History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
'between the ilother Country and her Colonies, are, ' therefore, sorry that we ever had any concern in ' said Paper ; and we do by these Presents utterly 'disclaim every part thereof, except our expressions 'of Loyalty to the King and Obedience to the con- ' stitutional Laws of the Realm.
' Abraham Miller, 'Adam Seaman, ' Andrew Carehart, ' John Carehart, ' Gilbert Brundige, 'John Willis, ' James Jameson, ' Gilbert Merrit." '
William Brown, Isaac Anderson, William Crooker, Andrew Lyon, John Buflot, John Slater, Israel Seaman,
The following very cautiously worded Card, appended to a full copy of the disclaimer and declaration, dated on the twenty-fourth of September, which bore the signature of Timothy Wetmore, Esquire, was published, forty days afterwards:
"The above Paper, like many others, being liable " to misconstruction, and having been understood, by " many, to import a Recognition of a Right in the " Parliament of Great Britain, to bind America, in all " cases whatsoever, and to signify that the Colonies " labour under no Grievances, which is not the Sense "I meant to convey, I think it my Duty to explain "ray Sentiments upon the Subject, and thereby pre- " vent future Mistakes
" It is ray Opinion that the Parliament have no " Right to Tax America, tho' they have a Right to " regulate the Trade of the Empire. I ani further of " Opinion that several Acts of Parliament are Griev- " ances ; and that the execution of thera ought to be " Opposed, in such Manner as may be Consistent with " the Duty of a Subject to our Sovereign ; tho' I can- " not help expressing my Disapprobation of many " violent Proceedings, in some of the Colonies.