664 Assembly Proceedings, May 1-June 4, 1744.

Calvert
Paper
No. 396

paid to the Treasurers as usual, the Governor in Case of the Death
of either of the Treasurers might have immediately supplied the
Place by a New Commission.
3^dly But in Case Colonel Sprigg had given Security, Yet it was
not impossible such sureties might have been persons not of the best
Inclinations to his Majesty and Government Since many Persons of
the Romish Religion of good Fortune inhabit this Province and
could not be refused as sureties, upon the General Words of this Bill,
And if such had been securities; It is certain they might have refused
or at least delayed the Payment of the money in such Manner and
Time, as not to Comply with the purposes of the Bill, Nor can it be
any answer to this Objection to say that the Bonds would be liable
& might be put in suit; For so much Time must necessarily [be]
taken up before the Effect of such Suit could be obtained, that the
whole Use of the Bill might be defeated.
4^thly The Act intended by this Bill was to expire in December
1745 and the monies raised thereby were to be at the Disposition of
the House of Delegates, In Case the Governor should not apply the
same, before such Session of Assembly as should happen after the
said December 1745, It is to be observed that the Principal Part of
the annual Duty to arise by this Bill could not be collected before
the latter End of the year, And if the Governour for want of Oppor-
tunities in War Time, or should not think it Expedient to send im-
mediately for such a great Quantity of Powder lest the same should
spoil, which constantly happens in this Climate by Keeping, All the
Money intended for that Branch of the Service & not actually applied
before December 1745 would be under the Direction of the Lower
House only, who by their many Attempts to set up an Agent & him a
Power independant of the Government might be supposed to find
many other Uses than Defence of the Province for this Money.
5^thly The Provisoe in favour of a Claim made by the Country
against the Proprietary is impertinent, & tacked to the Bill with no
other Design, than to throw a Reflection on the Proprietary, and
keep on foot the Pretence of a Right, with a View to disturb the
Minds of the People and Peace of Government.
The usual and accustomed form, in which this Provision for Arms
has been made for almost thirty Years was to impower the Treasur-
ers to receive and the Governor and Council to dispose of this money
to those Uses But the Lower House without any Cause from the Mis-
management of the Governor and Council or Treasurer, directs this
fund in another Channell, for the sake of casting an Odium on the
Council.
7^thly Although Col^o Sprigg is impowered to send for Arms &c^a
upon the Governors Orders for the Use of the Province, yet he is
not directed what to do with those Arms, where to deposite them,
or to whom to deliver them; so that the Arms might be in this Prov-