This proposal was resisted on the ground that it required an aggressive act on the part of the Government to justify so sweeping a proceeding, which, if attempted by us in our then position, would be regarded as an act of mere plunder, unredeemed by any of the stern necessities of war.

So decided the majority.

It was then proposed that we should scatter, and take shelter individually as best we could until harvest time.

But Mr.
O'Brien refused to hear counsel which involved, as its first principle, the idea of becoming fugitives.

A middle course was therefore decided on.