That the revolted Party has endeavoured npon all Occasions, both in Print and in Conversation, to prejudice the Cause of New York, by representing the avowed Subjects of that State upon the Grants to their Countrymen, in the odious Light of Tories and Enemies to the Country; whereas in Truth whenever there has been a call for Men by proper authority, your Petitioners affirm they have done their full part, and in some Towns more than their part, in providing Men for the Service: And they are willing when called upon by proper Authority which they can

986 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

conscientiously obey, to do their full Proportion towards supporting the War, as soon as order and Government are restored so that it can possibly be done: or we conceive it beyond our Power in the present State of Anarchy, where no compulsory means can be used (except mobbing) to furnish our Quota's either of Men or Money.

That allthough this part of the State laboured under Grievances from the former Government of New York, yet the Legislature of the present Government have repeatedly manifested so much Cheerfulness in redressing them as soon as pointed out, and a temper so contrary to oppression, that we have a well grounded Confidence should any yet remain they had need only to be mentioned to be removed. Entertaining these sentiments of the Legislature, which are unfeigned, we can not but view the present Disturbances solely as the Contention of some artful ambitious and designing Men for the Powers of Government ; but of such a nature that the longer it is unattended to the more difficult it will be to suppress it.