20 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



justifiable as those of the people, against whoin, 

 they were compelled to take up arms. The 

 sheriff soon found that very little dependence 

 could be placed on the posse, which attended 

 him : Upon the appearance of an armed oppo- 

 sition from the settlers, the New York miiitia 

 could not be kept together, apd the sheriff found 

 his power, was no more availing, when he W'as 

 attended witli the posse comitatus, than wheii, 

 he was without them. 



This circumstance afforded much cucourage- 

 iiient to the inhabitants, and thev beean to be- 

 lieve, they should find that support from the 

 g-f-nerai stntimtnts of the people in the adjacent 

 states, which they couid not find from law= 

 Their opposition became more general and dar- 

 ing ; and some of the officers of New York be- 

 came sufferers, for ujt^mpting to carry' into ex- 

 ecution the judgments of their courts. In this 

 course, the diificulties and dangers were con- 

 stantly increasing, until several on both sides 

 were much ybnsed and wounded ; and no of- 

 ficer from Nc wyork, dared to attempt to dispos- 

 s-^ss ?^ny of the settlers, of their farms. The 

 .': ejectment, hov/ever, still went on, in 

 irts at Albaviy ; but no attention was 



vi to them, nor was any defence made by the 

 ;:.ci;iers ; but they were never suffered to be 

 c: : ricd into execution: And v/hen ail other 

 iricthods h-id failed, the most acti\'e of the lea- 

 ders, were indicted as rioters. 



I'lie main body of the settlers at that time, 

 ccnsisfed of a brave, hardy, intrepid, but uncul- 

 tivated set of men. Without many of the ad- 

 yantages of education, without any other prop- 



