We are not insensible, also, that, notwithstanding the seeming eagerness of its authors, at that time, to remove the "many and great "inconveniences," as well as that power of despotic oppression and tyranny which "attended the mode of "Government by Congress and Committees," of some of which "inconveniences" and despotism the reader has been already made acquainted, they were not subsequently so eager -- they certainly loitered over their work until after the Royal Commissioners had exhausted their ingenuity as well as their authority in fruitless efforts to effect a Reconciliation and to restore harmony between the Colonies and the Mother Country ; and, even at that later day, John Morin Scott and Alexander McDougal and others of the same class having, meantime, obtained other places

1 Jonmal of the Provincial Congress, " Die Veneris, 9 ho., A.M., May " 24, 1776."

^Journal of the Provi)iciat Congress "Die Veneris, 4 ho., P. M., May "31, 177G."

which filled their expectations, the puny thing which was created and entitled The Constitution of the State of New Fori:, was introduced to the world, and fostered by political midwives and wetnurses who cared nothing for it beyond what they could severally make from it. Most of all, we are not insensible of the fact that, notwithstanding all the fine words, concerning the "People" and the "Inhabitants" and their unquestionable political authority, which were included in the Resolutions, the oligarchic authors of those Resolutions carefully reserved to themselves, the sole authority to determine whether a Constitution should or should not be created ; and to determine, also, if they should consider a Constitution were necessary and proper, in what words and with what provisions that Constitution should be composed; without the slightest recognition of any existing Right or authority, in the constituent "People" or "Inhabitants," to consider all such action of those who pretended to be the " representatives" of that "People" or of those " Inhabitants," and to ratify and approve or £o disallow and reject the same, or any portion thereof, at its or their pleasure, as might be done by the recognized sovereign power; and as, in this instance, it certainly should have been done.' It will be seen, hereafter, in what manner the "oligarchy" who was seated in the Provincial Congress, controlling the aflaira of the Colony in their own interest, and who intended to be re-elected, betrayed both the " Inhabitants" and the "People," in imposing upon both, a new form of Government, without their consent, but not until their own purposes to secure their own ends through the older Colonial form, had become unsuccessful.