PREFACE.
In the history of a country whose growth has been under circumstances like our own, every locality abounds in unrecorded deeds of moral heroism as worthy of notice as are many facts and events which have become fixed in the historic literature current among the masses. Even were such deeds to find a place in local history, they will necessarily be circumscribed in their influence, and at best be so hidden among commonplace matter as almost to escape notice; while to attempt giving them the attention they deserve in a general history would be futile.
In the present attempt to render a comparatively unknown episode of our country’s history the theme of a small volume, both these difficulties will be avoided; and by so giving it the prominence it deserves, thereby afford a better understanding of the inner workings of the stupendous machinery of our system of government. The by-ways of our country’s annals are fruitful in just such interesting and instructive themes.
One of the lessons herein taught is that positions of honor and trust are not always proof against cupidity and corruption; or, to speak more plainly, under color of law men have been known to perform the most lawless acts. The story of the Vermont troubles has one rare quality—the poor hard-working settlers were ultimately successful; and for once the cause of the humble cottager prevailed against the machinations of the favorites of royalty.