78 The Story of The Bronx 



from which our modern leaders might get pointers — the worst 

 being the disfranchisement of the Quakers, who, of course, 

 would not swear they were freeholders and entitled to vote; 

 and the sheriff would not accept their affirmations. Not- 

 withstanding the loss of the Quaker vote— amounting to 

 thirty-eight — Judge Morris had a majority of eighty, his 

 election being a victory of the people over the aristocracy. 

 Later, the newly elected representative visited the city of 

 New York and was received with high honors, all the mer- 

 chant ships in the harbor firing salutes, and the people hail- 

 ing him with loud acclamations when he walked the streets. 



Zenger, whose account of the election is full of naive in- 

 sinuations and innuendoes, was later informed against for 

 criminal libel on account of his attacks upon the government 

 in the Journal. He was arrested and thrown into jail, where 

 he remained for several months. His counsel at his trial were 

 led by the venerable and distinguished Andrew Hamilton of 

 Philadelphia, the ablest lawyer in the colonies. Though 

 Chief Justice De Lancey, who presided at Zenger 's trial, 

 charged the jury that they could be judges of fact only, and 

 not of law, and the fact of the scurrilous articles was admitted 

 by the defence, the jury brought in a verdict of "not guilty, " 

 a verdict which established the right of the press to criticise 

 the public acts of government — a right which, with freedom 

 of speech and of conscience, lies at the foundation of free and 

 popular government. 



It will be remembered that Elias Doughty sold to Philipse, 

 Delaval, and Lewis 7708 acres of Colen Donck. By June 12, 

 1686, the whole tract had come into possession of Frederick 

 Philipse by purchase from the heirs of the other two pro- 

 prietors. In the meanwhile, Philipse had been buying land 

 from the Indians and from Christian proprietors and patentees, 



