78 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

welfare of the colonies. The English of the Long
Island towns were the prime movers in this sig-
nificant gathering. There is an unmistakable
English flavor in the contention of The Humble Re-
monstrance adopted by the Convention, that "'tis
contrary to the first intentions and genuine princi-
ples of every well regulated government, that one
or more men should arrogate to themselves the
exclusive power to dispose, at will, of the life and
property of any individual." As a people "not
conquered or subjugated, but settled here on a mu-
tual covenant and contract entered into with the
Lord Patroons, with the consent of the Natives/*
they protested against the enactment of laws and
the appointment of magistrates without their con-
sent or that of their representatives.

Stuyvesant replied with his usual bigotry and
in a rage at being contradicted. He asserted that
there was little wisdom to be expected from popular
election when naturally "each would vote for one
of his own stamp, the thief for a thief, the rogue,
the tippler and the smuggler for his brother in
iniquity, so that he may enjoy more latitude in
vice and fraud/' Finally Stuyvesant ordered the
delegates to disperse, declaring: "We derive our
authority from God and the Company, not from a