Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

And on the " whole, I think that it would be well for us farmers, " and mechanicks to consider whether it is not likely " that each colony took as much care in choosing " their delegates', as we did. That is, to send men of " knowledge, men of interest, and men of honour. If " so, we must look on oar farmer to be a man wholly " given to ridicule, misrepresentation, and malevo- " lence ; for he hath declared that most honourable " and never to be forgotten congress, to be either a " set of ignorant men, or else to be traitors 1

" I would now recommend to the notice of every " reader of Rivington's Farmer, that it is the usual '' practice of evil minded persons, when they would " disturb the quiet of any man, or body of men, " against whom they can find no just cause of com- " plaint, to raise against them, without any evidence, " the highest clamours, suggest the most criminal de- " signs, and if possible, represent even their most " laudable actions in an odious light : The best char- '" acters and most commendable actions, are no secur- " ities against attacks like these of the Farmer, to " which the best of men are most exposed ; but it is " a proof against them, that they are unsupported by . " reason, or by credible evidence ; when, if either had " existed, they would certainly have been produced " by the same malevolence that raised the clamour " without them. I would only desire the reader to " consider the Farmer's clamour, invectives and " abuse, calmly and dispassionately, give them their " due weight and no more.