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There is no particular law, but rather, a set of common factors which point to nationhood. These include a common language, a sense of a unique national identity, established boundaries and the ability to protect them, recognition from family of nations, establishment of a functioning government, among others.

Vermont had all of these. The ambassador of Vermont was Ira Allen. He negotiated with the British, Massachusetts, New York and the Continental Congress. Allen was joined by Jonas Fay and Bezaleel Woodward in 1781:

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed by the resolution of the 7th, to confer with agents to be appointed by the people of the New Hampshire Grants, on the west side of Connecticut river; and to whom was referred a letter from Jonas Fay, Ira Allen and Bezaleel Woodward, wherein they represent, that the said J. Fay, I. Allen and B. Woodward, have produced to them a commission, under the hand of Thomas Chittenden, esq. empowering them, among other things, "to repair to the American Congress, and to propose to and receive from them terms of an union with the United States".
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, 17 Aug 1781, Vol. XXI, p. 882.

Re their recognition as ambassadors of the State of Vermont:

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to confer with J. Fay, I. Allen and B. Woodward, and thereupon came to the following resolution:
The Committee appointed to confer with Jonas Fay Ira Allen and Bezaleel Woodard Esqrs. Agents from the State of Vermont Report, [emphasis mine]
That your Committee on the 18th. Inst met the Agents from the State of Vermont and having informed them of the purpose of their present conference and that the Committee were ready to hear any proposition or to receive any Information the sd. Agents should think proper to communicate they delivered to your Committee the paper writing numbered 1 That thereupon Your Committee stated a number of Questions in writing and requested written answers thereto from the sd. Agents which we accordingly returned to your Committee and both Questions and Answers are contained in the Paper writing numbered (2)
That your Committee having thus obtained all the Information on the subject referred to them, that the sd. Agents could communicate beg leave to submit the same to Congress, together with sundry papers delivered to your Committee by the sd. Agents for the Information of Congress relative to the past proceedings of the State of Vermont.
It being the fixed purpose of Congress to adhere to the guarantee to the states of New Hampshire and New York, contained in the resolutions of the 7th instant:
Resolved, That it be an indispensible preliminary to the recognition of the independence of the people inhabiting the territory called ~~the state of~~ Vermont, ~~to independence~~ and an their admission into the federal union, that they [emphasis mine - ie. the inhabitants of Vermont] explicitly relinquish all demands of lands or jurisdiction on the east side of the west bank of Connecticut river, and on the west side of a line, beginning at the north-west corner of the State of Massachusetts, thence running twenty miles east of Hudson's river, so far as the said river runs north-easterly in its general course; then by the west bounds of the townships ~~of Wells, Poultney, Castleton Hughbarton and Dunbar to Weedereek thence all along the same~~ granted by the late government of New Hampshire to the river running from South Bay to Lake Champlain, thence along the said river to Lake Champlain, thence along the waters of Lake Champlain to the latitude 45 degrees north, excepting a neck of land between Missiskoy Bay and the waters of Lake Champlain.
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Sharpe,
So it was resolved in the affirmative [9 to 1 in favor, 3 states lacking the requisite number of delegates].
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, 20 Aug 1781, Vol. XXI, pp. 886-888.

The Continental Congress met with the ambassadors, appointed a commitee to meet with them, then passed a resolution requiring Vermont to drop HER claims.

My friend of over 20 years (WiJG?) are in complete agreement when it comes to the 2nd Amendment, and couldn't be farther apart when it comes to the intent of the 10th Amendment! As long as the discussion remains civil, there's no reason it shouldn't carry on.

Then we would also agree on the 2^nd as well. If you have been friends for over 20 years depsite your differences, you have/are a good friend indeed!