The Lower House. 417

taxes, and internal polity; and that the same hath never been for-
feited, or any other way yielded up, but hath been constantly recog-
nized by the King, and peoples of Great Britain
8. Resolved, That it is the unanimous opinion of this house that
the representatives of the freemen of this province in their legislative
capacity, together with the other part of the legislature, have the
sole right to lay taxes and impositions on the inhabitants of this
province, or their property and effects; and that the laying, imposing,
levying, or collecting any tax on, or from, the inhabitants of Mary-
land, under colour of any other authority, is unconstitutional, and a
direct violation of the rights of the freemen of this province
Mr. Worthington brings in, and delivers to M.^r Speaker, the
following report. May 31.^st 1768
Maryland ss.
At a committee of both houses of assembly, appointed to inspect
the office and proceedings of the late commissioners for paying off
the public claims, and emitting bills of credit, established by act of
assembly,
[This report is printed in full in the Upper House of Assembly,
pp. 321-323.]

L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
June 22

The report was read the first and second time, and concurred with

Resolved that all petitions, upon every new assembly, relating to
elections and returns, be presented to the honorable Speaker of this
house for the time being, within five days from the first day of the
session of such new assembly, inclusive, and not after. And, if any
election shall be made by virtue of any writ issued by order of the
lower house of assembly, that no petition be received against any such
election or return unless such petition be presented to the Speaker as
aforesaid within five days from the first day of the session, inclusive,
after such writ shall be returned, or within the same time after the
actual return of such writ, if the same shall be returned in session
time

p. 549

Resolved, That treating electors is highly injurious, tends to cor-
rupt and debauch the people, and may, if not timely prevented, be
destructive of that freedom, intended to be maintained in elections,
by our excellent constitution

It is therefore unanimously resolved, that on any petition for
treating, this house will not take into consideration, or regard the

greatness or smallness of any treat, but will, in all cases, in which any

person or persons, hereafter to be elected to serve in assembly for
any county within this province, at any time after the test or issuing
of the writ of election, or after the place of any member becomes
vacant hereafter, in the time of this present or of any other assembly,
shall hereafter, by himself, or themselves, or by any other ways or
means, on his, or their behalf, or at his, or their charge, or with his,

p. 550