In speaking of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, one of the Loyalist newspapers says : " When the lunacies of the former are separated from the villanies of the latter, the deluge of destruction that is certainly, though slowly, rolling after them will rapidly come on and .overwhelm them and their infatuated votaries in prodigious ruin." Here in this County, where the" Westchester County Farmer" had poured forth his entreaties and forebodings in view of the uprising against the British authority, the anxiety for the success of the new government could not but be intensified by these recollections, and by the daily contact with the many who had anticipated disa-ster. But notwithstanding all this desire to avoid a failure, there was a deep feeling that the safety of the people's rights was and would be much better secured under the more readily iDVokcd protection of the State than under the distant care, with distracting -- oftentimes contradicting -- interests, of a General Government. The head of the State of New York at this time was George Clinton, its great war Governor, who, by his popularity, as much as by his office, was possessed of great influence \with the people. While professing a sincere desire

for the continuance of the then Federal compact, and for its usefulness, and that the General Government should inspire respect at home and abroad, Governor Clinton resisted with ardor and firmness the making of any concessions which should weaken the State authority or further abridge its powers. The influence of his position and arguments on the public mind can readily be seen. But still abler and more practiced pens and voices were showing into what a pitiable condition public affairs were running. General Schuyler, Chief Justice Livingston, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton were setting forth and urging the necessity for a change.