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U. H. J.
p. 8
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has mentioned. On the other hand many of those generall
Statutes, would be of great Use and Benefit to us. The
Question is how we shall make use of those that are proper
for us, and Reject such as are Inconvenient. It may be said the
Judges of the several Courts are to Distinguish such Statutes
as are proper, such as are otherwise, and judge accordingly;
This indeed has been the practice since the setling of the
province, and this method has been Generally Approved of ;
till lately it was proposed the Judges Hands should be Tyed by
an Oath, to Judge according [to] the Statutes of England,
without any Exception; so that if a Gentleman Practitioner
of the Law finds it for the Benefit of his Clyent (to whose
Interest he is sworn) to plead any Statute tho never so incon-
sistent with the Conveniency of the Countrey, he may Demand
Judgment from the Judge according to the Oath proposed
to be taken. Of what Benefit is our Charter which gives us
liberty to Enact such Laws as are Convenient for the Coun-
trey if we must be tyed down by such Statutes as are Incon-
venient and were never designed for us; for it would be
madness to suppose the Parliament of England has the Planta-
tions in View when they pass an Act, without they are particu-
larly mentioned.
Gentlemen
It is proper we should come to a Certainty in relation to such
Statutes as are for our Benefit, and such as are not; and I
can think of no better Expedient, than for a Committee of
both Houses to make a Collection of them and to reject such
as are Inconvenient for us, and Reenact such as are Suited
to our Constitution in which I shall heartily Concurr.
I cannot help Recommending to your Consideracon an
Affair which may be attended with ill Consequences to the
Country if not timely prevented; some of our Runaway
negroes are harboured among the Shuano Indians on Poto-
mack River I did with the advice of the Councill Engage one
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p. 9
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of the Magistrates of Prince Georges County to give the Chief
of those Indians An Invitation to meet me at Mononkosey in
order to settle a Treaty with them to prevent the loss of any
more of Our Slaves, as well as to regain those Already there ;
Upon the Indians promise to the Gentleman that went to
them, that they would meet me I went as far as the Mountains
with some of the Councell, and several other Gentlemen But
tho we stay'd beyond the appointed time, the Indians for what
reason I cannot tell never came; we then thought it proper
to send a Messenger, to know their reason for not coming,
and he brought me answer from them that they would
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