
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990                   TAG: 9007020267
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

THE WHOLE STORY ON VERMONT

IF THE EDITOR is going to write such a "whimsical" observation about Vermont (editorial June 17), then it would behoove him to tell the whole story and not just a few tongue-in-cheek facts.

Prior to Vermont's obtaining statehood, New York claimed (north of Massachusetts) all lands east to the Connecticut River, while New Hampshire claimed those same lands west to Lake Champlain. Both stated it was in their original land grants.

The original white settlers of this territory came from Connecticut and throughout the years became the independent Vermonters who would have no part of New York's or New Hampshire's claims.

After requesting admission to the Union and following much delay on the part of the 13 original states to act on this request, Vermont then threatened to join Canada (the British Empire). Only after this threat did Congress finally accept Vermont as the 14th state. The threat was to force acceptance into the Union and not, as with South Carolina, to get out of the Union.

If Confederate money was so precious, then why did Bennett Young and 25 other Confederate soldiers raid and rob the bank at St. Albans, Vt., of more than $200,000 in 1864? For your information, most of the men and money were seized by the Canadian government. HERBERT REININGER MAX MEADOWS

by CNB