History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
And if prejudice, popular declamations, "and the hateful current of party faction, are not too " strong for truth and matters of fact ; we must allow " that the grand pitch of commerce we have arrived "at, the progress we have made in arts and sciences; "the amazing repadity in extending, settling and im- " proving our land estates ; the magnificent appear- " ance and flourishing condition of our towering cit- " ies ; the opulence of the inhabitants, and every other " blessing under God which we do, and still may en- "joy, derived their origin from, and have their exis- "tence in the laws, the lenity, and the unlimited " indulgence of our parent state ; which has hitherto " protected us, is ever able, and would be ready, if we " deserve it, to defend us against all invadere of our " peace and tranquility, by sending to our support the "terror of the universe, the British Arms! -- For a " proof of this let us revert to the late war, when the "French and Savages with fire and sword, were rav- " aging the country ; when the cries of murder and "scalj)ing were echoed from everj' quarter of the " woods ; the infants brains dashed out before the eyes " of its afflicted parents ; the parents tortured to death " by the horrid and shocking barbarities of the Indi- ■' ans ; and numbers flying from their habitations, ex- " posed to famine, and every species of distress. Let "us reflect on those direful calamities; Let us be " grateful tt) the power which preserved us, which sent "forth her Ixvixcible Veterans, vanquished our " enemies, and finally reinstated us in quiet posses- "sion of our own. -- If we have a right to complain of "the British acts of parliament, we have a Governor, " Council and Assembly, to rejircsent our grievances "to the King, Lords and Cojuions; we are assured " that we shall be heard : We have no business with " Congrexses and Commiitees.