Volume 717, Page 668 View pdf image |
668 (658 Provided his Lo.p grant the same Conditions of Plantacons he did before the happy Revolutions or the same that their mats do to the Colony of Virginia to the Inhabitants of that Province But what these Condicons are it doth not appear to me otherwise then by lookeing into the said Act of Assembly in 1671 by which the said duty was granted to the Lord Baltemore upon Condicon that his Lo.p should accept a pound of Tobacco insteed and in lieu of every Two pence Rent at any time reserved upon any Grant of Land Made by his Lo.p Which Condicon his Lo.p affirms to me he always hath & still is ready to Comply with As to the Second demand of Fourteen pence p Tun for Tobacco exported out of that Province I find by an Act of Assembly of that Province in 1661 It was Enacted that all vessells whatsoever not properly belonging to that Province having a deck flinch fore aft runing in and trading within that Province should pay for port dutys and Anchorage a pound of powder and Three pounds of shot or so much in value for every Tun of Burthen to the said Proprietor and his heires Which Duty hath by usage been turned into Money (viz.t) Fourteen pence p Tun & so answeared to the Lord Baltemore and constantly applyed to his owne use and not to the suport of Government as the Lord Baltemore affirms to me And by Order of Councill of the 26.th of February 1690 this Duty of fourteen pence p Tun was directed to be answeared to the Lord Baltemore as Proprietor of the Province and Likewise Instructions given Cole Copley Governo.r of Maryland to permit the Lord Baltemo.r or his Agents to receive the same without any disturbance or Interruption And I Conceive that upon the Words of the Act this Duty doth belong to my Lord Baltemo.r as Proprietor to be received by him to his owne use and it would be a thing of Dangarus Consequence to admitt of Paroll Proofe of an Intention in the Lawmakers different from the words of Law today that the Duty which the Act calls a Port duty was intended to be a Fort Duty And it seems to be admitted by the Assembly that this Duty of Fourteen pence p Tun doth by Law now belong to the lord Baltemore by desireing their Ma.ty Royall Assent to an to Act of invest it in their Ma.tys As the demands of Times and Amercements I conceive upon perusall of the Charter granted by King Charles the first to the Lord Baltemore and of their Ma.tys Comission granted to Col Copley to be governo.r in Cheif of that Province that the Lord Baltemore hath not a Right to the Fines and Amercements that have accrued since their Ma.ts said Comission to Col Copley Whereby their Ma.ts have taken the whole Governm.t of that Province into their owne hands except onely fines & amercem.ts in the Courts of Any Memory of which the Lord Baltemore is Lord Because I doe not find that fines and Amercem.ts are expresely granted to the Lord Baltemore by a Charter of King Charles the first so that I Conceive he never had any other Title to them but as Govern.r of the Province The Courts of Justice being held in his name which Title is now determined by their Maj.ties Assumption of the Governm.t into our owne hands and appointing a Governo.r there who by his Comission hath Expresse Power granted to him to Erect Courts of Judicature for the better admintracon of Justice as Occasion shall require which Courts & not the Lord Baltemores and the fines and Amercements there Set will belong to their Ma.tys And I Conceive Such a Right in the Lord Baltemo.r to at fines &c.a would be inconsistant with that part of their Maj.ties Commission to the Governo.r of that Province whereby he hath Powar granted him of remitting and Pardoning Fines set upon Offenders according as he shall Think them fit Objects of Marcy which hee Cannot doe if the Lord Baltemo.r be Entitled to Them As to the demand of Waifes strays wild Horses and Wild Hogs I Conceive that such Cattle as are Menconed in the Representacon to be Claimed as Strays are not in Law such because they are Markt with the Marke of the Owner w.ch Mark being on record every Parson is oblidged to take notice to whom they belong and I doe not find that wild Horses or Hogs are granted to the Lord Baltemo.r by the Charter of King Charles the first And therefore I Conceive the right to the in the Crowne as being Four Natura and the proparty thereof in no perticular Person and the here be an Act of the Assembly which gives Goods (to which noe parson hath a Right) to the Lord |
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Volume 717, Page 668 View pdf image |
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