Am I to understand you, good people, as assembled
here for the purpose of resisting the laws of the land?"
"We don't know, captain, what you mean exactly by the laws of the land,"
was the reply of Munro; "but, I must say, we are here, as you see us
now, to defend our property, which the laws have no right to take from
us--none that I can see."
"So! and is that your way of thinking, sir; and pray who are you that
answer so freely for your neighbors?"
"One, sir, whom my neighbors, it seems, have appointed to answer for
them."
"I am then to understand, sir, that you have expressed their
determination on this subject, and that your purpose is resistance to
any process of the state compelling you to leave these possessions!"
"You have stated their resolution precisely," was the reply. "They had
notice that unauthorized persons, hearing of our prosperity, were making
preparations to take them from us by force; and they prepared for
resistance. When we know the proper authorities, we shall answer
fairly--but not till then.
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