48 
INTRODUCTION. 
sions of the colony, concluded their labors with a loyal address to the proprietor 
and retired, without having transcended the limits assigned by his representative. 
Yet the inhabitants had suffered so long the inconveniences of arbitrary govern¬ 
ment, and indulged such high expectations of participating in the enjoyments of 
the rights of subjects, on becoming a part of the British empire, that a spirit of 
liberty was awakened among them, which was never afterwards to be repressed. 
Governor Lovelace, the successor of Nichols, continued to exercise the same 
unlimited authority, and levied taxes and imposed duties, without consulting the 
inhabitants. The people assembled, in many places, and addressed to the court 
of assize, petitions, in which they reprobated their exclusion from legislation, and 
the principle of taxation without consulting the people, as inconsistent with the 
English constitution. Failing to obtain any important concessions, the inhabitants 
in several towns resolved to withhold payment of taxes. These resolutions were 
laid before the court of sessions of the West Riding, whose jurisdiction then 
extended over Staten Island, Newtown and Kings county. That court, assisted 
by the colonial secretary, and one of the council, adjudged the representations 
scandalous, illegal and seditious; and the papers having been laid by the governor 
before his council, were, in pursuance of their orders, burned by the common 
hangman.* 
The new patent granted to the Duke of York, in 1674, made no concession 
of popular rights, but confirmed his power to enact all such ordinances as he or 
his assigns should think fit, reserving a right of appeal to the king and his council. 
No person could trade with the province, without the proprietor’s permission, and 
he was authorized to establish such imposts as he should think necessary. The 
arbitrary proceedings of Andros, in 1675, called forth meetings, in which the 
people expressed a firm determination to persist in their claims for a representa¬ 
tive legislature. Those claims were submitted, by the governor, to his patron. 
James replied, “I cannot but suspect assemblies would be of dangerous conse- 
* DtTNLiP. 
