They greatly strengthened his hands by sending a Memorial to the West India Company, condemning the elective franchise which the Dutch colonists desired.
"We willingly acknowledge," they wrote, "that the power to elect a governor from among ourselves, which is, we know, the design of some here, would be our ruin, by reason of our factions and the difference of opinion which prevails among us." The West India Company, not willing to relinquish the powers which it grasped, was also in very decided opposition to the spirit of popular freedom which the Dutch colonists were urging, and which was adopted by the States-General.

Thus, in this great controversy, the governor, the West India Company and the English settlers in the colony were on one side.

Upon the other side stood the States-General and the Dutch colonists almost without exception.
The vice-director was punished for his protest, by expulsion from the council and by imprisonment in the guard-room for four days.

Upon his liberation he took refuge with the Patroon on Staten Island.

The notary, who had authenticated the protest, was dismissed from office and forbidden any farther to practice his profession.