268 Assembly Proceedings, October 4-November 26, 1763.

U. H. J.
Liber No. 36
Nov. 23

Wednesday Morning 23^d November 1763.
This house met again according to Adjournment

Present as yesterday

The following Message with the Bill Entituled An Act for the
Speedy payment of Such Persons as have been Ordered to March
to the Western Frontiers of this Province for the defence thereof
and of the Expences of Carriages and other Provisions for such
Persons and of such as have been put to the Expences of Quartering
of his Majesty's Regular Forces and other necessary Expences during
the late War — and the Money Journal thus Subscribed
By the Upper House of Assembly 23.^d November 1763
Read the first time by Especial Order and will not pass
Signed p Order John Ross Clk. Up. Ho.

Gentlemen
By the Upper House of Assembly 23^d November 1763

We have returned with our Negative the Bill Entituled An Act for
the Speedy payment of such Persons as have been ordered to March
to the Western Frontiers of this Province, for the Defence thereof,
and of the Expences of Carriages and Provisions for such Persons,
and of such as have been Put to the Expences of Quartering His
Majesty's Regular Forces within this Province, and other necessary
Expences during the late War, not because the Demands Proposed

p. 168

by the Bill to be Discharged, ought not to be Satisfied; but because
They are upon the same footting with that of other Creditors, and
should therefore be paid in the Same Manner

By the Act Entituled "An Act for Ordering and regulating the
Militia of this Province for the better Defence and security thereof,
the Militia are to be paid in the Publick Levy, and We should not
have the least Objection to their being Satisfied in this Manner, for
We think, that their Obedience to the Orders issued by the Governor,
in Consequence of the Authority with which he is invested by an
Express Law, was prudent, and Commendable; but as other Publick
Creditors are equally intitled to Satisfaction, and in the same manner,
We cannot concur in a Measure Distinguishing their Cases

The Publick Debt is now Swelled to a great amount, and if you
are of Opinion that the Discharge of the whole at this time would
fall too heavy, we Should very willingly Embrace any expedient, con-
ducive to the Ease of the Debtors, and therefore, if it is agreeable
to You, We shall Consent that the Militia, and other Persons men-
tioned in the Bill We now return, and all other Creditors be at this
time paid Except the Members of the Upper, and Lower Houses of
Assembly for their Respective allowances, the Payment of which may