Original.
Calvert
Papers.
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House on whom they can depend, as a Leader to collect &
direct the well Inclined; Or, since they must have some
Person upon whose shoulders they may lean, they will too
frequently for want of other support, fall in with the patriot
Leaders; And this I conceive to be the great difficulty both
in chosing such as maybe trusted, & in rewarding his services,
without at the same time rendering him so unpopular as to
lose his seat in that House upon a New Election; However,
it is to be hoped every new Election may afford some one or
more, proper to take upon them the Management of the Gov-
erments Interest there, who may be content with one of those
comissions at the Experation of their Service.
I have not amongst the offices to be applyed as above,
named either the county clerks, or the Attorney Generals
Deputys in the several counties; the only reason why is
because I am informed the former, the people will not trust
with a Seat there, altho' as soon as they get their comissions
(tho' during pleasure) they generally claim to hold them
during good behaviour, & so consider themselves as indepen-
dant of the Goverment & some of them as well as their whole
familys & Relations, act accordingly (Qre if fast friends to the
Goverment) and as to the Attorney Generals Deputys as they
must be Lawyers (of whom neither are the people in General
very fond) it is therefore for the Interest of his Lordp & the
Goverment that they be appointed out of the most able of
those who will accept those comissions, without expecting any
Influence from them over any part of the proceedings of the
Lower House, tho' those comissions (inconsiderable as I am
informed they now are) have always the good Effect of fixing
those who do accept them, however waivering before, fast
friends to the Goverment (To this plan of Gratuity of Hon-
ourable purpose may be added the Benefices to their Relations
& Sons; Besides other offices not mentioned) In short, no
Man who behaves well in that House for three years should
at the End of that time go unrewarded, as far as the fore-
going coffiissions would be acceptable, nor should they be
ever be granted from private Interest, friendship or any other
private motive whatever, so long as there are well deservers
of that House to take them; for the assemblys continuing for
three years & those comissions continuing likewise for three
years, will serve as a constant Rotation & succession to each
other. The extreame Length of this Letter hitherto, had
almost discouraged Me from proceeding, least your patience
should be tired out; But conceiving the Subject matter to be
important both to his Lordship & the Province in Genera], an
assurance that your regard for both will prompt you to give
a favourable hearing to whatever is advanced for those pur-
poses, induces Me to proceed.
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