48 Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 11, 1748.

U. H. J.
Liber No. 34
June 10

It is very Certain that the success and Benefit expected from
the Inspection Law must arise from a Strict and Due Execution
thereof, and that will Depend on the Care of the Persons Intrusted
therewith and It is [not] Reasonable to suppose Persons of Less
Reputation and Character than Justices can so well support the
Opinion of a Proper Execution of the Law, And therefore we cannot
Agree to the Alteration of [substituting] the Persons mentioned by
the Bill in the Room of Justices for the View and Examination of the
Tobacco mentioned in the Clause we have Omitted by the first amend-
ment; besides as the Good Effect the Virginia Law, which hath been
greatly advantagious to the Trade of that Colony, and Approved of at
home has Recommended a Law of the same kind to this Legislature,
We are willing to vary as Little as May be from that Law, lest every
Alteration from that should be considered or Urged in Prejudice
of Ours

p. 265

As to the 2^d amendment we think the Inspection Law sufficiently
Provides for the matter by that Clause intended, and It is not only
unnecessary to Multiply Laws or Provisions for what are by former
Laws taken Care of, but even imprudent Lest several Laws may
Occasion doubts or confusion where there was none before, or a
suspicion that more is intended by this Law than was thought of by
the Inspection Law.
To the 3^d Amendment We Doubt not but you are very sensible the
most Effectual Answer that Could be Given to any Objection against
that Part of the Inspection Law, which Deducted one fourth of
the Debts must have been from the time between the making and
Commencement of that Act between which Two Periods Every
Creditor might have time either to Recover, Receive compound or
enter into any new Contract or Agreement with Regard to the Pay-
ment of their former Debts; But if this Amendment should not be
made the Creditors here as well as in Great Britain may have Greater
Reason than we wish they should have to Complain against being
Deprived of the Benefit of such Contracts and Agreement which
the People have made subsequent to, and therefore (to be presumed)
with full Knowledge of the Inspection Law and Right of Deduction
and Especially as it May be Reasonably supposed that most (if not
all) of such Bonds or Agreements were to Prevent suits by which
the Creditors might have Recovered their whole Debts or Distressed
the Debtors perhaps to their Ruin before the Commencement of the
Act in that Part
As It is to be wished that Reputable Persons will be appointed
Inspectors we are unwilling to Put them under any Disadvantagious
or Discouraging distinction and therefore we have thought the
fourth amendment proper and more Especially as we hardly imagine
the Temptation in that Clause mentioned will prevent the Execution
of the Duty of an Inspector.