|
|
U. H. J.
Calvert
Paper
No. 735
p. 63
|
much greater Quantity of Powder in Store yet notwithstanding all
imaginable Care (which has been the greatest that cou'd be taken
in this Province) many of such Arms and a great deal of the Powder
would have been, as what we have now are, (if not entirely) yet
more unfit for Service, than new Powder and arms; and surely there
is very little Reason to reproach those who are intrusted with the
Disposition of that Fund, with husbanding or even hoarding it up
(as your Phrase is) in London, ready for such dangerous occasions
as may require a large Sum of Money; and it is entirely owing to the
necessity of applying it to sudden calls that the moneys always lie
dead in the Merchants Hands without any Interest, since none can
foresee how soon or suddenly it may be wanted: The Reasons we
have given for hoarding (your beloved Phrase must be omitted)
the money will we doubt not, justify us to every unprejudiced and
reasonable Man, as well as prove that you are determined to Con-
demn our Conduct at all Events; you have heretofore gone so far
as even to charge us with embezelling 2500£ part of this Fund and
this Charge remains in the Printed Proceedings of the last Con-
vention, you have had sufficient time to examine this matter, and we
suppose you have done so; if you have, you must be convinced of
the Injustice of your Accusation, tho' you have not had Candour
enough to make a bare acknowledgment that you have been mis-
taken; such an Acknowledgment tho' but an Act of Justice is too
great a Favour for us to expect from you: Whatever that money is
which you insinuate his Lordship takes for Support of Government,
we suppose it makes a part of the Complaint you expect to be
redressed by his Majesty, and therefore we shall only say, if that
Affair was not likely to come under another Examination we should
be ready to shew your Claim to any part of that money to be
Groundless
Our Earnestness on the Case you stated, was owing to your
mention of the House of Peers between whom and any Parts of this
Legislature there can be no just Comparison
|
|
|
|
p. 64
|
The Information you have had of any Incapacity of the Council
holding Offices (except in some especial Cases) in other Planta-
tions, while they have a Share in the Legislature, we have Reason
to be assured is wrong, what (if any) particular Offices they may
be incapable of we cannot pretend to say; But we are greatly de-
ceived, if the Offices of Receivers General, Auditors, Secretary, and
Judges, with considerable Salaries and Perquisites, and other
Offices are not enjoyed in his Majestys Plantations by Gentlemen
of the Council, who have a Share in Legislation; and it is most
certain the general Welfare of the People is so much the Duty and
Interest of a Proprietary, that it is hardly imaginable it can ever
be out of his View; though the contrary may be as easily and warmly
|
|
