When the signals calling the burghers to the Cape were first made, only seventy men belonging to the district of Swellendam responded to them. The Nationals declined to obey. On the 22nd of June Commissioner Sluysken wrote urging them to do their duty, and on the following day Messrs. A. Horak and N. Linde addressed a strong appeal to them. Still they made no response. On the 7th of July the burgher councillors requested Commissioner Sluysken and the council of policy to offer them an amnesty for the past and reasonable redress of grievances as soon as possible, if they would assist in the defence of the country. This request was complied with, but the offer was not at first well received, as they wished the term “reasonable redress of grievances” to be clearly defined.

At the instance of a considerable number of burghers, on the 16th of July the five individuals who called themselves the national assembly—Hermanus Steyn, Anthonie van Vollenhoven, Ernst du Toit, Pieter Jacobus Delport, and Louis Almoro Pisani—met in session, and framed an answer. In language which is only intelligible to those who are acquainted with the circumstances of the country at the time, they stated that they were resolved to shed the last drop of their blood, if necessary, in defence of freedom; but they were willing to treat with the commissioner and to render assistance if he would guarantee to them exemption from the payment of direct taxes, free trade, the withdrawal of the cartoon money, permission to retain in perpetual slavery all Bushmen made prisoners by commandos or individuals, and several other favours of less importance.