The application of lenient measures for the suppression of disaffection was ineffectual. It was found that many

persons had " affected to maintain a Neutrality," which there was " Reason to was in many Instances, suspect dictated by a Poverty of Spirit, and an undue Attachment to Property." Divers of them " advocated the American. Cause till it became serious," then broke their paroles and dissipated the forbearance of their countrymen, having " ungratefully and insidiously from Time to Time, by artful

Misrepresentations, and a subtle Dissemination of Doctrines, Fears and Apprehensions false in themselves, and

'Appendix I* Laws, April 1, 1778.

i8 State of New York

injurious to American Cause, seduced certain weak the minded Persons from the Duties they owed their Country." Hence the legislature, by the act of June 30, 1 778, judged 1

that the welfare of the State " loudly " demanded that some decisive measures should be taken against them, and that the State should no longer grant shelter to persons who " not only refuse to assist in rearing," but daily endeavored

to undermine and subvert the patriot government. By this act passiveness was no longer to be respected. An out and out patriotism was to be made manifest. All persons " of neutral and equivocal Characters " were to be summoned before quorums of the commissioners for detecting and defeating conspiracies, whenever they believed any of them to have " influence sufficient to do Mischief," and were to take the new oath of allegiance or, if Quakers, to affirm. By this oath or affirmation they declared, "without any mental Reservation or Equivocation whatever," that the State of New York was of right a free and independent State, and that no authority or power could of right be exercised in and over the State, save such as was granted by or derived from its people.