Such plain speaking as this was worthy of the men who bowed and bared the head only to God. Their arguments established their cause. Sir William Jones decided that the duke had no claim to the tax. In East Jersey also, Andros attempted to exercise, on behalf of the duke, the same arbitrary power, and here also was he opposed. But the measures which he took to enforce obedience were of a more violent character. He sent soldiers to seize Carteret, the governor, who was taken in his bed, and carried prisoner to New York. He summoned a special court for his trial, himself being judge, and though the jury persisted in returning a verdict of acquittal, he was still detained a prisoner. The result of the decision in favour of the Friends of West Jersey led to the formal relinquishment of all claim to the territory or government by the Duke of York; and shortly afterwards a similar release was made by him on behalf of East Jersey, when that province also became an independent jurisdiction. In 1681, Jennings being appointed governor of West Jersey, the first legislative assembly was convened, and laws were enacted based on the Quakers’ view of religion and morality. By their laws, all distinctions of faith, wealth, or race, were rejected; it was the universal humanity for which they legislated. For the expenses of their government £200 were levied, to be paid in corn, skins, or money. The salary of their governor was £20 a year; they prohibited the sale of ardent spirits to the Indians; and in all criminal cases, excepting treason, murder and theft, the person aggrieved had the power to pardon the offender. The state of West Jersey presented a picture of a practical Utopia; its laws were based on the broadest principles of Christianity and faith in an improved and improvable humanity; it was an experiment in human virtue, and bore the test. The few hundred souls who commenced it, the little band of Friends, grew soon into thousands, and God’s peace rested on them like a visible blessing, under which they, the meek and longsuffering, literally began to possess the earth with an overflowing measure of joy. A kindly and pleasant intercourse commenced now between the Friends on each side the Atlantic; the cup of the oppressed and persecuted ran over with blessings!—“Friends,” wrote George Fox, and others, in a spirit of loving admonition, “Friends that are gone to make plantations in America, keep the plantations in your hearts, that your own vines and lilies be not hurt. You that are governors and judges, eyes you should be to the blind, and feet to the lame, and fathers to the poor; that you may gain the blessing of those who are ready to perish, and cause the widow’s heart to sing for gladness. If you rejoice because your hand hath gotten much; if you say to fine gold, Thou art my confidence, you will have denied the God that is above. The Lord is ruler among nations; he will crown his people with dominion.”