Against lawyers and courts, the strongest resentments were manifested; and to such a dangerous extent were these dispositions indulged, that, in many instances, tumultuous assemblages of people arrested the course of law, and restrained the judges from proceeding in the execution of their duty.

The ordinary recourse to the power of the country was found an insufficient protection, and the appeals made to reason were attended with no beneficial effect.

The forbearance of the government was attributed to timidity rather than to moderation, and the spirit of insurrection appeared to be organized into a regular system for the suppression of courts.
In the bosom of Washington, these tumults excited attention and alarm.
"For God's sake tell me," said he in a letter to Colonel Humphries, "what is the cause of all these commotions?
Do they proceed from licentiousness, British influence disseminated by the tories, or real grievances which admit of redress?
if the latter, why was redress delayed until the public mind had become so much agitated?
if the former, why are not the powers of government tried at once?
It is as well to be without, as not to exercise them.

Commotions of this sort, like snow-balls, gather strength as they roll, if there is no opposition in the way to divide and crumble them." "As to your question, my dear general," said Colonel Humphries in reply, "respecting the cause and origin of these commotions, I hardly find myself in condition to give a certain answer.

If from all the information I have been able to obtain, I might be authorized to hazard an opinion, I should attribute them to all the three causes which you have suggested.