The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

952 COoNTROVERSY RESPECTING THE
That the said contest was occasioned, partly by the issuing
of divers interfering patents or grants, by the respective governmenrts of JXew-York on the one part, and those of JIassachusettsBay anlld J'ew-Hamps/iire on the otller, antecedent to the late
establishment of the eastern boundary of this State; partly by
an higher quit-rent reserved on the said lands, when re-granted
under Yew- York, than were reserved in the original grants under
JV'ew-Hampshire or JMassafcAusetts Bay, and the exorbitant fees
of office accruing thereon; and partly by a number of grants
made by the late government of J'ew- York, after the establishment of the said eastern boundary, for lands which had been
before granted by the governments of Jcew-tlHm-pshire and
Massachusetts-Bay respectively, or one of them; in which last
mentioned grants by the late government of JVew-York, the
interest of the servants of the crown, and of new adventurers,
was, in may instances, contrary to justice and policy, preferred
to the equitable claims for confirmation, of those who had
patented the lands under NJew-HampshiLre or Mlassachusetts-Bay:That the aforesaid disaffection hlas been greatly increased, by
an act passed by the Legislature of the late Colony of' jew York,
on the ninth day of Ma.rch, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy four, entitled, " An A.ct for
preventing tumultuous and riotous assemblies in the places
therein mentioned, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters:'T-Tllat many of the aforesaid disaffected
persons, though unjustifiable in their opposition to the authority
of this State, labour under grievances, arising from thle causes
above mentioned, wvhichl, in some measure, extenuate their
offence, and which ought to be redressed:That, therefore, the Legislature of this State, while on tho
one hand, they will vigorously maintain their righltful supremacy
over the persons and property of those disaffected subjects, will,
on the other hand, make overtures to induce the voluntary
submission of the delinquents:That an absolute and unconditional discharge, and remission
of all prosecutions, penalties and forfeitures, under tlhe above
mentioned act, shall be an established preliminary to sucl overtures; which overtures are as follows viz.