64 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

Clergys dues Officers fees &c. in the Provincial Current
Money rating Tobacco at 12/6 p Centum. As the object of
this Part of the Act was the Diminution of the Quantity of
Tobacco and thereby to Advance the Price of what should

p. 53

be sent to Markett, it is not quite Foreign to that part of the
Title of the Act for amending the Staple, and as the accus-
tomed method of taxing and Charging Clergys dues &c. has
been in Tobacco because the most convenient to the Planters
who are the Bulk of the People but yet would be inconvenient
to Farmers and others not engaged in the Culture of Tobacco,
The Liberty was given to the Farmers &c. to pay off the
charges in Tobacco with Money, and in this Light the Clause
appears to have some Correspondence with the Title of the
Act for the Limitation of Officers fees, and the Clause regu-
lating foreign Coins, giving Ease and Indulgence to the Farm-
ers by allowing them the Alternative of paying Gold and
Silver or Paper Currency, has the same Relation to the Title
of the Act for amending the Staple, and Limitation of Offi-
cers fees. It seems not immaterial to observe to your Lord-
ship that Tobacco Answers the Purposes of Money, and in
many parts of the Province is the Common Medium, Debts
are Contracted in Tobacco and bear an Interest of 8 p
Centum. Our Tobacco being thus considered in these two re-
spects as a Commodity and a Medium, when it came to be
regulated by an Act required different and apparently inde-
pendant regulations, and those of necessity for it could not
be exclusively and properly affected as a Commodity or a
Medium

We beg leave further to observe to your Lordship that in
all or most of the Colonies within his Majestys American
Dominions a Rate is Settled between Foreign Coins and the
Provincial Currency, either by the Consent of the People, or
express Laws, and if Silver or Gold Currency could not be
received in this Province in lieu of Paper Money, but at a
Par we should have very little left in a short time, and it
would be very difficult if not impossible to carry on any Sort
of Trade to Advantage with any other of his Majestys Amer-
ican Colonies.

As to your Lordships fifth objection that the Act is an
Infringement of your Lordships Prerogative in the Limita-
tion of Officers fees, and the necessity & Reasonableness of
the Limitation does not appear

We beg leave humbly to observe to your Lordship that we
do not Conceive your Lordships Prerogative can in any Sort
be impeached by the Passing of this Law with your Lordships
Assent. There have been many Acts at different Periods for