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Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly,
A sincere undissembled Solicitude for the Welfare of the People,
and a generous inflexible Firmness in vindicating their constitu-
tional Privileges, are so laudable, that I should be inclined at least,
to excuse a little Excess in the Measures which a sanguine Disposi-
tion might form, and eagerly pursue for the Promotion and Stability
of the general Interests, to secure Property against Rapaciousness,
and protect Liberty from Violation, but so many Instances have
proved this Virtue of publick Spirit does not always exist in the
greatest Purity, when it is professed with the most ardent Zeal, that
Caution and Hezitation in giving Credit to splendid Professions of
Disinterestedness, and of Regard for the general Good, can be
blamed only by the ffolly of Credulity, and Rashness of Inexperience.
Rulers under the Visor of Tenderness, may infringe the Rights
of the Subject, and Demagogues under the Guise of Patriotism,
fatally seduce their Followers into a Subserviency to their most
selfish Views. I wish to have the Sincerity of my Professions tried
by my Actions, and that they, who have arraigned my Conduct, may
be judged by the same Test. The Censure you have passed in your
violent Resolves on a Measure, the Situation of the Province conse-
quent to your own Proceedings in a late Session, rendered necessary,
and Passages in my Message, at that Time, having been interwoven
with the Reason of your extraordinary Address, oblige me to ex-
plain those Proceedings, and investigate the Spirit that dictated them,
from which, if I am not very much deceived, it will appear to have
been the great Object to excite popular Animosity, and that the
Resentments you have expressed against my Proclamation, have
proceeded from your Persuasion of its having been calculated to
prevent Litigation and secure the Publick Peace, and your Appre-
hension, if left to its proper Effect, it would extinguish the Dis-
content you took so much Pains to kindle. They who are most im-
patient of the regular Controuls of an Authority to which they are
subordinate, are, not seldom, eager to usurp Power, and disposed,
when they expect Submission, to exercise it with haughty Rigour.
The Commitment of M.r Steuart, the Register of his Lordship's
Land Office, by the Lower House to the common Jail, to be there
kept safe and close until discharged by Order of the House, appeared
to me to be most arbitrary and oppressive; on this Occasion all the
Powers, legislative, executive and judicial, were assumed by your
House. [I] interposed and prorogued the Assembly, and assigned
the Reasons of my Conduct in the Message to which you have alluded
in your Address, and which being fully explanatory of that Transac-
tion, I must take the Liberty to recite.
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 54
Nov. 30
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