|
|
well as repel, an Invasion. But surely there are no Words in that
Law that can give you that Authority; nor can any Thing be further
from the Intent and Design of it; for such an Authority would
put it in the Power of a Governor of this Province, whenever he
found himself opposed in any Views or Designs that he might have,
tending to destroy the Liberties of the People, to compel the whole
Militia of the Province, at any Time when he might suggest Danger,
to march to any Part of the Province he pleased, and keep them
there, until their Representatives had complied with all his Demands,
let them be never so extrvagant or injurious to the People. Such a
Power, we conceive, is not given, nor could ever have been intended
to be given by any Men in their Senses. But, suppose, your Excel-
lency has, by that Law, all the Powers given you that you can suggest,
we beg Leave humbly to Remonstrate to your Excellency, that the
Exercise of the Power of marching the Militia of the Eastern Shore
to the Frontier, upon the late Occasion and the Orders for marching
a Company of Militia from Calvert County thither at this Time,
when we are informed there are near Four Hundred Men there,
most, if not all of whom, your Excellency has sufficient Reason to
be convinced, will be paid by this Province; and when the Presence
of our good Friends and Brothers the Cherokees, which have con-
tinued with us ever since November last, and (as you have been
pleased to inform us by your Message of the 29th of March last)
" will be of great Service, and in all Probability contribute much
to the Security of the Inhabitants," has already, and must un-
doubtedly continue to raise great Discontents and Uneasiness in the
Minds of his Majesty's good Subjects of this Province, committed
to your Care, and to alienate their Affections from his Lordship's
Government; and if not desisted from, but attempted to be con-
tinued in Practice, may, we are apprehensive, be productive of the
worst of Consequences; for we are informed it is the general Opinion
of the People (even of those for whose Protection the Militia of
Queen-Anne's and Kent Counties were marched, at that severe
Season of the Year) that it was not necessary for the Protection of
the Frontier Inhabitants, to have any Militia there at the Time those
Militia were ordered out. From whence, we are apprehensive, un-
prejudiced Persons may infer, that those who advised your Excel-
|
L. H. J.
Liber No. 50
April 17
p. 45
|
|
|
|
lency to take that Measure, intended, under the specious Pretence
of affording present Protection to a Few, by Degrees to introduce an
Arbitrary Power, the Exercise of whuch must, in the End, inevitably
Enslave the Whole.
If the March of those Militia had been lawful and necessary
(which we are clearly of Opinion it was not) yet we are humbly of
Opinion, that the Impressing large Quantities of Provisions for
them, in the Counties they marched from, and consequently putting
the County to the Expence of Carriages from the several Places
41
|
p. 46
|
|
