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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1761-1771
Volume 14, Page 493   View pdf image (33K)
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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 493

impracticable that they should equally be represented there,
and consequently not at all, being separated by an ocean of
1000 Leagues, and that His Majesty's Royal Predecessors for
this Reason were graciously pleased to form a subordinate
Legislature here, that their Subjects might enjoy their inalien-
able Right of a Representation, and that considering the utter
Impracticability of their being fully and equally represented
in Parliament, and the great Expence that must unavoidably
attend even a partial Representation there, This House thinks
that a Taxation of their Constituents even without their Con-
sent, grievous as it is, would be preferable to any Representa-
tion that could be admitted for "them there.
Upon these Principles and also considering that were the
Right in the Parliament ever so clear, yet for obvious Reasons
it would be beyond the Rules of Equity, that their Constitu-
ents should be taxed on the Manufactures of Great Britain
here, in addition to the Duties they pay for them in England,
and other Advantages arising to Great Britain from the Acts
of Trade, This House have preferred an humble dutiful and
loyal Petition to our most gracious Sovereign, and made such
Representations to His Majesty's ministers as they apprehend
would tend to obtain Redress. They have also submitted it
to Consideration whether any People can be said to enjoy any
Degree of Freedom, if the crown, in addition to its undoubted
authority of constituting a Governor, should also appoint him
such a stipend as it shall judge proper, without the Consent
of the People, and at their expence ; And whether while the
Judges of the Land and other civil Officers in the Province
hold not their Commission during good Behaviour, their
having Salaries appointed by the Crown independent of the
People, hath not a Tendency to subvert the Principles of
Equity, and endanger the Happiness and Security of the
Subject.
In addition to these Measures the House have wrote a
letter to their Agent Mr. Deberdt, the sentiment of which he
is directed to lay before the Ministry, wherein they take
Notice of the Hardship of the Act for preventing Mutiny and
Desertion, which requires the Governor and Council to pro-
vide enumerated articles for the King's Marching Troops, and
the People to pay the Expence, and also the Commission of
the Gentlemen appointed Commissioners of the Customs to
reside in America, which authorizes them to make as many
Appointments as they think fit, and to pay the Appointees
what sums they please for whose mal-conduct they are not
accountable, from whence it may happen that Officers of the
Crown may be multiplied to such a Degree as to become
dangerous to the Liberties of the People by virtue of a Com-

 

 

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Correspondence of Governor Sharpe, 1761-1771
Volume 14, Page 493   View pdf image (33K)   << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>


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