70 Assembly Proceedings, August 5-September 28, 1745.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 46

English Liberties, are not well-wishers to the Country, and mistake
its happy Constitution.
Resolved also, that if there be any Pretence of Conquest, it can
only be supposed against the native Indian Infidels, which Supposi-

[Qy.

admitted ]

tion cannot be omitted, because the Christian Inhabitants purchased
great part of the Land, they at first took up from the Indians, as well
as from the Lord Proprietary, and have ever since continued in an
amicable Course of Trade with them; except some partial Outrages
and Skirmishes, which never amounted to a general War, much less
to a general Conquest; the Indians yet enjoying their Rights and
Privileges of Treaties and Trade with the English, of whom we yet
frequently purchase their Rights, of such Lands as we take up, as
well as of the Lord Proprietary.

Resolved further, That this Province hath always hitherto had
the Common Law, and such general Statutes of England, as are
securitative of the Rights and Liberties of the Subject; and such
Acts of Assembly as were made in the Province, to suit its particu-
lar constitution, as the Rule and Standard of its Government and
Indicature; such Statutes and Acts of Assembly being subject to the
like Rules of Common Law, or equitable Construction, as are used
by the Iudges in construing Statutes in England: Which happy
Rules have by his Majesty and his Royal Ancestors, and also by his
Lordship and his noble Ancestors, or some of them, been hitherto
approved, by having the Commissions of Judicature, to include
Directions of that Nature to the several Iudicial magistrates; unless
those Words have at any Time been casually or carelessly omitted
by the Officers in this Province, that drew such Commissions.

Resolved, That the Subject matter of Governour Shirley's Letter,
communicated to this House, be taken into Consideration to morrow
morning.

M^r Brome, a returned member for Calvert County, appears in the
House, M^r Wootton and M^r Mackall are sent to the Upper House
to see him qualified: They return and acquaint M^r Speaker that they
saw him qualified by taking the several Oaths to the Government
required by Law, signing the Oath of Abjuration and repeating and
signing the Test. The Gentleman takes his Seat in the House.
Ordered, that M^r Worthington acquaint the Reverend M^r Gordon
with the Request of this House to read divine Service at the Hour
of Seven in the morning, and five in the Afternoon during this
Session.

The Gentleman acquaints the House that the Rev^d M^r Gordon
will comply with their Request.

The House adjourns until 2 of the Clock in the Afternoon