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Lib. C. B.
No. 20
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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
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p. 23
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Authority of Constituting a Governor, should also appoint
him such a Stipend as it shall judge proper, without the Con-
sent of the People, and at their Expence; And whether while
the Judges of the Land and other Civil Officers in the Prov-
ince 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 Hardships of the Act for preventing Mutiny and De-
sertion, which require the Governor and Council to provide
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 Appoint-
ments 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 Commission which doth
not appear to this House to derive any such advantages to
Trade as many have been led to expect.
These are the Sentiments and Proceedings of this House,
and as they have too much reason to believe that the Enemies
of the Colonies have represented them to His Majesty's Min-
isters, and the Parliament, as factious, disloyal and having a
Disposition to make themselves Independent of the Mother-
Country, They have taken Occasion in the most Humble
Terms to assure His Majesty and his Ministers, that, with
regard to the People of this Province, and as they doubt not
of all the Colonies, the Charge is unjust.
The House is fully satisfied that Your Assembly is too
generous and enlarged in Sentiment to believe that this Letter
proceeds from an Ambition of taking the Lead or dictating to
other Assemblies. They freely submit their Opinion to the
Judgment of others, and shall take it kind in your House to
point out to them anything further which may be thought
necessary.
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