|
Law. The Members of your House have heretofore in a very great
variety of Instances expressed a different Sentiment in the regular
Course of solemn Legislative Acts and should this Act be estab-
lished by the proper legal Authority the Planters may think it an
Hardship to be compelled to Pay Forty instead of Thirty per poll in
inspected Tobacco and the Farmers and others not making Tobacco
to be under the Disadvantage of making a Composition for the Forty
Per Poll instead of being allowed to discharge the Claim at an easy
fixed Rate in Money. The proposal respecting the Claim of the
Clergy which we made at the late Convention, if you should think
proper to agree to it would guard against these inconvenient Con-
sequences of your Opinion, should the proper regular legal Authority
determine the Act for the Establishment of Religious Worship in
this Province "according to the Church of England and for the
Maintenance of Ministers," to be in full Force and the proposed
Alternative give a prospect of great Relief to the Planters. Many,
at least Nine Vacancies by the Death and Removal of Ministers have
happened since October Session 1771, when this Alternative on their
Death or Removal was first proposed and upon the happening of
such Events hereafter the Makers of Tobacco may regret their not
being allowed to pay in Tobacco or Money at the easy Rate of four
Shillings.
As a Law (the claim of the Clergy to Merchantable Tobacco being
considered) calculated merely for the Regulation of this Staple and
to ascertain its merchantable Quality may Prove to be inconvenient,
so we have Proposed a Duration for three years only.
Signed by Order. U Scott Cl. Up. Ho.
Adjourned until Three of the Clock in the Afternoon
Eodem Die Post Meridiem
The House met again according to Adjournment
Present as in the Morning
Adjourned until to Morrow Morning ten of the Clock
|
