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Points, so positively insisted on to be excepted out of the Matters
of the Conference, we readily allow to be the most irregular Ex-
pedient that could be proposed, to obtain any good Issue from it.
You are however careful, That your present Concessions shall
not be drawn into Precedent, or any Way construed as derogatory
to your ancient and undoubted Rights, &c. and we cannot but observe
how willing you seem to be to make a Precedent against us, drawn
from our Inspection Law, which, we think, is nothing at all to the
present Case: We hope then, you will allow us to be cautious, at
least for the future, of making Precedents derogatory to the ancient
and undoubted Rights of the Government.
We would willingly avoid giving you any just Occasion of Offence,
especially at this Time; but, here we must take the Liberty of asking
you a Question or Two; Will you be contented with your undoubted
Rights, and that Share in the Legislature, which, by the Constitution
of this Government, you are entitled to? Or would you assume to
yourselves the sole Power, not only of making Laws, but the Execu-
tion of them too? If nothing less than this last will satisfy you, we
must tell you, that it is a Point, which we are determined not to
agree to give up to you; and you could not reasonably expect, that,
to obtain only a free Conference on the Subject in Question between
the two Houses, that we should agree to your previously excepting
from the Conference any Points of that Subject, in which the un-
doubted Rights of the Government, or Liberties of a free People,
may be involved, and which ought to be carefully discussed, before
any Determination concerning them can properly be made: There-
fore we earnestly recommend these Matters to your further Con-
sideration, in order, if possible, to bring about that desirable End,
which, if obtained, can only make your Constituents any Amends for
the tedious Length of this Session, and the heavy Charge and
Burthen it must bring upon them. However, upon the whole Matter,
and notwithstanding all your Precautions, we having considered the
dangerous Situation of Affairs at this Time, and to demonstrate our
Readiness to use every Endeavour in our Power, to obtain a good
End of our Deliberation, do agree to a free Conference with you,
and have accordingly named Philip Thomas, Esq; and Col. Benjamin
Tasker, to confer with such Members of your House as you shall
appoint; but at the same Time we will be so free as to tell you, that
whether you will Confer with us on those Points excepted by you,
or not, we will determine thereon, as we shall think proper, according
to our undoubted Right.
Signed per Order, J. Ross, Cl. Up. Ho.
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L.H.J.
Liber No. 48
May 3
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