triennial elections in the PROVINCE OF NEW YORK.

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by a larger Consumption of its Commodities, by raising of Hemp and making of Iron , and otherNaval Stores. It will raise a spirit of Industry among the People, and Extend our Trade, restoreour Seamen and Navigation, and remove that Discontent, which has always Increased in proportionto the Age of Past Assemblies. It will raise the Honour of His Majestys immediate Government,as it will greatly advance the happiness of His people, that live under it, and will make the Neigh-boring Colonies to set a less value upon their Charters. It is a Privilege Enjoyed by the Provincesof New Hampshire and South Carolina Barbadoes Antigua and the Leward Islands under HisMajestyes Immediate Government to have an Annual Election of Assemblies, and North Carolina Enjoys a Biennial Assembly, and it may be hoped that his Majesty will not deny to his Loyal Subjectsin New York , what not only their welfare and prosperity, but also the peace and Honour of HisGoverment, the Interests of His Crown, and the Trade of Great Britain, and the Safety of theNeighbouring Colonies seems to render absolutely necessary.

Memorandum of Some of the Reasons that may be offered for obtaining hisMajesties Royall Assent to the Act for frequent Election of Represen-tatives.

First, For that its the Universal Opinion of the Inhabitants of this Colony that the Long Con-tinuance of Assemblys has been one of the greatest Causes of the present Declining State of thisColony, which is such that while our Neighbours of Pensilvania on the one hand and of Connecticut ,Rhode Island and Massachusets Bay and New Hampshire on the other Hand Do yearly greatlyEncrease in numbers of People and the value of their Lands rise and their Trade flourishes, Yetthis Colony which has much greater Natural advantages than any of them has for several years pastdecreased in numbers of People, Rents in the City of New York have generally fallen near onehalf, and the Lands of this Colony about one third part of the value which they have heretoforebeen at, Our seamen and Ship Carpenters have almost wholly deserted us, and our Navigation isalmost got into the Hands of Strangers to this Colony. Long Assemblys are supposed to be oneof the greatest Causes of this Bad State, by their not finding Remedies to prevent or put a stop tothis declining State, by their Suffering the People long to Labour under Grievances, without obtainingor Endeavouring to obtain relief against them, In some Counties even their very Representativeshave become themselves their greatest Grievance For while they have Suffered and Abetted aGovernour in Tyrannizing over all they have become Deputy Tyrants in their Counties. Theyhave often got into their Hands the Sole Recommendation of all Judges, Justices, Officers of theMilitia, and other Officers in their Counties, those so recommended by them they Supported inthose Offices tho’ often unworthy of them, The hopes of being supported encouraged those officersto Despise and Oppress the People And thus a Gradation of Tyrants has been often Establishedand Supported and the People left Destitute of Relief against their Daily Insults and Injuries—Whichwith many other things too many to repeat with too much reason has induced many of the Inhab-itants to think they had no Liberty at all nor property certain in this Colony, and that they hadbetter to remove to the neighbouring Colonies of Either Side where such Tyrannizing was fullyprevented by a yearly Election of Representatives and where the Liberties and Properties of thePeople are well preserved—And its universally believed that a frequent Election of Representativeswould have the like effect here, And that the Short duration of Assemblys will not only prevent theRepresentatives themselves from Domineering in their Counties by Laying them under a necessityto preserve the Affections of the People in order to preserve their power But will also give thePeople an Opportunity from time to time to Chuse such men as are Sensible of what Grievances

Vol. IV.

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