The Epic of New York City by Edward Robb Ellis Page A

representation was tyranny.
    With company approval, Stuyvesant decided to grant the colonists the appearance of representation and then tap their tills. He ordered the people to elect eighteen of their “most notable, reasonable, honest and respectable” men. When this was done, he himself chose half of the eighteen to serve as an advisory board. The function of these Nine Men was to assist, when called on, in providing for the general welfare. The history of Stuyvesant’s seventeen-year rule is that of a struggle between him and the people, who wanted a truly popular government.
    Taxes were imposed, but it was difficult to collect them. Kieft’s blunders and greed left the colonists with little respect for any representative of the company. Kieft had not departed immediately on his ill-starred voyage to Holland after his dismissal as director general. In fact, during Stuyvesant’s inauguration the deposed governor stood beside his successor and even insisted on saying a few words. Kieft thanked the people for their fidelity, wished them happiness, and bade them farewell. From the audience there arose murmurs: “We’re glad your reign is over,” and “Good riddance!”
    Then someone suggested that Kieft should be voted the conventional thanks for his official conduct. Two men said bluntly that they had no reason to thank him and would not do so. One of them wasnamed Kuyter. The other was Melyn. Both had lost much in the Indian war provoked by Kieft. By this time everyone knew the gruesome details of the Pavonia Massacre. Dutch soldiers had snatched Indian children from their mothers’ breasts and hacked the infants to death. Other sucklings had been bound to boards, tortured, and then murdered. Still other Indian children had been thrown into the river by the cruel Dutchmen.
    During the confrontation between Kieft on the one hand and Kuyter and Melyn on the other, these gory matters were not mentioned. Nevertheless, as Stuyvesant heard his predecessor defied and humiliated, the scowl lines deepened in his stern face. But Kuyter and Melyn were not content to let it go at that. After Stuyvesant’s inauguration, after he had begun his work of reconstruction and reform, these two stubborn Dutchmen urged that an investigation be held to determine the cause of the late Indian war. They suggested that colonists should testify, evidence be compiled, and a report about Kieft’s conduct be sent to Holland.
    Stuyvesant now appointed a commission to pass on the propriety of such an inquiry. However, the moment it assembled, he blasted Kuyter and Melyn, calling them “two malignant fellows” and “disturbers of the peace.” A company man to the core, Stuyvesant sided with Kieft from the very start. Trumped-up charges were brought against Kuyter and Melyn. They were accused of slandering and threatening the former governor. Then they were arrested on charges of rebellion and sedition and brought to trial almost immediately.
    The trial, which lasted several days, stirred up wild excitement throughout the town. Taking no chances, Stuyvesant himself mounted the bench to sit as judge. No one was surprised at the verdict: guilty. Melyn was banished from New Netherland for 7 years and fined 300 guilders. Kuyter was exiled for 3 years and fined 150 guilders. Glaring at Melyn, Peg Leg Peter roared, “If I thought there were any danger of your trying an appeal, I would hang you this minute to the tallest tree on the island!”
    Soon afterward, Kieft sailed for Holland with his fortune, which his enemies estimated to be 400,000 guilders. He took Kuyter and Melyn with him as prisoners. As has been noted, the ship never reached its destination, being wrecked on a rock off the coast of Wales. When it appeared that all aboard would perish, the conscience-stricken Kieft went to his prisoners and stammered, “Friends, I—I—have done you wrong! Can you—forgive