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The giving a Power to the Commissioners of the Loan-Office to
put the Collectors Bonds in Suit, immediately on Failure in Payment
of the Duties, is not without Precedent; 'tis done by the £40,000
Act. The Backwardness of the Collectors of the Public Monies, in
paying them into the Loan-Office, for many Years past, made it then
necessary, and we are sorry to observe, the same Backwardness, even
to this Time, makes it more so now. Public Applications to the Su-
preme Magistrate, for this Purpose, are attended with unavoidable
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 50
April 26
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Delay : The Lodging such a Power ought therefore not to be looked
upon as Derogatory to his Right, but as a prudent Precaution, and
necessary to compel the speedy Payment of the Public Monies into
the Loan-Office, at this Time more particularly needful, as the Credit
of our Paper Currency so greatly depends upon it's being speedily
brought in and sunk.
When the Treasure of the People is drawn from their Pockets,
to sink in those of the Collectors, it is particularly Grievous, as they
must be again Taxed to make good Deficiencies in our public Funds,
occasioned by the Collectors converting the public Money to their
own private Use, which renders the People still less able to answer
the public Demands.
We did not apprehend, that the Provision made in the Bill to
discharge the Claims of such Persons as have been burthened with
very considerable Expences, in providing Necessaries for his Maj-
esty's Troops in their Winter Quarters, could have been liable to the
least Objection; especially as we have been so far from assuming
any new Power, that, on the contrary, we have made the constant
and uninterrupted Usage of this Province, the sole Rule of our
Conduct upon this Occasion: And your Honours will probably
acquit us of the heavy Charge of assuming Powers unprecedented,
and of endeavouring to abridge your just Rights, when you may be
pleased to recollect, that Claims of every Denomination against the
Public, are laid before, considered and adjusted by, the Lower House
of Assembly only, and that upon their Determination such Claims are
rejected, or entered upon the Journal of Accounts, which must have
the Sanction and Aid of an Act of the Legislature, before the public
Creditors can be paid their respective Allowances, and we conceive
the Clause objected to, goes no farther, as it only applies a Sum not
exceeding Two Thousand Five Hundred Pounds, out of the £45,000
granted by the Bill, to the discharging the Claims of such Persons
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p. 110
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