dead or alive, of SethWarner, Remember Baker, Sylvanus Brown, Robert Cochrane, PelegSunderland, James Breakenridge and John Smith.
When the proclamation had been well discussed the people got anothersensation in a counter proclamation, signed by Ethan Allen on behalf ofthe mountaineers, offering two hundred pounds for the capture of theattorney-general of New York.
Both proclamations started out with a command to the parties named tosurrender themselves within thirty days under pain of the forfeiture ofall their property, of conviction of felony and sentence of deathwithout benefit of clergy.
These proclamations placed the two sections on a war footing, and Ethansaw that it was necessary to organize on a larger scale than had beendone.
He consulted his trusty friend, Seth Warner, and as a result aconvention was called at Bennington.
"It is no use calling on New Hampshire to aid us. We must rely onourselves," Allen told all with whom he came in contact.
A larger number gathered at the convention than he expected, and hisheart was full of joy.
He was the more pleased that he had called the men together, when, onthe very morning of the gathering, he received a notice from Concordthat the king had forbidden the colony to take an active part againstNew York in the matter of the grants.
In other words it meant that the king would protect New York and opposeall claims of New Hampshire to the lands.
"Men of the mountains," Allen commenced, "we are met to form laws toprotect ourselves and our property. We must rely on ourselves alone.I think that the time has come when we should declare ourselvesindependent of any colony, and apply to the king for a charter."
"Good!"
"That is talk of the right kind."
"Why cannot we have our own laws, our own governor and our own army?"
"You are rather previous, Sunderland."
"Not a bit of it. I say that the king has never done anything for us,and New Hampshire has betrayed us into the hands of the Yorkers."
"We will call ourselves the Green Mountain Colony."
"I think, if you will let me suggest, that if we are going to have anew name it should be a pretty one."
"Is not the Green Mountain Colony pretty?"
"Yes; but I have thought that Vermont--it means Green Mountains--wouldsound good."
"Nothing could be better," assented Allen, "so we will commence ourdeliberations with the declaration: 'We, the men of Vermont, inconvention assembled'; that will place our name above controversy."
"I propose that Ethan Allen be our governor."
"Stay, that will never do. The king must appoint a governor, so we canonly declare our desire to be independent of New Hampshire, and untilthe king accepts our independence we must nominally recognize Gov.Wentworth as our governor."
It is not our purpose to give the proceeding of that convention _inextenso_, but this much we have given, in order that the whole countrymay know that the sturdy mountain boys talked of independence andliberty with spirit even before the Revolution began.
Warner stood on a chair and waved his hand for attention.
"I have heard," he said, "that Gen. Gates is pressing the people ofBoston so hard that the English are getting themselves disliked in thatcity, and I should not be surprised if a rebellion was talked of."
"The sooner the better, say I."
"Yes; why should England govern us?"
"We are too far away. The king----"
"Leave his name out of the question. We can be loyal to him, even ifwe become independent as a new nation."
"We want no kings----"
"Silence!" shouted Allen; "I will not listen to treason to the king."
Warner continued:
"If the people of Boston talk of rebellion, so will the people of NewHampshire, and we Green--I beg pardon, Vermonters--we, too, can governourselves. Then, when two or three colonies show some spirit, New Yorkwill have to tackle us all, instead of a few mountaineers."
"That is for the future, Capt. Warner; what we have to think of is, arewe going to protect our farms?"
"Ay, to the death!"
The sentiment was the occasion for such cheering as Bennington hadnever heard before.
"We will hold our lands, even if every man has to carry a musket whenhe plows the ground or sows the seed or reaps the harvest."
"Good for you, Warner! Now, then, let us have a good militia."
Every man present enrolled his name on the list, and a very excellentstart was made to form an army to defend the farms.
The district was divided into two parts, the northern part of the NewHampshire grants being under the command of Allen, the southern underthe guidance of Warner.
Rules were laid down for the guidance of the mountaineers, and as gooda system of government was inaugurated as existed in New Hampshireitself.
The strongest contingent of militia was sent with Allen to the north,for it was thought that the next attempt of New York would come fromthe Champlain section instead of Albany.
Everywhere Ethan Allan was received with open arms.
The farmers had reclaimed the lands from the mountain sides, and madethem fruitful, and it was extremely hard that they should be turnedfrom their farms without receiving compensation.
Resistance was popular, and the men who had taken the lead inorganizing the farmers were looked upon as heroes.
Allen had taken Eben with him, and the young lad was the most usefulmember of his staff.
Eben had all the faithfulness of a hound, with the sagacity of atrained scout.
He was invaluable.
In some of the districts it was necessary to conceal their identity,for until the sentiment of the people was known treachery might beexpected.
The reward offered for Allen was a large one for those days, and was agreat temptation to the poor, struggling farmers.
So the leader had to be on the alert all the time, and Eben proved hisusefulness by finding out all about the men before Allen made himselfknown.
The Green Mountain Boys camped on the shore of Lake Dunmore, and madethe place their headquarters for the district.
Eben was returning to the camp one night when he was accosted by a ladabout his own age.
"You're a stranger about here, eh?" said the lad.
"Yes; just looking about."
"Oh, from New York?"
"No, I come from New Hampshire."
"So did I. I used to live in Concord. Ever in Concord?"
"Many times," answered Eben.
"Then we ought to be friends. Looking for work?"
"Partly. My folks want a good grant somewhere, and I'm looking aboutfor one."
"There aren't many good places now; most have been taken. They do saythat a man called Ethan Allen is round stirring up the people so thathe may get them their lands free."
"So I have heard."
"But some say that he wants the lands for himself."
"How is that?" asked Eben, innocently.
"
Why, I have heard a man say--he came from Fort Ticonderoga--that ifAllen can get his way there will be a fight. Then he will surrenderand will recognize York, and as a reward will get the best farms."
"It's a----"
Eben was about to give the boy a piece of his mind, but checked himselfin time.
"It's a what?" asked the lad.
"Very unlikely story, I was about to say, but thought that I would not."
"Why?"
"Because a man who would think such a thing about Col. Allen is notworth contradicting."
"Oh, that is it. So you believe in this man, Allen?"
"I do."
"So does father. He says that he will stick by him as long as he has ahand to hold a gun."
"What is your father's name?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Only he might help me to find a good piece of farm land which I couldget by applying."
"So he might. Well, my father is Ezekiel Garvan--Old Zeke, they callhim round about. Glad to see you when you are near. See, that is ourhouse over yon, where the smoke is rising up from among the trees."
"And what is your name?" asked Eben.
"I am called Zeb; it is short for Zebedee. What is your name?"
Incautiously he answered, truthfully:
"Ebenezer Pike is my name."
The boys separated, and Eben returned to the camp, feeling pleased withhimself to think he had found a good friend, as he never doubted oldZeke would be.
Zeb stood watching Eben for a time, and then he too returned home.
"My old dad used to blame me for listening, and used to say that littlepitchers had big ears, when anyone was there, just to prevent themtalking, but the big ears will be useful now, or I am not fit to be myfather's son."