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Bill, if the Alternative proposed by it be extended without Limita-
tion to the Clergy. We have already communicated his Excellency's
Declaration on this Head, in as full a Manner as we received it. It
is clear and precise. He is not to be Controul'd by you, or Us in the
Exercise of his Judgment. His Right to form it is indubitable. It
becomes him to act upon it. Without his Concurrence our Meetings
and Results on the Subject must be fruitless. Whilst we aim to
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U. H. J.
Liber No. 36
Nov. 26
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conciliate our own Sentiments it should seem that his ought not to
be neglected. The immediate intercourse between the two Houses
gives the Members of each an immediate Opportunity of com-
municating to the other their Opinion upon any proposed Measure.
Whilst a Bill is depending, we know not in what more proper Method
than by Message the Governor can impart his Sentiments, or to
whom he can direct it with so much propriety as to those, with
whom the Bill is lodged. We presume he deliberated before he Re-
solved, and think ourselves obliged to him for his frank and candid
Communication, which has put us upon our Guard against Disap-
pointment, and shall always be ready to admit the propriety of a
Notification, calculated to prevent the Mispending of Time and
Publick Money, and pointing out what we should avoid, when en-
deavouring to obtain a most beneficial Law. If it could be shewn
that any useful Purpose may be Attained by our agreeing to a Bill, to
be presented for Rejection we should chearfully adopt the Alterna-
tive in its fullest Extent. We cant at once Conclude that any who
happen to dissent from our Sentiments do so incautiously and must
adopt our Ideas on more mature deliberation
It is well known there are several small Parishes wherein the
Ministers have been paid principally in Tobacco, and it cant be
doubted but that their Revenues would be very much diminished
under the Alternative proposed by the Bill. They had little Reason
when Inducted to expect this so great Diminution. Ministers have
been removed with a view to their promotion, from Parishes of a
greater number of Taxables not making Tobacco to Parishes of a
lesser number making Tobacco, and we cant assert that there would
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p. 585
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be no Appearance of Hardship brought upon such Ministers, or that
they would have no Reason to complain of any Breach of implicit
Confidence.
It is true that "no Parishes are so inconsiderable but that the
worst may be too good for the worst Minister" but the Disappoint-
ment of Hardship suggested might fall upon Men of real Merit
The Right of Appointment is in the Governor. He is not con-
fined in the Exercise of it to those now in the Province, nor does a
Restriction of his power, in order to rescue Merit from Distress,
appear to be reasonable when a Modification of the Alternative may
prevent such Distress. We earnestly wish some expedient could be
fallen upon to remove this Difficulty and therefore take the Liberty
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p. 586
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